Senior Image Processing Engineer

Black Sky is a real-time intelligence company. We own and operate the world’s most advanced space-based intelligence platform and provide customers satellite imagery, automated analytics and high-frequency monitoring of strategic locations, economic assets and events from around the globe. Black Sky is trusted by the most demanding allied military and intelligence organizations and commercial companies to deliver foresight into critical matters that affect national security and the economy.

Black Sky’s data enables governments and businesses to see, understand and anticipate change as it happens, giving them the ultimate strategic advantage so they can act quickly. Our global team works with cutting-edge technology to make a difference around the world and prides itself on being people-first, customer-focused and fun.

Black Sky seeks a Senior Image Processing Engineer to develop unique processing algorithms to enhance the quality and utility of our satellite images. Your primary responsibility will be designing, building, and maintaining the image processing pipeline that transforms raw pixels into image products. Your work will center on developing and supporting new approaches to processing satellite images, most notably image-to-image registration, photogrammetry, feature extraction, and image-quality enhancement.

We process a massive quantity of images with low latency requirements, so our processing pipeline is held to a uniquely high standard of accuracy and reliability. The image product is the bedrock of Black Sky’s product offerings, and as a result your role is fundamentally collaborative across the organization.

This position reports to the Director, Image Processing. While we will consider remote candidates, the preference is candidates near the Seattle, WA office.

• Develop the algorithms and tools to process raw pixel values into imagery products.
• Maintain those algorithms and tools throughout their operational life cycle, particularly in commercial operations.
• Develop tools to monitor and maintain image quality and related metrics.
• Collaborate across the organization to improve our concepts of imaging operations, inform new sensor and satellite designs, and define new imagery products and capabilities.
• Support launch and early operations of new satellites along with regular satellite calibration, commissioning, and operations activities, sometimes requiring after-hours work.
• Other job-related duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Astronomy, Physics, Computer Science or related engineering fields
• Minimum five years developing image processing algorithms
• Minimum five years developing software in Python
• Minimum three years working with an operational imaging system
• A strong mathematical base in algorithm development, data processing, and uncertainty propagation
• A personality that enjoys working in a dynamic, multi-task environment
• Motivation to self-teach and the ability to thrive on challenging problems
• Excellent communication and organization skills

• Experience designing geo-registration algorithms
• Experience developing image-processing and analysis pipelines
• Experience working with CCD and CMOS sensors
• Experience working with reflective and/or refractive telescopes
• Experience in processing satellite or astronomical imagery
• Experience deploying software into a production environment
• Experience developing software in C++

• Medical, dental, vision, disability, group term life and AD&D, voluntary life and AD&D insurance
  • Black Sky pays 100% of employee-only premiums for medical, dental and vision and contributes $100/month…