Remote Sensing Data Engineer

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda and advocates for environmental action across the UN system. UNEP was established in 1972 and has since been at the forefront of promoting sustainable development through sound environmental practices. The organization operates in over 150 countries and employs thousands of staff members dedicated to various environmental initiatives. UNEP's mission is to encourage sustainable development through sound environmental practices and to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment.

Job Overview:
The Remote Sensing Data Engineer consultant will play a crucial role in ensuring a reliable flow of satellite detections into the Methane Alert and Response System (MARS) from both existing and newly integrated data sources. This position involves maintaining a healthy and monitored ingestion pipeline as data volume and automation grow, as well as improving the estimation of source persistency and total annual emissions for methane point sources. The consultant will also be responsible for publishing automated public data products on IMEO’s Data Platform. The role requires a strong background in remote sensing, data processing, and software development, with a focus on integrating new satellite data sources into MARS, including high-temporal-frequency geostationary sensors. The consultant will also monitor and maintain the MARS data ingestion pipeline, triaging and resolving ingestion issues, and extending data quality monitoring checks to cover new data sources and processing steps.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for integrating new satellite data sources into MARS, which includes making necessary adjustments to the MARS PostgreSQL database schema to ensure smooth ingestion, processing, and storage of data. Daily monitoring and maintenance of the MARS data ingestion pipeline will be required, which operates on Azure. As the number of automated processes increases, the consultant will need to triage ingestion issues using Jira and resolve them in production. The consultant will also own the MARS source persistency pipeline, which estimates the fraction of satellite observations in which a source is detected emitting and calculates total annual emissions for methane point sources. This includes improving the pipeline in line with the latest research directions. Additionally, the consultant will maintain and automate public data pipelines, generating outputs such as plume and source exports, a list of the top 50 emitters, and detection and non-detection time series.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a first-level degree (e.g., Bachelor's) in Remote Sensing, Computer Science, Data Science, Physics, or a related field. High proficiency in Python and its scientific and geospatial stack is essential, particularly for data processing and analysis tools related to satellite remote sensing data. The role is hands-on and requires comfort with software development practices. Experience with PostgreSQL and cloud platforms, preferably Azure, is necessary, along with familiarity with software engineering best practices such as version control (Git), maintainable and tested code, containerization (Docker), and CI/CD (Jenkins or similar). Scientific expertise in remote sensing is also required, demonstrated through open-source projects or scientific publications, particularly in the retrieval and interpretation of atmospheric trace gases from satellite imagery. Experience in building or maintaining operational data pipelines and data quality monitoring systems is essential, including issue tracking with tools like Jira. A genuine interest in environmental and climate-related challenges is also required, demonstrated through academic projects, personal research, open-source contributions, or independent learning.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess at least a first-level degree (Bachelor's) in a relevant field such as Remote Sensing, Computer Science, Data Science, Physics, or a related discipline. This educational background is crucial for understanding the technical aspects of remote sensing and data engineering required for the role.

Experience:
The position requires candidates to have a solid level of experience in remote sensing, data processing, and software development. This includes hands-on experience with Python and its scientific stack, as well as familiarity with PostgreSQL and cloud platforms like Azure. Candidates should have experience in building operational data pipelines and maintaining data quality monitoring systems, along with a proven track record of resolving technical issues in production environments. Experience in scientific research or projects related to environmental and climate issues is also beneficial.

Languages:
English is the working language of UNEP's IMEO, and proficiency in English is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of additional languages is considered an asset and may enhance a candidate's profile.

Additional Notes:
The position is remote and is expected to last for 12 months. The consultant will be involved in developing an operational ingestion workflow for high-frequency satellite data sources, including the necessary PostgreSQL database tables. The role also includes maintaining a documented source persistency pipeline running in Azure ML Studio, with improved estimates of source persistency and total annual emissions for methane point sources. Data quality monitoring checks will be extended to new data sources and processing steps, with ingestion issues triaged and resolved in production. The consultant will also be responsible for the automated generation of MARS public data products for plumes, sources, and the top 50 emitters, further automating existing workflows. It is important to note that the United Nations does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process, including application, interview, or training.