Senior LiDAR Engineer/Scientist

Key Skills

Java Programming, Python Programming, C++, C Programming, SQL, Cloud computing, Scala Programming, Machine learning techniques, Data science techniques, MATLAB Programming, PyTorch, TensorFlow, R Programming

Job Description

At Kairos Aerospace, we combine innovative aerospace systems with advanced data science. Unlike traditional aerospace companies, we sell information, not hardware - we operate our sensors cost-effectively at continental scale to produce novel data streams about pressing global problems.

First on our list: spotting hard-to-monitor emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas that accelerates climate change. Since starting continuous survey operations in 2018, Kairos has removed methane emissions equal to over 21.3 million tonnes of CO2e through our work. To put that in perspective, that’s equivalent to over 4.6 million cars being removed from the roads or shutting down about forty 350 MW coal-fired power plants for a year.

We call that a good start.

As a team, we love science and engineering, we love getting our hands dirty with hardware and software, and we love seeing our work make a difference in the real world.

We’ve created a diverse, collaborative, supportive, and fun environment based on integrity and treating people right. So no matter your sex, gender, sexual identity, gender identity, race, age, beliefs, sexual orientation, or disabilities, we welcome you and would like to work with you. :-)

It’s never boring, it’s always challenging, and we’re usually laughing.

A note of encouragement: If you don't meet 100% of the qualifications below, you should still seriously consider applying. Studies show that you can still be considered for a role if you meet just 50% of the role's requirements.

Individuals with a disability are encouraged to contact interview.accommodations@kairosaerospace.com to request assistance with your application and accommodations in advance of your interview. 

Senior LiDAR Engineer/Scientist

Our Senior LiDAR Engineer/Scientist will advance the state of the art of Kairos’ primary data products. You will be responsible for designing, developing, and improving our sensor technology in order to enhance our data and detect more methane emissions. Our methane detection is industry-leading, and this role will be central to that.

The Senior LiDAR Engineer/Scientist will work on our growing Research & Development team, designing and developing LiDAR-based technologies and improvements. Your goal will be twofold: First, assist in designing new technologies based on a solid theoretical understanding of the underlying physics and operational considerations for a flown sensor. And second, implement your designs, shepherding them from theory, to lab, to the field (working closely with our R&D and Hardware teams). Over time, you will focus on continued improvements for reliable performance and better data, and help guide decision-making by modeling how proposed changes will impact future operations.

This position will balance hands-on systems design with scientific expertise. You will develop and maintain an understanding of project development requirements while diving deep into complex technical design concepts (for example: scanning, range-finding, optics, and signal optimization). And, of course, Kairos is a startup so you’ll get to contribute to a lot of other interesting projects as well!

Required

• Hands-on experience in designing and building LiDAR systems
• Strong background in engineering, system design
• PhD in relevant field, or MA with equivalent industry experience
• Familiarity with coding (Python, C++) to analyze data and work with systems software (software engineering-level competency is not required)
• Capable of working within a fast-paced development schedule

Desired

• Experience with flown sensors
• Flight prototyping
• Electronics systems experience
• Background working with LiDAR data and optics data
• Experience planning and executing on complex projects
• Able to work out of the Sunnyvale office 3 or more days per week
• Life at Kairos

A few important facts about working at Kairos Aerospace:

• We provide health, dental, and vision insurance, including subsidized coverage for dependents. Our 401K plan provides a 50% employer match on employee contributions up to 8%.
• We think death-march hours are a bad way to run a company. We expect something approximating a 40-hour workweek, but mostly we just care that your work gets done. No, really. (Full disclosure: we occasionally put in some extra hours during crunch periods, but that is the exception, not the norm).

We do not track vacation time, nor do we have set hours to be in the office. Instead, we encourage taking real vacations, mental health days, leaving early to pick up the kids, working from home, time-shifting commutes, staying home when you're sick, ducking out to the gym - we believe work time should be flexible.

In this time of the Covid-19 pandemic, we have transitioned to 100% remote work aside from hardware, flight operations, operations engineers, or any role that specifically states it is in the office. For most positions, we plan to continue having remote opportunities in perpetuity.