Geospatial Data Scientist

About Neural Earth

Neural Earth is committed to clarifying physical risk by empowering leaders to make resilient, informed decisions crucial for business and infrastructure. They tackle the complexities of environmental, economic, and infrastructure challenges by integrating fragmented and outdated data into a unified, continuously learning decision intelligence platform spanning planetary, government, and asset-level data.

Team Environment

The Science team transforms raw environmental data into actionable intelligence that influences markets and safeguards lives. This growing team includes geospatial data scientists, machine learning experts, and researchers, collaborating closely with Engineering, Product, and Revenue teams to ensure scientific outputs effectively reach customers.

Role Overview

This founding staff-level position leads Neural Earth's geospatial data science function, overseeing technical strategy related to ingesting, structuring, and processing multi-hazard geospatial data. You will enable the machine learning and AI teams to develop intelligence products utilized by insurers, government agencies, and infrastructure operators. The role spans geospatial data engineering, data infrastructure, and applied science, emphasizing production-quality deliverables over pure research.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and deploy Python-based geospatial models to quantify environmental and physical hazards with precision for business decision-making.
• Design and build foundational geospatial data pipelines and infrastructure, transforming raw hazard data into actionable intelligence products.
• Prepare and structure geospatial data for seamless integration with ML and AI team models, maintaining reliable production pipelines.
• Translate complex scientific findings on multiple hazards into business-focused products understandable by insurance underwriters, government operators, and enterprise executives.
• Act as the leading internal and external expert on geospatial data science, participating in customer engagements, proposals, and strategic planning, along with managing a direct report.
• Implement rigorous validation standards ensuring reproducibility, cross-validation, and defensibility of models across industries and regions.

Why You Are a Great Fit

• At least five years of experience handling diverse geospatial datasets and hazard types in research or applied settings alongside a graduate degree.
• Proficient coding skills in Python including experience with GeoPandas, Rasterio, GDAL, xarray, and Shapely to deliver production-grade geospatial models.
• Expertise in engineering geospatial data readiness for ML/AI workflows with preference for applying and extending existing research.
• Fluency in various geospatial data formats like GeoTIFF, COG, GeoParquet, NetCDF, and experience with large-scale datasets in cloud environments.
• Proven ability to develop scientific or technical frameworks beyond executing existing ones.
• Systems-thinking approach connecting environmental phenomena and their impacts, e.g., correlating wildfire burn scars with snowpack risk.
• Strong communication skills capable of explaining technical details at various audience levels without condescension.
• Ability to generate structure and build impactful projects amid ambiguity before formal roadmaps exist.
• Commitment to deploying fully validated, reliable models with sound judgment on readiness.
• Leadership experience including mentoring or managing direct reports and nurturing talent growth.
• Passion for how hazard models inform insurance and disaster response decisions, recognizing the real-world impact of your work.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s or PhD in Geospatial Science, Data Science, Atmospheric or Environmental Science, or a closely related field.
• Over five years of professional experience applying geospatial data outside of academic settings.
• Prior roles in sectors such as insurance, energy, government, defense, or climate technology.
• Demonstrated experience building and leading technical teams, including managing or mentoring employees.

Compensation

The annual salary range is $185,000 to $231,000, with progression based on individual growth and impact in the role. The company champions pay equity, transparency, and equitable compensation aligned with role, level, and expertise, independent of external negotiation factors.

Benefits

• Competitive base salary regardless of location
• Performance-based cash bonuses
• Employer-paid health, dental, and vision insurance covering employees and dependents
• Flexible paid time off
• Group life insurance at twice the base salary, employer-funded
• Options for FSA and HSA accounts to optimize healthcare expenditures

Neural Earth is dedicated to supporting employees throughout their careers and life stages to foster meaningful impact and professional growth.