Edge Computing Software Engineer, Earth Observation

Open Cosmos; Harwell; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Open Cosmos in the Data division is hiring a Software Engineer to turn ground-based image processing into efficient code that runs in space. You’ll build and optimize data pipelines on Nvidia Jetson hardware and collaborate with flight, systems, and operations teams.

You should be proficient in Python, embedded Linux, ARM, and GPU programming, with a track record turning scientific code into production software.

Qualifications

• Strong Python skills for data processing.
• Hands-on experience with embedded Linux and ARM hardware.
• Experience with CUDA on Nvidia platforms.
• Confidence profiling, debugging and optimising code on constrained hardware.
• Experience turning scientific or analytical code into efficient production software.
• Understanding how power, memory, storage and heat limits shape software design.
• Experience designing data pipelines, including data formats and metadata standards.
• Familiarity with geospatial or image data libraries such as GDAL, rasterio, numpy or Xarray.
• Good engineering habits: testing, version control and code review.

Responsibilities

• Building and maintaining data processing pipelines on satellites' Nvidia Jetson computers.
• Adapting image processing algorithms to run in orbit with same results.
• Speeding up processing with GPU acceleration and profiling on ARM/GPU hardware.
• Collaborating with the ground-based Data Software Engineer to align orbit and ground improvements.
• Building quality checks so satellite data is ready for customers.
• Setting data and metadata standards for on-board and ground outputs.
• Building, testing and deploying data workflows in embedded Linux with testing/version control.
• Trying new processing techniques and data types for on-board workflows.
• Coordinating with Flight Software, Systems and Operations teams and payload partners to balance mission needs with hardware limits.

Skills

Python

Embedded Linux

ARM hardware

GPU computing

Profiling & debugging

Production software

Data pipelines

Communication

Tools

CUDA

Nvidia Jetson

GDAL

rasterio

numpy

Xarray

Job description

Aim high, go beyond!

At Open Cosmos we are solving the world’s biggest challenges from space, providing businesses, governments and researchers access to more readily available information than ever before - ready for the challenge? Then read on…

Working in our Data Division

At Open Cosmos, our Data division transforms satellite data into meaningful insights that drive real-world impact. The team delivers all data products generated by Open Cosmos and its partners, curates and develops DataCosmos (our geospatial data platform) and builds integrations that make satellite imagery easy to access and act on.

We are now looking for a Software Engineer to join our Data team and turn ground-based image processing into efficient, reliable code that runs within the tight limits of power, memory and heat in space.

What will you be doing?

• Building and maintaining the data processing pipelines that run on our satellites' Nvidia Jetson computers.
• Taking image processing algorithms that already work on the ground and adapting them to run in orbit, with the same results.
• Speeding up processing with GPU acceleration, and profiling and debugging code on ARM and GPU hardware.
• Working closely with our ground-based Data Software Engineer, so improvements made in orbit also benefit the ground, and the other way round.
• Building quality checks into the pipeline, so the data leaving the satellite is ready for customers.
• Setting and maintaining data and metadata standards so on-board and ground outputs stay consistent.
• Building, testing and deploying data workflows in embedded Linux, with solid testing and version control.
• Trying out new processing techniques and data types, and bringing the best ones into our on-board workflows.
• Working with our Flight Software, Systems and Operations teams, and with payload partners, to balance mission needs against what the hardware can do.

What You’ll bring

• Strong Python skills for data processing, and clean, testable, maintainable code.
• Hands-on experience with embedded Linux and ARM-based hardware.
• Experience with GPU computing and performance optimisation, such as CUDA on Nvidia platforms.
• Confidence profiling, debugging and optimising code on constrained hardware.
• Experience turning scientific or analytical code into efficient production software.
• An understanding of how power, memory, storage and heat limits shape software design.
• Experience designing data pipelines, including data formats and metadata standards.
• Familiarity with geospatial or image data libraries such as GDAL, rasterio, numpy or Xarray.
• Good engineering habits: testing, version control and code review.
• Clear communication, and the ability to explain technical trade-offs to engineers and non-engineers alike.

This role can be based in any of our European Locations

Why Open Cosmos?

• Work at the cutting edge of space technology with customers around the globe
• A mission-driven company making space accessible to help solve real-world challenges
• A diverse, ambitious, and supportive team

Equal opportunity employer

At Open Cosmos, we are dedicated to fostering a workplace built on respect, dignity, and belonging. As an equal opportunity employer, we actively challenge bias to ensure every candidate and employee feels truly welcome. We celebrate diversity in all its forms and are committed to maintaining an inclusive environment where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.