Image Processing Scientist - Radiometric

Role Overview

Pixxel is searching for a Radiometric Imaging Scientist to lead the calibration and characterization efforts for its hyperspectral satellite constellation. This role requires transforming raw sensor measurements into accurate radiance and reflectance data, with ownership over the entire radiometric processing pipeline and protocols both prior to launch and during orbit to maintain data precision.

Responsibilities & Duties

• Design and sustain the radiometric processing workflow, including Non-Uniformity Correction (NUC), dark current removal, and absolute scaling.
• Analyze sensor artifacts like stray light, ghosting, SMILE, and Keystone to enhance sensor spectral and radiometric integrity.
• Create and apply in-orbit calibration methods using verification sites such as RadCalNet and pseudo-invariant calibration sites (PICS) to check sensor performance post-launch.
• Implement advanced atmospheric correction techniques to generate ready-to-use Surface Reflectance products.
• Define and monitor Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) standards and manage radiometric uncertainty budgets for each mission.
• Collaborate with satellite hardware teams to provide feedback and influence sensor design decisions throughout development phases.

Essential Qualifications

• PhD or Master's degree in Remote Sensing, Physics, Electrical Engineering, Optics, or a related field.
• Over 6 years of experience specializing in radiometric calibration of VNIR/SWIR imaging systems, preferably involving hyperspectral or multispectral sensors.

Required Expertise & Skills

• Extensive knowledge of atmospheric modeling techniques including MODTRAN and 6SV.
• Expertise in absolute radiometric calibration workflows and detector physics.
• Advanced understanding of photonics and application of statistical methods to quantify uncertainty.
• Proficiency in Python with libraries such as NumPy, SciPy, and Pandas.
• Experience working with Earth Observation (EO) data handling libraries like GDAL, Rasterio, and Spectral.
• Proven ability to develop automated, scalable cloud-native processing systems for petabyte-scale satellite datasets.

Preferred Experience

• Familiarity with hyperspectral sensor architectures and multi-detector focal plane arrays.
• Knowledge of international standards including CEOS/OGC and experience with calibration sites like RadCalNet or Analysis Ready Data compliance.
• Experience in containerized pipeline development using Docker and Kubernetes.
• Track record of technical presentations at conferences or publications in photogrammetry or related fields.
• Strong communication abilities and mentoring experience across diverse technical teams.

Candidate Profile

A self-motivated individual who thrives in fast-moving, high-growth startup settings with minimal structure and is eager to contribute to challenging problems.

Employee Benefits

• Comprehensive health insurance provision.
• Flexible working hours with unlimited paid leaves.
• Remote working options aligned with role requirements.
• Support for relocation when applicable.
• Access to mental wellness programs.
• Creche facilities available to primary caregivers residing in India.
• Employee Stock Options offered to all new hires.

About Pixxel

Pixxel is pioneering Earth observation by building a constellation of hyperspectral satellites capturing 5-meter resolution imagery across 135+ spectral bands, far surpassing traditional systems. The planned full constellation will have up to 24 satellites with a daily revisit cycle and cover 250 spectral bands, leveraging in-house satellite manufacturing and AI-powered analytics to unlock new insights for sectors like agriculture, climate, and energy.

Pixxel also develops Aurora, a platform that democratizes access to complex hyperspectral data with AI tools, simplifying analysis for users of all technical backgrounds. The company’s dual expertise in satellite hardware and data analytics uniquely positions it to transform space-based Earth observation.

Pixxel’s culture values curiosity, speed, and long-term impact, fostering a supportive environment where employees can thrive while working on impactful projects.