Optimising using randomness is usually a missed opportunity to use intelligence.
I wrote an essay about this topic back in 2008: Intelligent design vs random mutations.
You have. But I have evolved this with our EA software.
If you are a programmer you can test it and try it and judge it. Or you can tell me if you know a prior art.
Or whatever suits you.
http://edge.org/conversation/infinite-stupidity-edge-conversation-with-mark-pagel
Random change, then a selection, says Mark Pagel. As I agree, here's the link.