Make-A-Wish is looking for a Remote Sensing Data Scientist & Program Lead to lead the NASA ROSES-funded 'Hot Spot' project, a 3-year fire sensing program using stratospheric balloon platforms. You'll own the end-to-end development of Land Surface Temperature data products, combining deep technical expertise with program leadership.
What You'll Do
- Lead the NASA Hot Spot program as primary technical and programmatic owner, managing schedule, deliverables, and customer relationships.
- Lead algorithm development, calibration, and validation for Land Surface Temperature data products from thermal infrared instruments.
- Implement atmospheric correction and radiative transfer modeling to support LST and secondary geophysical products.
- Design, implement, and own the data quality control and validation pipeline for all data products.
- Maintain and extend the data processing codebase for operational delivery of scientific data products.
- Support optical and system-level modeling to inform hardware development and data processing using tools such as Zemax OpticStudio.
- Translate instrument performance and optical effects into algorithm assumptions, correction strategies, and uncertainty models.
- Support the design, development, testing, and calibration of high-performance EO payloads for imaging.
- Support mission design, trade studies, and requirement definition through data-driven analysis.
- Document and communicate results via technical reports, peer-reviewed publications, and presentations.
What We're Looking For
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a quantitative field (e.g., Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Physics, Engineering).
- 5+ years of experience in remote sensing, algorithm development, or related data science/engineering roles.
- Strong background in thermal infrared sensing, Land Surface Temperature retrieval, and radiative transfer modeling.
- Proficiency in Python for production-quality algorithm development and data processing.
- Experience building scalable data pipelines with emphasis on reproducibility, automated testing, and operational delivery.
- Strong understanding of calibration and validation methodologies for remote sensing instruments and derived data products.
- Experience with optical modeling tools (Zemax OpticStudio, Code V, FRED or similar) and ability to translate instrument performance into algorithm design.
- Demonstrated experience managing technical programs or projects, preferably government contracts.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills for technical documentation, publications, and customer engagement.
- Must be US Citizen or Permanent Resident.
- Must be located near Denver, CO or willing to relocate.
- This role is on-site at the Denver office.
Nice to Have
- Experience with NASA ROSES or other NASA research programs.
- Background in wildfire detection, land surface temperature retrieval, or related earth science applications.
- Experience with atmospheric correction algorithms and sensitivity analysis.
- Experience building data QC systems including monitoring, anomaly detection, and reporting tools.
- Experience working with DoD customers (Air Force, Army, or other branches).
- Familiarity with stratospheric or airborne remote sensing platforms.
- Track record of peer-reviewed publications in remote sensing or related fields.
- C++ experience desirable.
- Proficiency with job-relevant modern AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude, GitHub Copilot) is expected.
Technical Stack
- Python
- C++
- Zemax OpticStudio
- Code V
- FRED
Team & Environment
You'll join a small, supportive team of engineers, makers, developers, and doers.
Benefits & Compensation
- Salary: $120,000 - $170,000 per year.
- Stock Options.
- Medical, Vision and Dental insurance.
- Unlimited Vacation Days.
- Cell Phone Bill Stipend.
Work Mode
This role is onsite at our Denver, CO office.
Make-A-Wish is an equal opportunity employer, and we value diversity. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.
