Senior Image Processing Engineer

About the role

BlackSky is a real-time intelligence company that owns and operates the world's most advanced space-based intelligence platform, providing satellite imagery, automated analytics, and high-frequency monitoring of strategic locations, economic assets, and events worldwide. The Senior Image Processing Engineer will design, build, and maintain the image processing pipeline that transforms raw pixels into image products, focusing on image-to-image registration, photogrammetry, feature extraction, and image-quality enhancement. The role is collaborative across the organization, reports to the Director, Image Processing, and prefers candidates near the Seattle, WA office (remote considered).

Responsibilities

• Develop the algorithms and tools to process raw pixel values into imagery products.
• Maintain those algorithms and tools throughout their operational life cycle, particularly in commercial operations.
• Develop tools to monitor and maintain image quality and related metrics.
• Collaborate across the organization to improve concepts of imaging operations, inform new sensor and satellite designs, and define new imagery products and capabilities.
• Support launch and early operations of new satellites along with regular satellite calibration, commissioning, and operations activities, sometimes requiring after-hours work.
• Other job-related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Astronomy, Physics, Computer Science or related engineering fields
• Minimum five years developing image processing algorithms
• Minimum five years developing software in Python
• Minimum three years working with an operational imaging system
• A strong mathematical base in algorithm development, data processing, and uncertainty propagation
• A personality that enjoys working in a dynamic, multi‑task environment
• Motivation to self‑teach and the ability to thrive on challenging problems
• Excellent communication and organization skills

Qualifications

• Experience designing geo‑registration algorithms
• Experience developing image‑processing and analysis pipelines
• Experience working with CCD and CMOS sensors
• Experience working with reflective and/or refractive telescopes
• Experience in processing satellite or astronomical imagery
• Experience deploying software into a production environment
• Experience developing software in C++

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, disability, group term life and AD&D, voluntary life and AD&D insurance
• BlackSky pays 100% of employee‑only premiums for medical, dental and vision and contributes $100/month for out‑of‑pocket expenses
• 15 days of PTO, 11 Company holidays, four Floating Holidays (pro‑rated based on hire date), one day of paid volunteerism leave per year, parental leave and more
• 401(k) pre‑tax and Roth deferral options with employer match
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Employee Stock Purchase Program
• Employee Assistance and Travel Assistance Programs
• Employer matching donations
• Professional development
• Mac or PC – your choice
• Awesome swag

Pay

The anticipated salary range for candidates in Tukwila, WA is $145,000‑165,000 per year.