Senior Remote Sensing Scientist / Engineer

ROLE DESCRIPTION

You’ll be joining a team tasked with estimating power plant and other greenhouse gas emissions around the globe. This project began as a part of the Google AI Impact Challenge, a prestigious, action-oriented collaboration between Google AI, Google.org, WattTime, and other notable partners. The impact of this work has already caught the attention of Bloomberg, CleanTechnica, Grist and Vox.

Our solution will combine different types of satellite imagery, as well as atmospheric chemistry datasets and real-time grid operations to replace expensive, on-site power plant sensors with a global monitoring platform. With significant amounts of pollution going unreported, this work will combine a variety of different inputs, ML algorithms and AI techniques into a single project; satellite images will provide “eyes in the sky” to help ensure that power plant emissions have nowhere to hide. 

ABOUT THE WORK

• Advise, support, and help develop the WattTime satellite-focused project described above: a Python-based data pipeline for an AI framework that ultimately estimates power plant emissions based on satellite imagery, atmospheric chemistry datasets and real-time grid operations.
• Offer the same advice and support across a coalition of similarly-situated organizations, working on satellite-focused GHG monitoring projects in other sectors.
• Collaborate and solve problems with a diverse team of analysts, engineers and project managers from WattTime, Google and partners.
• Execute sound judgement and critical thinking.

LOGISTICS

• WattTime headquarters in Oakland, CA. Remote location available for this role.
• Work hours must be compatible with a mix of U.S. timezones and GMT.

ABOUT YOU

• BS required (Masters or PhD desired) in Physics, Applied Mathematics, Engineering, Earth Science, or a related discipline.
• 5+ years’ experience in a related field, working with Software or Aerospace sectors within industry, government, and/or academia.
• Strong data analysis skills.
• Strong foundation in mathematics and particularly statistics.
• Scientific programming competency: C, C++, and/or Python. Prior experience with ML techniques is helpful.
• Experience with Space-based sensors.
• Familiarity with remote sensing data types, including imaging, spectroscopic, and other modes.
• Highly motivated, collaborative, action-oriented, confident, and respectful.
• Adept at learning new skills and collaborating with others.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Bonus points: Prior experience working with using satellite imagery to assess GHG emissions.

WORKING WITH WATTTIME

We are practical, results-driven change makers. We believe nothing has more potential for fast, world-changing impact, than software. We embrace change. We are lean and rapid prototypers. We never confuse growth with impact. We are all personally, fiercely committed to our mission. We are quietly radical in unexpected ways. We have allies, not competitors. Our band of expert volunteers helps us punch above our weight class. We trust in data and everyone’s voice being heard. We know diversity is central to success. We consider respect non-negotiable: there are no jerks here. 

Unlike most start-ups, our team is backed by a host of more than 200 volunteers who contributed to our founding and are happy to support us in terms of advice, networking and perspective. We also sit within the RMI family which brings additional upside in terms of support, industry connections and credibility.

WattTime is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) and does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, disability, or sexual orientation or classification.

ABOUT WATTTIME

WattTime is a nonprofit with a software tech startup DNA, dedicated to giving everyone everywhere the power to choose clean energy. We invented Automated Emissions Reduction (AER), which allows utilities, IoT device and energy storage companies, and any end user to effortlessly reduce emissions from energy, when and where they happen. Our cutting-edge insights and algorithms, coupled with machine learning, can shift the timing of flexible electricity use to sync with times of cleaner energy and avoid times of dirtier energy. We sell solutions that make it easy for anyone to achieve emissions reductions without compromising cost and user experience. WattTime was founded by PhD researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, and in 2017 became a subsidiary of Rocky Mountain Institute.