In a hybrid computing system including at least one analog processor and at least one digital processor an embedded problem is repeatedly run or executed on the analog processor(s) to generate a first plurality of candidate solutions to the computational problem, the candidate solutions are returned to the digital processor(s) which determine a value for at least one statistical feature of the candidate solutions, at least one programmable parameter of the plurality of analog devices in the analog processor(s) is adjusted to at least partially compensate for deviations from an expected value of the at least one statistical feature, the expected value of the at least one statistical feature inferred from the structure of the embedded problem, the embedded problem is again repeatedly run or executed on the analog processor(s) to generate a second plurality of candidate solutions to the computational problem.