Director of AI & Space Analytics (Remote)

Kuva Space

Espoo

Hybrid

EUR 120,000 - 180,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Dental coverage

Short-term psychotherapy

Annual sports & culture benefit

Relocation assistance

Finnish language support

Job summary

Kuva Space is hiring a Director of AI to define and lead its AI vision, architecture, strategy, and execution across hyperspectral Earth observation and autonomous sensing systems. You will build advanced AI capabilities turning multi-source satellite data into actionable intelligence for commercial, institutional, security, and defense markets.

You will lead a hands-on, deep-tech AI organization and partner with engineering, product, satellite operations, and mission teams.

Qualifications

Master’s or PhD in Computer Science, Machine Learning, Remote Sensing, Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Physics, or related field preferred.
Significant experience in senior AI/ML leadership roles, including building strong technical teams and delivering production-grade AI systems.
Previous experience in hyperspectral imaging technology.
Deep expertise in machine learning, computer vision, geospatial AI, remote sensing analytics, scientific computing, or adjacent fields.
Proven experience developing AI systems in complex, data-intensive, or sensor-driven environments.
Strong understanding of modern ML practices, model lifecycle management, scalable infrastructure, and production deployment.
Ability to connect advanced technical capabilities with customer needs and commercial outcomes.
Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and collaborating across engineering, product, research, and business functions.
Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence both technical and executive audiences.
Comfort operating in a fast-moving, ambitious deep-tech startup environment.
Very fluent English language skills.
You share the company mission of improving life on Earth through daily, space-borne hyperspectral imaging and AI!

Responsibilities

Define and own Kuva Space’s AI vision, strategy, and roadmap in line with company goals, product direction, and market opportunities.
Identify where AI can create the greatest impact across hyperspectral imagery, Earth observation analytics, geospatial intelligence, mission operations, onboard autonomy, and customer-facing products.
Drive long-term AI capability development, including geospatial foundation models, onboard inference, edge AI, MLOps, scalable production systems, and data strategy.
Lead strategic AI innovation through research initiatives, IP creation, scientific publications, and external partnerships.
Stay ahead of developments in AI, remote sensing, geospatial analytics, computer vision, and autonomous systems, turning emerging technologies into a competitive advantage.
Lead the design, development, deployment, and operationalization of AI/ML solutions across Kuva Space’s technology stack.
Oversee the development of advanced models and algorithms for hyperspectral data processing, image understanding, object and event detection, classification, anomaly detection, forecasting, sensor fusion, and temporal analytics.
Make key architectural decisions around AI pipelines, model deployment, cloud and edge inference, MLOps, and scalable infrastructure.
Build AI systems that perform under real-world constraints such as limited labeled data, orbital edge computing, bandwidth limitations, and near-real-time intelligence needs.
Ensure AI systems are robust, reliable, explainable, secure, and ready for operational use.
Help shape future autonomous sensing capabilities, including adaptive tasking, onboard filtering, edge analytics, and intelligent data prioritization.
Establish scalable processes and standards for AI development, experimentation, deployment, monitoring, and continuous improvement.
Balance long-term research with productization to ensure AI investments translate into customer value and business results.
Drive execution across multiple AI initiatives with strong prioritization, alignment, and delivery focus.
Contribute to company-wide technology strategy, roadmap decisions, and investment priorities.
Support secure, trustworthy, and responsible AI practices aligned with the expectations of institutional, security, and defense customers.
Build, lead, and mentor a high-performing team of AI scientists, engineers, researchers, and technical leaders.
Create a culture of scientific rigor, innovation, accountability, and practical delivery.
Define team structure, hiring plans, and capability development as the organization grows.
Strengthen collaboration across AI, software, mission operations, satellite systems, product, and commercial teams.
Act as a senior technical leader and trusted thought partner across the company.
Establish scalable processes and standards for AI development, experimentation, deployment, monitoring, and continuous improvement.
Balance long-term research with productization to ensure AI investments translate into customer value and business results.
Drive execution across multiple AI initiatives with strong prioritization, alignment, and delivery focus.
Contribute to company-wide technology strategy, roadmap decisions, and investment priorities.
Support secure, trustworthy, and responsible AI practices aligned with the expectations of institutional, security, and defense customers.