AI​/ML Software Architect & Lead Developer; SAFEPLACE

AI/ML Software Architect & Lead Developer (SAFEPLACE)

We are seeking an AI/ML Software Architect to join our team in Madrid, Spain, focusing on the architecture and development of next-generation AI-enabled geospatial and crisis management platforms for the SAFEPLACE project and other ESA-related initiatives.

In this role, you will lead both the architecture and hands‑on software development of scalable AI‑enabled geospatial and crisis management platforms combining AI/ML technologies, geospatial services, modern web applications, and cloud‑native backend systems.

The position requires a strong software engineering background with active participation in implementation activities across frontend, backend, AI/ML, geospatial, and deployment layers. The role goes beyond LLM integration and requires solid full‑stack and geospatial engineering expertise.

You will contribute to the development of advanced operational platforms supporting floods, wildfires, and civil protection use cases through real‑time data integration, AI‑driven analytics, and geospatial visualization technologies.

• Defining, implementing and maintaining the overall software architecture for AI-driven crisis management platforms and geospatial applications.
• Designing scalable backend systems and APIs using Python and FastAPI.
• Developing modern frontend applications using React for operational dashboards and geospatial visualization interfaces.
• Integrating geospatial technologies including Cesium and Geo Server for 2D/3D Earth observation and mapping services.
• Designing, integrating, and optimizing AI/ML services, including Large Language Models (LLMs), Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), semantic search, and intelligent assistant capabilities.
• Developing production‑grade frontend and backend software components as part of the operational development team.
• Implementing AI/ML services, APIs, geospatial services, and web applications directly in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams.
• Contributing actively to coding, integration, debugging, testing, and deployment activities across the software stack.
• Participating in technical prototyping, feature implementation, and operational software delivery.
• Designing and maintaining containerized environments using Docker and support deployment pipelines.
• Building and optimizing relational and geospatial database solutions using PostgreSQL/PostGIS.
• Collaborating with AI engineers, frontend developers, geospatial specialists, and crisis management experts to align technical solutions with operational needs.
• Defining software engineering best practices, architecture standards, testing strategies, and Dev Ops workflows.
• Ensuring system scalability, maintainability, reliability, and cybersecurity compliance.
• Contributing to technical documentation, architectural design reviews, demonstrations, and stakeholder presentations.
• Supporting integration activities with ESA and international partner systems.
• Participating in technical decision‑making and mentoring of development teams.

The following skills and experience are mandatory:

• A Master’s degree and a minimum of five years of relevant professional experience.
• Proven experience as a hands‑on Software Architect, Lead Developer, or Senior Full‑Stack Engineer in complex software systems, combining software architecture responsibilities with active development and implementation work.
• Strong hands‑on experience in full‑stack software development encompassing frontend (React), backend (Python, FastAPI), containerisation (Docker), and relational/geospatial databases (PostgreSQL/PostGIS).
• Expertise with geospatial technologies, including Cesium, Geo Server, and geospatial APIs and mapping services.
• Strong knowledge and hands‑on experience with AI/ML technologies, including large language models (LLMs), RAG architectures, AI service integration, and semantic search with vector databases.
• Experience designing distributed and scalable backend architectures.
• Familiarity with REST APIs, microservices, and cloud‑native architectures.
• Exposure to Git-based development workflows and CI/CD pipelines.
• Strong problem‑solving skills and ability…