Company: DigitalGlobe

Position Title: Principal Scientist - Photogrammetry

Location: Longmont, CO

Type: Full-time

Category: Mapping

Description:

About the Company
DigitalGlobe, Inc. is a profitable, fast growing technology company. We operate a highly sophisticated commercial earth-imaging satellite constellation enabling us to amass the largest database of high resolution imagery in the world. Our systems manage massive scale storage and processing of this data in order to provide imagery solutions to companies like Google, Microsoft, Garmin, Tele Atlas & Bushnell. In addition, our information quality meets the rigorous Defense & Intelligence standards for the US government and governments around the world.

Summary
The Principal Scientist / Photogrammetry will be responsible for leading a portfolio of photogrammetry projects as part of DigitalGlobe’s research and development program, with an emphasis on approaches to increase the horizontal and vertical accuracy of electro-optical imagery products from heterogeneous satellite and airborne sensors.

For someone desiring to work in this space, DigitalGlobe is “where the data is”. DG has the largest archive of unclassified high resolution satellite and aerial imagery, operates the largest and highest resolution commercial remote sensing satellite constellation, and is building out one of the largest image processing infrastructures in the world. The position has the opportunity to be career-defining for the right candidate.

Responsibilities
Leading DigitalGlobe’s portfolio of R&D efforts in this area has two elements. The first, as an individual contributor, focuses on developing / leading the development of algorithms and software prototypes. The second, as a technical leader, focuses on developing and managing multiple R&D partnerships with researchers from academia, government and industry, and on evaluating and incorporating these results. The split between these two elements is TBD, but as the ideal candidate is motivated by finding the fastest path to practical application of advanced technology, a significant fraction of time will likely be spent as a technical leader.

The Principal Scientist will work with the Chief Technical Officer, the Senior Manager of R&D, other researchers/developers within DigitalGlobe, and representatives from DigitalGlobe’s business units to define problem areas / business opportunities that can be enabled by well-scoped R&D projects, and then execute these projects using a mix of corporate and external funding. Successful R&D projects may then be implemented by DigitalGlobe’s software engineering team as guided by the Principal Scientist.

Requirements
The ideal candidate will be recognized as a significant contributor to the state of the art in geomatics and photogrammetric processing of high resolution satellite and aerial imagery, including techniques for multi-sensor bundle adjustment, automatic tiepoint generation, sensor calibration, digital surface model and digital elevation model extraction from stereo imagery, as well as alternative technologies that are emerging from the computer vision community. This person will be very familiar / current with ongoing research throughout the community, and have experience in translating leading-edge research into prototypes that have subsequently made their way into production software. This candidate will be strongly motivated by the ability to bring technology into practice in an innovative company such as DigitalGlobe.

Skills and Experience

• At least 5 years experience (more desired) as a researcher in this problem domain
• Advanced technical degree (preferably Ph.D.) in a related domain (e.g., photogrammetry, remote sensing, electrical engineering, computer science) is required. However, this requirement can be waived if the candidate has demonstrated exceptional accomplishments in the field.
• Collaborative; able to work well with others. In particular, is motivated to find the best / fastest approach to solving a problem regardless of who invented it, and who is open to the ideas and contributions of others
• Strong written and spoken communications skills. These are particularly important given the collaborative nature of the position.
• The ideal candidate will have experienced the difference between clean theory and messy practice, i.e., will have experience in rapid prototyping of photogrammetric algorithms and in working with software engineers to convert those prototypes into production code.
• High degree of personal and professional integrity; proactively manages problems and works collaboratively with management to resolve them
• Very hands-on, enjoys working in a collaborative small team environment
• Experienced in working on R&D projects with other organizations, ideally internationally
• US citizenship desired. The ideal candidate will have a clearance or be able to obtain one since that will facilitate collaboration with Government and certain industry partners.

Compensation
Our compensation package includes: competitive base salary; annual incentive plan with payouts based on results; choice of medical plan; dental, life and disability insurance; employee assistance program; flexible spending accounts; a 401(K) plan with a competitive company match; tuition reimbursement; 12 paid holidays and 4 weeks paid time off. DigitalGlobe is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

How To Apply:

Please apply online @ http://www.digitalglobe.com/index.php/19/Careers