Geospatial Data Scientist

ZipRecruiter; London; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in agriculture technology seeks a versatile Geospatial Machine Learning Scientist or Applied Statistician in London. The role involves developing models for remote sensing data to address pest management and crop yield challenges. Ideal for candidates with a strong programming background and a passion for data science in an impactful field.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience with geospatial imagery and computer vision techniques.
• Strong programming skills in Python are essential.
• Experience with cloud platforms or geospatial pipelines is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement computer vision models for land cover detection.
• Analyze geospatial datasets from various sources.
• Communicate findings to technical and non-technical audiences.

Skills

Computer Vision

Machine Learning

Statistical Analysis

Geospatial Imagery

Programming in Python

Communication Skills

Education

Degree in Mathematics/Statistics, Data Science, Remote Sensing, Computer Vision, Computer Science

Masters or PhD (Desirable)

Tools

Google Earth Engine

Geospatial Libraries (GeoPandas, GDAL)

Job description

Job Description

• Location: London, UK (Hybrid, minimum 3 days a week in office)
• Hours: Full Time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Salary: Competitive

Company

At Food Systems Innovation & Delivery (FSID), we combine cutting-edge predictive modelling with industry-grade software development to support the improvement of agricultural systems in both the developing and developed world.

A key pillar of our work focuses on predictive modelling to improve the early detection, surveillance and management of pest and disease outbreaks impacting crops that currently cause up to 40% of yield loss globally.

Objective of the role

We’re looking for a versatile and collaborative Geospatial Machine Learning Scientist or Applied Statistician with a deep interest in remote sensing, computer vision and classification problems. You’ll play a core role in developing models, exploring complex datasets, and communicating results that directly influence product and strategy. This position is ideal for someone who enjoys wearing multiple hats and is excited to work in a fast paced, early-stage environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and implement classification and computer vision models to detect, classify, and segment land cover types and change detection from remote sensing imagery.
• Work with multi-resolution and multi-temporal geospatial imagery (e.g., Sentinel, Landsat, commercial satellites).
• Design and implement machine learning and statistical models that handle spatio-temporal data.
• Analyse datasets (both large and small) from diverse sources (e.g., sensor networks, geospatial APIs, remote sensing).
• Communicate findings clearly and regularly to both technical and non-technical team members.
• Prototype/experiment with algorithms in multiple ; while Python is ideal, openness to others (e.g., C++) is beneficial.
• Collaborate in small teams.

Skills and Qualifications

Required:

• Degree in a quantitative field - such as mathematics/statistics, data science, remote sensing, computer vision, computer science.
• Demonstrated experience with geospatial imagery, computer vision techniques and classification algorithms (e.g., semantic segmentation, object detection, pixel classification, random forest, convolutional neural networks).
• Experience with cloud platforms or geospatial pipelines (e.g., Google Earth Engine).
• Strong programming skills in (preferably) Python.
• Strong statistical background.
• Familiarity with fast and critical review of scientific literature.
• Great communication skills in explaining complex ideas to a range of audiences.
• Willingness to explore unfamiliar tools and as needed.

Desirable but not required:

• Experience with geospatial libraries (e.g., GeoPandas, GDAL).
• Demonstrated experience in geostatistical modelling techniques.
• Demonstrated experience working with spatio-temporal datasets and methods (e.g., kriging, spatial autocorrelation, trajectory analysis, or related fields).
• Experience with weather and climate data
• Experience developing time series models
• Familiarity with data pipelines, MLOps, or cloud computing.
• Contributions to open-source or academic publications
• Masters or PhD

Apply

Please provide your CV and a short supporting statement (approx. half a page) summarising why you are suited to the role, and how you meet the selection criteria.

To apply for this position, please email your CV and supporting statement to [e-mail]