diff --git a/smartsim/_core/control/manifest.py b/smartsim/_core/control/manifest.py
index cb47af14ea..89b80c2178 100644
--- a/smartsim/_core/control/manifest.py
+++ b/smartsim/_core/control/manifest.py
@@ -31,8 +31,9 @@
 
 from smartsim.entity._mock import Mock
 
+from ...builders import Ensemble
 from ...database import FeatureStore
-from ...entity import Application, Ensemble, FSNode, SmartSimEntity
+from ...entity import Application, FSNode, SmartSimEntity
 from ...error import SmartSimError
 from ..config import CONFIG
 from ..utils import helpers as _helpers
diff --git a/smartsim/_core/launcher/step/slurm_step.py b/smartsim/_core/launcher/step/slurm_step.py
index 3f178d9745..2a9046a3ae 100644
--- a/smartsim/_core/launcher/step/slurm_step.py
+++ b/smartsim/_core/launcher/step/slurm_step.py
@@ -29,7 +29,8 @@
 import typing as t
 from shlex import split as sh_split
 
-from ....entity import Application, Ensemble, FSNode
+from ....builders import Ensemble
+from ....entity import Application, FSNode
 from ....error import AllocationError
 from ....log import get_logger
 from ....settings import RunSettings, SbatchSettings, Singularity, SrunSettings
diff --git a/smartsim/_core/launcher/step/step.py b/smartsim/_core/launcher/step/step.py
index 46bcebf7fa..b5e79a3638 100644
--- a/smartsim/_core/launcher/step/step.py
+++ b/smartsim/_core/launcher/step/step.py
@@ -38,7 +38,8 @@
 from smartsim._core.config import CONFIG
 from smartsim.error.errors import SmartSimError, UnproxyableStepError
 
-from ....entity import Application, Ensemble, FSNode
+from ....builders import Ensemble
+from ....entity import Application, FSNode
 from ....log import get_logger
 from ....settings import RunSettings, SettingsBase
 from ...utils.helpers import encode_cmd, get_base_36_repr
diff --git a/smartsim/_core/utils/serialize.py b/smartsim/_core/utils/serialize.py
index aad38c7787..46c0a2c1da 100644
--- a/smartsim/_core/utils/serialize.py
+++ b/smartsim/_core/utils/serialize.py
@@ -36,8 +36,9 @@
 
 if t.TYPE_CHECKING:
     from smartsim._core.control.manifest import LaunchedManifest as _Manifest
+    from smartsim.builders import Ensemble
     from smartsim.database.orchestrator import FeatureStore
-    from smartsim.entity import Application, Ensemble, FSNode
+    from smartsim.entity import Application, FSNode
     from smartsim.entity.dbobject import FSModel, FSScript
     from smartsim.settings.base import BatchSettings, RunSettings
 
diff --git a/smartsim/builders/__init__.py b/smartsim/builders/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..866269f201
--- /dev/null
+++ b/smartsim/builders/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+# BSD 2-Clause License
+#
+# Copyright (c) 2021-2024, Hewlett Packard Enterprise
+# All rights reserved.
+#
+# Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+# modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
+#
+# 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this
+#    list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+#
+# 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice,
+#    this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation
+#    and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+#
+# THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS"
+# AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
+# IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
+# DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE
+# FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL
+# DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR
+# SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER
+# CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY,
+# OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
+# OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+
+from .ensemble import Ensemble
+from .utils.strategies import ParamSet
diff --git a/smartsim/entity/ensemble.py b/smartsim/builders/ensemble.py
similarity index 76%
rename from smartsim/entity/ensemble.py
rename to smartsim/builders/ensemble.py
index 191730df76..c4a57175f5 100644
--- a/smartsim/entity/ensemble.py
+++ b/smartsim/builders/ensemble.py
@@ -32,10 +32,11 @@
 import os.path
 import typing as t
 
-from smartsim.entity import entity, strategies
+from smartsim.builders.utils import strategies
+from smartsim.builders.utils.strategies import ParamSet
+from smartsim.entity import entity
 from smartsim.entity.application import Application
 from smartsim.entity.files import EntityFiles
-from smartsim.entity.strategies import ParamSet
 from smartsim.launchable.job import Job
 
 if t.TYPE_CHECKING:
@@ -43,8 +44,8 @@
 
 
 class Ensemble(entity.CompoundEntity):
-    """Entity to help parameterize the creation multiple application
-    instances.
+    """An Ensemble is a builder class that parameterizes the creation of multiple
+    Applications.
     """
 
     def __init__(
@@ -59,7 +60,60 @@ def __init__(
         max_permutations: int = -1,
         replicas: int = 1,
     ) -> None:
-        """Initialize an ``Ensemble`` of application instances
+        """Initialize an ``Ensemble`` of Application instances
+
+        An Ensemble can be tailored to align with one of the following
+        creation strategies: parameter expansion or replicas.
+
+        **Parameter Expansion**
+
+        Parameter expansion allows users to assign different parameter values to
+        multiple Applications. This is done by specifying input to `Ensemble.file_parameters`,
+        `Ensemble.exe_arg_parameters` and `Ensemble.permutation_strategy`. The `permutation_strategy`
+        argument accepts three options:
+
+        1. "all_perm": Generates all possible parameter permutations for exhaustive exploration.
+        2. "step": Collects identically indexed values across parameter lists to create parameter sets.
+        3. "random": Enables random selection from predefined parameter spaces.
+
+        The example below demonstrates creating an Ensemble via parameter expansion, resulting in
+        the creation of two Applications:
+
+        .. highlight:: python
+        .. code-block:: python
+
+            file_params={"SPAM": ["a", "b"], "EGGS": ["c", "d"]}
+            exe_arg_parameters = {"EXE": [["a"], ["b", "c"]], "ARGS": [["d"], ["e", "f"]]}
+            ensemble = Ensemble(name="name",exe="python",exe_arg_parameters=exe_arg_parameters,
+                        file_parameters=file_params,permutation_strategy="step")
+
+        This configuration will yield the following permutations:
+
+        .. highlight:: python
+        .. code-block:: python
+            [ParamSet(params={'SPAM': 'a', 'EGGS': 'c'}, exe_args={'EXE': ['a'], 'ARGS': ['d']}),
+             ParamSet(params={'SPAM': 'b', 'EGGS': 'd'}, exe_args={'EXE': ['b', 'c'], 'ARGS': ['e', 'f']})]
+
+        Each ParamSet contains the parameters assigned from file_params and the corresponding executable
+        arguments from exe_arg_parameters.
+
+        **Replication**
+        The replication strategy involves creating identical Applications within an Ensemble.
+        This is achieved by specifying the `replicas` argument in the Ensemble.
+
+        For example, by applying the `replicas` argument to the previous parameter expansion
+        example, we can double our Application output:
+
+        .. highlight:: python
+        .. code-block:: python
+
+            file_params={"SPAM": ["a", "b"], "EGGS": ["c", "d"]}
+            exe_arg_parameters = {"EXE": [["a"], ["b", "c"]], "ARGS": [["d"], ["e", "f"]]}
+            ensemble = Ensemble(name="name",exe="python",exe_arg_parameters=exe_arg_parameters,
+                        file_parameters=file_params,permutation_strategy="step", replicas=2)
+
+        This configuration will result in each ParamSet being replicated, effectively doubling
+        the number of Applications created.
 
         :param name: name of the ensemble
         :param exe: executable to run
@@ -259,7 +313,7 @@ def _create_applications(self) -> tuple[Application, ...]:
             for i, permutation in enumerate(permutations_)
         )
 
-    def as_jobs(self, settings: LaunchSettings) -> tuple[Job, ...]:
+    def build_jobs(self, settings: LaunchSettings) -> tuple[Job, ...]:
         """Expand an Ensemble into a list of deployable Jobs and apply
         identical LaunchSettings to each Job.
 
@@ -281,9 +335,9 @@ def as_jobs(self, settings: LaunchSettings) -> tuple[Job, ...]:
             # Initialize the Ensemble
             ensemble = Ensemble("my_name", "echo", "hello world", replicas=3)
             # Expand Ensemble into Jobs
-            ensemble_as_jobs = ensemble.as_jobs(my_launch_settings)
+            ensemble_as_jobs = ensemble.build_jobs(my_launch_settings)
 
-        By calling `as_jobs` on `ensemble`, three Jobs are returned because
+        By calling `build_jobs` on `ensemble`, three Jobs are returned because
         three replicas were specified. Each Job will have the provided LaunchSettings.
 
         :param settings: LaunchSettings to apply to each Job
diff --git a/smartsim/entity/strategies.py b/smartsim/builders/utils/strategies.py
similarity index 100%
rename from smartsim/entity/strategies.py
rename to smartsim/builders/utils/strategies.py
diff --git a/smartsim/entity/__init__.py b/smartsim/entity/__init__.py
index 2f75e8ecd1..a12d737bb3 100644
--- a/smartsim/entity/__init__.py
+++ b/smartsim/entity/__init__.py
@@ -27,6 +27,5 @@
 from .application import Application
 from .dbnode import FSNode
 from .dbobject import *
-from .ensemble import Ensemble
 from .entity import SmartSimEntity, TelemetryConfiguration
 from .files import TaggedFilesHierarchy
diff --git a/smartsim/entity/entity.py b/smartsim/entity/entity.py
index f3e5b17f3a..3f5a9eabd0 100644
--- a/smartsim/entity/entity.py
+++ b/smartsim/entity/entity.py
@@ -135,6 +135,6 @@ class CompoundEntity(abc.ABC):
     """
 
     @abc.abstractmethod
-    def as_jobs(self, settings: LaunchSettings) -> t.Collection[Job]: ...
+    def build_jobs(self, settings: LaunchSettings) -> t.Collection[Job]: ...
     def as_job_group(self, settings: LaunchSettings) -> JobGroup:
-        return JobGroup(list(self.as_jobs(settings)))
+        return JobGroup(list(self.build_jobs(settings)))
diff --git a/tests/_legacy/test_controller.py b/tests/_legacy/test_controller.py
index 19325c9334..ad0c98fe88 100644
--- a/tests/_legacy/test_controller.py
+++ b/tests/_legacy/test_controller.py
@@ -30,8 +30,8 @@
 
 from smartsim._core.control.controller import Controller
 from smartsim._core.launcher.step import Step
+from smartsim.builders.ensemble import Ensemble
 from smartsim.database.orchestrator import FeatureStore
-from smartsim.entity.ensemble import Ensemble
 from smartsim.settings.slurmSettings import SbatchSettings, SrunSettings
 
 controller = Controller()
diff --git a/tests/_legacy/test_controller_errors.py b/tests/_legacy/test_controller_errors.py
index 4814ce4950..5ae05d70ad 100644
--- a/tests/_legacy/test_controller_errors.py
+++ b/tests/_legacy/test_controller_errors.py
@@ -30,9 +30,9 @@
 from smartsim._core.control import Controller, Manifest
 from smartsim._core.launcher.step import Step
 from smartsim._core.launcher.step.dragon_step import DragonStep
+from smartsim.builders.ensemble import Ensemble
 from smartsim.database import FeatureStore
 from smartsim.entity import Application
-from smartsim.entity.ensemble import Ensemble
 from smartsim.error import SmartSimError, SSUnsupportedError
 from smartsim.error.errors import SSUnsupportedError
 from smartsim.settings import RunSettings, SrunSettings
diff --git a/tests/_legacy/test_ensemble.py b/tests/_legacy/test_ensemble.py
index 86146c8e47..62c7d8d4f7 100644
--- a/tests/_legacy/test_ensemble.py
+++ b/tests/_legacy/test_ensemble.py
@@ -30,7 +30,8 @@
 import pytest
 
 from smartsim import Experiment
-from smartsim.entity import Application, Ensemble
+from smartsim.builders import Ensemble
+from smartsim.entity import Application
 from smartsim.error import EntityExistsError, SSUnsupportedError, UserStrategyError
 from smartsim.settings import RunSettings
 
diff --git a/tests/_legacy/test_model.py b/tests/_legacy/test_model.py
index f32a27a072..5adf8070f1 100644
--- a/tests/_legacy/test_model.py
+++ b/tests/_legacy/test_model.py
@@ -31,7 +31,8 @@
 from smartsim import Experiment
 from smartsim._core.control.manifest import LaunchedManifestBuilder
 from smartsim._core.launcher.step import SbatchStep, SrunStep
-from smartsim.entity import Application, Ensemble
+from smartsim.builders import Ensemble
+from smartsim.entity import Application
 from smartsim.error import EntityExistsError, SSUnsupportedError
 from smartsim.settings import RunSettings, SbatchSettings, SrunSettings
 from smartsim.settings.mpiSettings import _BaseMPISettings
diff --git a/tests/_legacy/test_output_files.py b/tests/_legacy/test_output_files.py
index 713001feb4..55ecfd90a5 100644
--- a/tests/_legacy/test_output_files.py
+++ b/tests/_legacy/test_output_files.py
@@ -33,9 +33,9 @@
 from smartsim._core.config import CONFIG
 from smartsim._core.control.controller import Controller, _AnonymousBatchJob
 from smartsim._core.launcher.step import Step
+from smartsim.builders.ensemble import Ensemble
 from smartsim.database.orchestrator import FeatureStore
 from smartsim.entity.application import Application
-from smartsim.entity.ensemble import Ensemble
 from smartsim.settings.base import RunSettings
 from smartsim.settings.slurmSettings import SbatchSettings, SrunSettings
 
diff --git a/tests/_legacy/test_smartredis.py b/tests/_legacy/test_smartredis.py
index ca8d1e0fae..f09cc8ca89 100644
--- a/tests/_legacy/test_smartredis.py
+++ b/tests/_legacy/test_smartredis.py
@@ -29,8 +29,9 @@
 
 from smartsim import Experiment
 from smartsim._core.utils import installed_redisai_backends
+from smartsim.builders import Ensemble
 from smartsim.database import FeatureStore
-from smartsim.entity import Application, Ensemble
+from smartsim.entity import Application
 from smartsim.status import JobStatus
 
 # The tests in this file belong to the group_b group
diff --git a/tests/_legacy/test_symlinking.py b/tests/_legacy/test_symlinking.py
index 4447a49d1c..95aa187e6b 100644
--- a/tests/_legacy/test_symlinking.py
+++ b/tests/_legacy/test_symlinking.py
@@ -32,9 +32,9 @@
 from smartsim import Experiment
 from smartsim._core.config import CONFIG
 from smartsim._core.control.controller import Controller, _AnonymousBatchJob
+from smartsim.builders.ensemble import Ensemble
 from smartsim.database.orchestrator import FeatureStore
 from smartsim.entity.application import Application
-from smartsim.entity.ensemble import Ensemble
 from smartsim.settings.base import RunSettings
 from smartsim.settings.slurmSettings import SbatchSettings, SrunSettings
 
diff --git a/tests/test_ensemble.py b/tests/test_ensemble.py
index 3f0840711c..9c90152514 100644
--- a/tests/test_ensemble.py
+++ b/tests/test_ensemble.py
@@ -31,9 +31,9 @@
 
 import pytest
 
-from smartsim.entity.ensemble import Ensemble
+from smartsim.builders.ensemble import Ensemble
+from smartsim.builders.utils.strategies import ParamSet
 from smartsim.entity.files import EntityFiles
-from smartsim.entity.strategies import ParamSet
 from smartsim.settings.launch_settings import LaunchSettings
 
 pytestmark = pytest.mark.group_a
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ def test_ensemble_user_created_strategy(mock_launcher_settings, test_dir):
         "echo",
         ("hello", "world"),
         permutation_strategy=user_created_function,
-    ).as_jobs(mock_launcher_settings)
+    ).build_jobs(mock_launcher_settings)
     assert len(jobs) == 1
 
 
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ def test_ensemble_without_any_members_raises_when_cast_to_jobs(
             permutation_strategy="random",
             max_permutations=30,
             replicas=0,
-        ).as_jobs(mock_launcher_settings)
+        ).build_jobs(mock_launcher_settings)
 
 
 def test_strategy_error_raised_if_a_strategy_that_dne_is_requested(test_dir):
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ def test_all_perm_strategy(
         permutation_strategy="all_perm",
         max_permutations=max_perms,
         replicas=replicas,
-    ).as_jobs(mock_launcher_settings)
+    ).build_jobs(mock_launcher_settings)
     assert len(jobs) == expected_num_jobs
 
 
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ def test_all_perm_strategy_contents():
         permutation_strategy="all_perm",
         max_permutations=16,
         replicas=1,
-    ).as_jobs(mock_launcher_settings)
+    ).build_jobs(mock_launcher_settings)
     assert len(jobs) == 16
 
 
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ def test_step_strategy(
         permutation_strategy="step",
         max_permutations=max_perms,
         replicas=replicas,
-    ).as_jobs(mock_launcher_settings)
+    ).build_jobs(mock_launcher_settings)
     assert len(jobs) == expected_num_jobs
 
 
@@ -301,5 +301,5 @@ def test_random_strategy(
         permutation_strategy="random",
         max_permutations=max_perms,
         replicas=replicas,
-    ).as_jobs(mock_launcher_settings)
+    ).build_jobs(mock_launcher_settings)
     assert len(jobs) == expected_num_jobs
diff --git a/tests/test_generator.py b/tests/test_generator.py
index ff24018ca7..8f5a02f0b6 100644
--- a/tests/test_generator.py
+++ b/tests/test_generator.py
@@ -11,7 +11,8 @@
 
 from smartsim import Experiment
 from smartsim._core.generation.generator import Generator
-from smartsim.entity import Application, Ensemble
+from smartsim.builders import Ensemble
+from smartsim.entity import Application
 from smartsim.entity.files import EntityFiles
 from smartsim.launchable import Job
 from smartsim.settings import LaunchSettings
@@ -226,7 +227,7 @@ def test_exp_private_generate_method_ensemble(test_dir, wlmutils, generator_inst
     """Test that Job directory was created from Experiment."""
     ensemble = Ensemble("ensemble-name", "echo", replicas=2)
     launch_settings = LaunchSettings(wlmutils.get_test_launcher())
-    job_list = ensemble.as_jobs(launch_settings)
+    job_list = ensemble.build_jobs(launch_settings)
     exp = Experiment(name="exp_name", exp_path=test_dir)
     for i, job in enumerate(job_list):
         job_run_path, _, _ = exp._generate(generator_instance, job, i)
@@ -239,7 +240,7 @@ def test_exp_private_generate_method_ensemble(test_dir, wlmutils, generator_inst
 def test_generate_ensemble_directory(wlmutils, generator_instance):
     ensemble = Ensemble("ensemble-name", "echo", replicas=2)
     launch_settings = LaunchSettings(wlmutils.get_test_launcher())
-    job_list = ensemble.as_jobs(launch_settings)
+    job_list = ensemble.build_jobs(launch_settings)
     for i, job in enumerate(job_list):
         # Call Generator.generate_job
         path, _, _ = generator_instance.generate_job(job, i)
@@ -263,7 +264,7 @@ def test_generate_ensemble_directory_start(test_dir, wlmutils, monkeypatch):
     )
     ensemble = Ensemble("ensemble-name", "echo", replicas=2)
     launch_settings = LaunchSettings(wlmutils.get_test_launcher())
-    job_list = ensemble.as_jobs(launch_settings)
+    job_list = ensemble.build_jobs(launch_settings)
     exp = Experiment(name="exp_name", exp_path=test_dir)
     exp.start(*job_list)
     run_dir = listdir(test_dir)
@@ -285,7 +286,7 @@ def test_generate_ensemble_copy(test_dir, wlmutils, monkeypatch, get_gen_copy_di
         "ensemble-name", "echo", replicas=2, files=EntityFiles(copy=get_gen_copy_dir)
     )
     launch_settings = LaunchSettings(wlmutils.get_test_launcher())
-    job_list = ensemble.as_jobs(launch_settings)
+    job_list = ensemble.build_jobs(launch_settings)
     exp = Experiment(name="exp_name", exp_path=test_dir)
     exp.start(*job_list)
     run_dir = listdir(test_dir)
@@ -310,7 +311,7 @@ def test_generate_ensemble_symlink(
         files=EntityFiles(symlink=get_gen_symlink_dir),
     )
     launch_settings = LaunchSettings(wlmutils.get_test_launcher())
-    job_list = ensemble.as_jobs(launch_settings)
+    job_list = ensemble.build_jobs(launch_settings)
     exp = Experiment(name="exp_name", exp_path=test_dir)
     exp.start(*job_list)
     run_dir = listdir(test_dir)
@@ -341,7 +342,7 @@ def test_generate_ensemble_configure(
         file_parameters=params,
     )
     launch_settings = LaunchSettings(wlmutils.get_test_launcher())
-    job_list = ensemble.as_jobs(launch_settings)
+    job_list = ensemble.build_jobs(launch_settings)
     exp = Experiment(name="exp_name", exp_path=test_dir)
     id = exp.start(*job_list)
     run_dir = listdir(test_dir)
diff --git a/tests/test_permutation_strategies.py b/tests/test_permutation_strategies.py
index b14514c99b..314c21063b 100644
--- a/tests/test_permutation_strategies.py
+++ b/tests/test_permutation_strategies.py
@@ -28,8 +28,8 @@
 
 import pytest
 
-from smartsim.entity import strategies
-from smartsim.entity.strategies import ParamSet
+from smartsim.builders.utils import strategies
+from smartsim.builders.utils.strategies import ParamSet
 from smartsim.error import errors
 
 pytestmark = pytest.mark.group_a