Software Engineer (Satellite Imagery to Monitor and Estimate Emissions)

WattTime is in the intermediate stages of a Python based project to monitor and estimate emissions from all large power plants world wide using satellite imagery in an effort to combat climate change.  As you might guess, this is an ambitious task which requires a robust data backend to manage the locations of power plants, their characteristics, known power generation, and maintain massive stores of satellite imagery.   

We’re looking for a candidate to join our data team who can think critically about building new data architectures, write robust, well ordered Python3 code to retrieve and coordinate data from our data stores, download satellite imagery from new sources, and automate data pipelines in our current Kubernetes infrastructure. 

Our data backend is currently in great shape,  but is continuously growing and in need of someone to architect how new pieces fit together and lead the charge on gathering data from new sources.

(Does this description look familir to you? We are also hiring a more senior Software Engineer, so you'll see similar details here. It's a great time to join our Research & Engineering team - we're investing in this team and you're joining some pretty amazing folks, as you can see from our Team page.)

ABOUT THE WORK

• Work on the data team to provide the full data backend to WattTime’s satellite project.
• Design and implement new data architectures and code in Python.
• Clean and structure messy data sets, create linkages between multiple data sources.
• Write code to obtain new data from a variety of sources, including satellite imagery sources.
• Collaborate with the modeling team to arrive at solutions that allow modelers to move quickly and work with solid data.
• Implement simple automation pipelines in existing kubernetes based infrastructure.

 ABOUT YOU

• BS, MS in computer science or an engineering related field with relevant experience.
• 2-5 years of full time work experience in software development or data engineering.
• Comfortable working in Linux full time.     
• Excellent grasp on: Python, Pandas, relational databases, working with data pipelines.
• Experience working with large datasets and cloud platforms such as GCP a plus.
• Highly motivated, collaborative, action-oriented, able to lead and to take direction.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Bonus points: Prior experience working with satellite imagery, power grid, emissions and/ or energy data

LOGISTICS

• Remote location, anywhere in the U.S. 
• Must be authorized to work in the U.S. 
• For those authorized and located in the U.S., WattTime is open to U.S. visa sponsorship. As an H-1B cap-exempt, non-profit research organization, WattTime can sponsor employees for H-1B status throughout the year.
• Salary: $130,000 - $150,000 based on experience
• We offer full health coverage (medical, dental, vision) for employees and 80% for dependents + paid parental leave + flexible time off + 403b and up to 5% matching + more
• Timing: Accepting applications on an aggressive, rolling basis 
• In your application, send a response to the following: 
•  Briefly describe a data storage architecture you designed or helped build.  An example might be a couple of relational database tables and file storage on AWS or records ElasticSearch,  something of that flavor. 

HIRING PROCESS

• Resume screening for the above
• Initial phone call to answer any of your questions about the role
• Take home project to see your work in action. You’re most likely to do well if you have:
• Strong python skills: you can solve data engineering problems well with code
• Design capability: you can design data storage and processing architecture well
• Time in the saddle: you have enough practical software/data engineering experience to have learned from prior mistakes/successes so that we can expect you to join a large project mid-stream and jump in and contribute.
• Technical interview about the take home project
• Half-day of interviews with the team at large
• Reference checks and an offer

WORKING WITH WATTTIME

We are practical, results-driven change makers. We believe nothing has more potential for fast, world-changing impact, than software. We embrace change. We are lean and rapid prototypers. We never confuse growth with impact. We are all personally, fiercely committed to our mission. We are quietly radical in unexpected ways. We have allies, not competitors. Our band of expert volunteers helps us punch above our weight class. We trust in data and everyone’s voice being heard. We know diversity is central to success. We consider respect non-negotiable: there are no jerks here. 

Unlike most start-ups, our team is backed by a host of more than 300 volunteers who contributed to our founding and are happy to support us in terms of advice, networking and perspective. 

WattTime is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) and does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, disability, or sexual orientation or classification.