Senior Applied Research Engineer

Spexi; Canada; Remote; CAD 200,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in drone technology is seeking a Senior Applied Research Engineer to develop innovative algorithms and prototype systems for geospatial imagery. The role involves bridging research and production, working with advanced technologies in a collaborative environment. This position offers a remote-friendly setup and a focus on work-life balance.

Benefits

Remote-friendly environment

Flexible hours

Medical, dental, and vision health benefits

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in applied research or software engineering.
• Strong proficiency in C++ and Python.
• Experience with spatial databases and tools.

Responsibilities

• Develop and prototype novel algorithms in computer vision.
• Design approaches to improve spatial accuracy of imagery.
• Collaborate with product and engineering teams.

Skills

C++

Python

Computer Vision

3D Reconstruction

Geospatial Systems

Education

Master’s degree in Computer Science

Ph.D.

Tools

OpenCV

GDAL

NumPy

PostGIS

Ceres Solver

Job description

Spexi is a drone technology company on a mission to make ultra-high-resolution geospatial imagery more accessible than ever before, empowering humanity to make better decisions about the physical world.

We’re building an exciting new two-sided marketplace called the Spexi Network, powered by drones and blockchain technology. It's the world’s first Fly-to-Earn platform that enables drone pilots to earn rewards for flying and collecting aerial imagery. It also enables organizations of all sizes to quickly and easily access high-resolution aerial imagery and valuable derivative data, powering remote monitoring of buildings, infrastructure, natural resources, and more. Our goal is to guide their decision-making and help them better plan and react, without needing to own drones or hire pilots.

We’re looking for a Senior Applied Research Engineer to lead the development of experimental algorithms and prototype systems that push the boundaries of what’s possible with geospatial imagery. Your work will bridge early-stage research and production—delivering high-quality, well-structured code that serves as a foundation for the next generation of Spexi’s geospatial intelligence products.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop and prototype novel algorithms in computer vision, 3D geometry, and geospatial processing that enable automated understanding, alignment, and retrieval of aerial imagery and its derivatives.
• Design approaches to improve spatial accuracy of imagery using photogrammetric principles, including bundle adjustment and camera pose estimation, with limited or no ground control data.
• Investigate methods for geometric and semantic understanding of imagery, including feature extraction, image segmentation, and object-level matching across views.
• Work with coordinate reference systems, projection transforms and georectified imagery.
• Write performant and maintainable code in C++ and Python to support prototyping and handoff to production engineering teams.
• Design prototypes enabled by scalable pipelines for handling spatially indexed data, using tools like PostGIS and cloud-native services in AWS.
• Stay current on advances in 3D reconstruction (e.g., multi-view stereo, SLAM, radiance fields) and apply relevant techniques to aerial data workflows.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with product and engineering teams to evaluate feasibility, scope impact, and translate concepts into concrete implementation plans.
  
  

WHAT YOU BRING:

• 8+ years of experience in applied research, software engineering, or algorithm development in computer vision, geospatial systems, or related domains.
• Master’s degree in Computer Science, Imaging Science, Remote Sensing, or a related field. Ph.D. preferred.
• Strong proficiency in C++ and Python, including libraries such as OpenCV, GDAL, and NumPy.
• Deep understanding of multi-view geometry, 3D reconstruction, camera models, coordinate reference systems, projection transformation and georeferenced data.
• Experience with bundle adjustment, aerial triangulation, and optimization libraries such as Ceres Solver.
• Experience with spatial databases and tools such as PostGIS, and designing data structures for large-scale spatial indexing and querying.
• Exposure to object detection (e.g., YOLO), semantic segmentation (e.g., SAM), and modern ML approaches to feature extraction.
• Comfort working with large datasets in cloud environments (AWS) and optimizing prototypes for scalability.
  
  

BONUS POINTS:

• Experience with point cloud processing and tools such as PDAL.
• Familiarity with radiance field modeling, NeRFs, or generative scene reconstruction techniques.
• Familiarity with LLMs and Generative AI for imagery.
• Previous work translating research into production-quality solutions in fast-paced or startup environments.
  
  

BENEFITS & PERKS:

At Spexi, we believe that a solid work-life balance is crucial for producing the best products for our customers. To help our employees stay happy and healthy, we offer the following benefits and perks:

• Remote-friendly environment (with a hub in Vancouver, Canada)
• Flexible hours
• Medical, dental, and vision health benefits
  
  

Spexi is an inclusive employer that values workplace equality, supports diversity, and respects the unique qualities each individual brings to the company.

We thank all applicants for their interest. All applications will be reviewed to determine which candidates' education and experience best meet the needs of the position. Only individuals selected for interviews will be contacted.

Compensation Range: CA$200K - CA$250K