Date published: 29th July 2024

We are looking for a highly motivated and skilled Geospatial Data Engineer to drive the development of an innovative platform for biodiversity and climate risk analysis at Ecostack Innovations. The ideal candidate's role will consist of setting up data pipelines to download and store geospatial data and setting up the relevant infrastructure to allow other team members to access and analyse the stored data.

The ideal candidate will be crucial in enhancing the company’s digital, GIS, spatial, and software development capabilities, working closely with the Director and scientific experts at Ecostack Innovations. This position offers an excellent opportunity to engage in various local and international projects, collaborating with public and private sector partners in various countries.

The Geospatial Data Engineer will contribute to ongoing scientific work at Ecostack Innovations and participate in R&D activities based on their expertise and interests. They will also support innovation and policy efforts for national and EU biodiversity and climate risk projects, working alongside team members and collaborators.

We offer a competitive salary and benefits package, reflecting your experience, track record, and flexible working conditions, including hybrid work options.

About Ecostack Innovations

Ecostack Innovations is an environmental research analytics and consultancy firm providing expertise in ecological and sustainability topics.

Ecostack Innovations was established to promote sustainable innovation and to tackle the trade-offs between development and nature. We aim to bring together a team of highly professional consultants who provide environmental services requested by the industry related to planning, land use, development, environmental monitoring and innovation. Our experts work across the science-policy interface and have led several projects carrying out environmental monitoring, biodiversity, green infrastructure and ecosystem services assessments, climate risk and mitigation analysis, and participatory approaches. Our mission is to work with communities, businesses, and practitioners to address the current global crises by co-creating new pathways toward sustainability.

Ecostack Innovations currently participates in projects and initiatives focusing on biodiversity and environmental monitoring, ecosystem service assessments, placemaking, co-creation and citizen science activities, nature-based solutions monitoring and evaluation, and policy support for sustainable development.

Responsibilities

• Design, architect, build and maintain data pipeline systems related to satellite imagery

• Science development in remote sensing, biodiversity and geotechnical assessments of products, portfolios and sectors, utilising expertise in earth systems sciences. 

• Manage spatial databases, cleaning, preparation, and conversion procedures to ensure integrity, efficiency, and security of geospatial data.

• Perform software development and write software documentation as needed, and collaborate with web developers on optimising database schemas for APIs and Web applications

• Supporting data and spatial analysis to leverage emerging Earth Observation data, for example, using R, Python, and Geographic Information System (GIS) software.

• Supporting business development activities, and managing projects within the set objectives of delivery and quality.

• Produce reports and other deliverables, and contribute to scientific reporting, within stipulated time frames. 

Qualifications and experience required for this role

• Bachelor or Master degree in engineering, information technology, geoinformatics, data analytics, or a relevant field. 

• Have strong GIS and data analysis skills, including in R, Python, QGIS and ARCGIS.

• Knowledge and experience of environmental monitoring techniques. 

• Preferably, experience with using big data approaches for environmental monitoring. 

• Be comfortable speaking to high-level clients and external stakeholders.

• Outstanding project management and organisational skills.

Preferred Qualifications 

The following skills are advantageous, though not mandatory:

• An advanced degree (Ph.D. or Master's) in fields such as Geospatial Information Science, Geospatial Informatics, Data Science, Computer Science, Statistics, or similar disciplines. 

• Experience in environmental and climate modelling, including assessments of environmental quality, climate risk, and vulnerability.

• Experience in industry or research, with publications in data science and engineering, specifically focusing on environmental and climate modelling, vulnerability, and risk analysis.

• General experience setting up and maintaining relational databases, experience working with spatial database extensions (Postgres/PostGIS)

• Industry experience in the following fields: Image processing and Machine learning

• Previous experience in AI-driven modelling environments or related areas.

• Proficiency in Python & Python geospatial data processing libraries (rasterio, xarray, geopandas), good knowledge of common geospatial data storage formats (GeoTiff, NetCDF, HDF5)

• Proficiency in using the Google Earth Engine API and Google Cloud Platform services, including Colab, Compute, Storage, and Vertex, for geospatial data analysis and visualisation.

• A strong grasp of frontend and backend engineering principles, data discovery processes, and web technologies.

How to apply

Interested applicants should submit the following documents to opportunities@ecostackinnovations.com by Friday 13th September 2024: 

• Cover letter describing the candidate's work and research experience relevant to this position; 

• Curriculum Vitae;

• Portfolio, including publications and reference work (e.g. platforms, websites, etc.)