Senior GeoAI Engineer

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) was established to support its 22 Arab Member States in achieving inclusive and sustainable development through evidence-based policymaking. ESCWA operates in various countries across the Arab region, focusing on enhancing regional cooperation and integration. The organization is dedicated to promoting social and economic development, with a mission to improve the living standards of people in the region. ESCWA employs a diverse workforce of professionals who are committed to addressing the challenges faced by the Arab states, and it engages in numerous initiatives and projects aimed at fostering sustainable development and addressing pressing regional issues.

Job Overview:
The Senior GeoAI Engineer position is crucial for the development and operationalization of geospatial AI pipelines, models, and services that transform Earth observation and other geospatial data into actionable insights for Arab Member States. The role involves integrating these capabilities into the Decision Support and Data Science Division (DSDS) platforms, thereby enhancing ESCWA's geospatial analytics capacity. The engineer will work on various projects that utilize geospatial data to inform policy decisions, including monitoring trade flows, urban expansion, agricultural production, and climate exposure. The position requires a strong technical background in geospatial data science and machine learning, as well as the ability to collaborate with policymakers and stakeholders to develop tools that support evidence-based decision-making.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Senior GeoAI Engineer will be responsible for a range of duties, including designing a scalable geospatial data architecture that encompasses data ingestion, storage, processing, and serving. This includes establishing reproducible pipelines and ensuring interoperability with existing DSDS platforms. The engineer will also develop and validate machine learning models for specific use cases, create interactive geospatial dashboards, and produce datasets that inform decision-making processes. Additionally, the role involves applying ESCWA's AI governance principles to ensure responsible use of data, contributing to knowledge products, and providing technical training to Member State officials and ESCWA staff. Mentoring junior staff and contributing to project proposals are also key responsibilities.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master's degree or equivalent in fields such as geoinformatics, remote sensing, computer science, data science, geography, or civil/environmental engineering. A PhD is desirable, but a first-level university degree with additional qualifying experience may be accepted. At least seven years of progressively responsible experience in geospatial data science or GIS engineering is required, with a minimum of four years focused on machine learning or deep learning models applied to Earth observation data. Proficiency in Python and familiarity with the geospatial stack and deep learning frameworks are essential. Experience in building production-grade geospatial pipelines on cloud platforms is also required, along with a portfolio demonstrating relevant work.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Master's degree or equivalent in a relevant field such as geoinformatics, remote sensing, or data science. A PhD is preferred, but candidates with a first-level university degree and additional qualifying experience may be considered. All applicants must submit proof of their educational qualifications, as incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Experience:
The position requires at least seven years of progressively responsible experience in geospatial data science, remote sensing, or GIS engineering. Candidates should have a strong background in developing and deploying machine learning or deep learning models specifically for Earth observation data. Experience in building production-grade geospatial pipelines on cloud platforms is essential, as well as familiarity with segmentation, object detection, and time-series analysis of satellite imagery. Experience in the Arab region or in conflict-affected settings is desirable, along with a portfolio of published work or deployed applications.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position, as it is one of the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Knowledge of Arabic is desirable, as it is a working language of ESCWA. Fluency is defined as being able to speak, read, write, and understand the language at a high level, while knowledge of a language means being confident in at least two of the four areas.

Additional Notes:
The position is hybrid and expected to last for six months. The United Nations does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, and applicants should be cautious of any requests for personal banking information.