Tech Lead (Python / LiDAR)

Clear Timber; Hilversum; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work Hilversum

25 days holiday

6% pension

NS Business Card

OV-bike subscription

Tech strategy input

Coaching & growth

Job summary

Clear Timber Analytics is seeking a hands-on Tech Lead to own engineering delivery, while continuing to code on our Python LiDAR analytics platform. You will guide architecture and sprint planning across three engineers, with the founder handling formal people management.

This hybrid role based in Hilversum offers freedom to shape technical roadmaps, strengthen CI/CD and production tooling, and bridge research prototypes to scalable software as the company grows.

Qualifications

• Strong Python engineering experience with production data workflows.
• Hands-on LiDAR, point clouds, or 3D spatial data.
• Experience owning technical projects and architectural decisions.
• Strong English communication skills.
• CI/CD, testing and cloud infrastructure (Azure).
• Experience with sprint planning or product ownership a plus.
• Background in geospatial, machine learning or 3D computer vision a plus.

Responsibilities

• Build: Develop Python workflows that turn LiDAR data into Clear Timber products.
• Lead: Own technical and architectural decisions and improve engineering practices.
• Drive delivery: Own sprint planning, prioritisation and backlog.
• Shape strategy: Translate goals into technical roadmaps and sprints.
• Improve shipping: Strengthen CI/CD, testing and releases for scale.
• Bridge research and production: Turn prototypes into production software.

Skills

Python engineering

LiDAR / 3D data

Architectural decisions

English communication

CI/CD & testing

Azure / cloud infra

Scrum / sprint planning

Geospatial / GIS

Job description

ABOUT US

Clear Timber Analytics combine drone imagery, LiDAR data, and machine learning to help forest owners manage and protect forests worldwide. Founded in 2020, we're evolving from a forestry-driven startup into a scalable software company. We turn billions of real-world 3D measurements into detailed digital inventories of individual trees, with our technology already used on projects for organisations including Deutsche Bahn, Staatsbosbeheer and Rijkswaterstaat.

ABOUT THE ROLE

We're now looking for a hands-on, strategic Tech Lead to take ownership of how our engineering team builds and delivers - while continuing to build alongside them.

You'll join three highly autonomous engineers working across point-cloud analytics, machine learning and production software. Formal people management remains with the founder, so your focus is technology, delivery and technical leadership.

This is a leadership role where you keep coding. You'll work directly on our Python-based LiDAR analytics platform while bringing structure, direction and focus to the wider engineering team.

WHAT YOU'LL DO DAY-TO-DAY

• Build: Develop and improve the Python workflows that turn large-scale LiDAR point clouds into Clear Timber products.

• Lead: Own technical and architectural decisions and raise the bar on engineering practices.

• Drive delivery: Own sprint planning, prioritisation and the backlog, keeping the team focused on the right problems.

• Shape strategy: Work directly with our founder to turn half-year and annual goals into technical roadmaps and two-week sprints.

• Improve how we ship: Strengthen CI/CD, testing and releases while helping our infrastructure scale with growing datasets.

• Bridge research and production: Turn promising prototypes and algorithms into maintainable production software.

WHAT YOU'LL BRING TO THE TEAM

• Strong Python engineering experience, including production data workflows.

• Hands-on experience with LiDAR, point clouds or 3D spatial data.

• Experience owning technical projects and making architectural decisions.

• Strong English communication skills.

• Experience with CI/CD, testing and cloud infrastructure (particularly Azure).

• Exposure to sprint planning, prioritisation, Scrum or product ownership is ideal.

• Broader experience across geospatial/GIS, remote sensing, machine learning, 3D computer vision or SLAM is a plus.

BONUS POINTS IF YOU HAVE...

• Experience in forestry, environmental tech or an early-stage/startup environment

WHAT WE'LL OFFER YOU

• 25 days' holiday, plus the option to work abroad for up to three weeks.

• 6% pension scheme.

• NS Business Card and OV-bike subscription.

• Hybrid working from our Hilversum office - surrounded by forests, fittingly!

• Direct input into product and technology strategy from day one.

• Coaching and support as you grow as a technical leader.

• A collaborative startup environment where you can help build something meaningful from the ground up.

• A longer-term opportunity to grow towards broader technology leadership, potentially CTO-level responsibility.

INTERESTED?

If you're excited about building scalable systems that support the forests of the future, we'd love to receive your application!