PlanetiQ is expanding its infrastructure computing group, beginning with a technical manager to lead and expand a group of existing senior engineers. We are seeking a hands-on highly technical leader to lead a team of technically excellent individual contributors.
About PlanetiQ
PlanetiQ is operating the world’s most powerful GNSS Radio Occultation (GNSS-RO) instrument in low-earth orbit. GNSS-RO is a method to measure the Earth’s atmosphere by observing how the timing signals from GPS and related satellites follow bent paths as they graze the Earth’s atmosphere. The total bending angle of the path is a function of the temperature, pressure, and humidity of the air along the path. By positioning our satellites in low-earth orbit, we collect thousands of atmospheric soundings per day from each of our receiving satellites as the ray paths intersect the Earth’s horizon in front of and behind the receiving satellite. The soundings are in turn consumed by global weather and climate prediction models run by the NOAA Environmental Modeling Center, the UK Met Office, the ECMWF and other leading weather forecasting centers around the world. GNSS-RO data is complementary to existing downward-looking Earth-observing satellites which operate in microwave, infrared, and visual spectra. Since our measurements are along ray paths that take vertical slices in space, they reveal fine details about the vertical structure of the atmosphere which are unique to our technology.
GNSS-RO is also used in space weather applications to measure the total thickness of the ionosphere by the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center and to detect and map ionospheric scintillation that can interfere with HF radio communications.
PlanetiQ has been proudly supporting the US national weather infrastructure with real-time satellite weather data since 2023. As we continue to build out and expand the GNOMES constellation of receiving satellites, we are also building out and expanding our scientific relational data warehouse to process our data from the field and expand our commercial offerings. The data warehouse supports real-time and post-processing analyses for both internal use and customer data delivery.
Minimum Required Skills
- B.S. in Computer Science and 8 years of industry experience OR B.S. in a related engineering field and 10 years of industry experience
- Python, including back-end frameworks such as Flask, SQLAlchemy, Django, Zope, etc.
- At least one strongly typed language, such as Java, C#, or C++
- Relational data modeling and API design
- 2 or more years of experience leading a team of software engineers
Additional Skills
In addition to the minimum skills listed above, a strong candidate will also have additional experience from more than one of the following categories:
- Parallel programming
- Distributed systems architecture
- Weather data processing
- Remote sensing at scale
- Linux systems programming
Work Environment
The PlanetiQ engineering team is a small team of dedicated scientists and engineers. We are a highly communicative team who are breaking new ground in our field. We primarily collaborate on-site together in our Golden, CO office with 1-2 days per week available to work from home.
What You Will Be Doing
Predicting the weather and space weather by leading and managing PlanetiQ’s operational data warehousing, processing, and data delivery team in a dynamic startup environment.
Compensation
- Base salary: 180k - 230k, commensurate with experience
- Equity in the form of stock options in a venture-backed and profitable startup
- Medical, dental, and life insurance with fully-paid premiums
- Annual performance-based bonus
- 33 days of PTO per year including holidays and sick days
- Relocation reimbursement if needed
Export Controls
This role routinely requires access to export controlled material regulated by the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Therefore, only candidates who are US persons according to 22 CFR 120.62 will be considered for this position.