Satellite Payload Processing Engineer

Aim high, go beyond!

At Open Cosmos we are solving the world’s biggest challenges from space, providing businesses, governments and researchers access to more readily available information than ever before - ready for the challenge? Then read on…

Working in our Data Division

Our Data division transforms satellite data into meaningful insights that drive real-world impact. The team delivers all data products generated by Open Cosmos and its partners, curates and develops DataCosmos — our geospatial data platform — and builds integrations that make satellite imagery easy to access and act on. Their work helps organisations turn data into action and create positive change on Earth.

As a Satellite Payload Processing Engineer, you’ll design and build the processing chains that transform raw satellite data into high-quality, analysis-ready Earth Observation products. You’ll combine remote sensing expertise, software engineering and system integration to ensure Open Cosmos delivers reliable data at scale across multiple missions and payloads — enabling customer value and advancing our EO data platform.

What will you be doing?

• Defining EO product specifications in collaboration with customers, sales teams and mission engineers, ensuring products meet user needs and mission objectives

• Translating customer data requirements into clear technical processing specifications for EO missions and data products

• Contributing to payload definition and selection for next-generation EO missions, ensuring downstream data usability and performance

• Designing and developing image processing pipelines, from raw data ingestion through to delivery of calibrated, orthorectified and analysis-ready products

• Implementing and maintaining image processing algorithms, including band-to-band registration, georeferencing and orthorectification, radiometric and atmospheric correction, cloud detection and masking, classification and derived products

• Integrating processing workflows into scalable, automated data processing systems and orchestration platforms

• Acting as a technical interface between data processing, sales and system engineering teams, supporting feasibility assessments, proposals and effort estimation

• Continuously improving processing chains by evaluating new tools, algorithms and techniques to enhance quality, performance and efficiency

• Supporting multi-payload and multi-sensor operations, adapting pipelines for diverse satellite platforms and data sources

• Contributing to payload characterisation, calibration and validation (Cal/Val) activities to ensure data accuracy and product quality

What You’ll bring

• Strong grounding in remote sensing principles and optical Earth Observation (EO) image processing

• Understanding of satellite payload processing concepts and algorithmic approaches

• Proficiency in Python and familiarity with geospatial processing libraries (e.g. GDAL, rasterio, numpy, Xarray)

• Knowledge of geospatial data structures, formats, coordinate systems and projections

• Understanding of data processing pipelines, automation concepts and workflow orchestration approaches

• Awareness of calibration and validation (Cal/Val) principles for EO data quality

This role can be based in Oxford (UK), Barcelona (Spain), Tenerife, Porto (Portugal), Athens (Greece), or Argentina.

To apply, you must have the legal right to work in your chosen location.

When applying, please submit your CV in English.

Why Open Cosmos?

• Work at the cutting edge of space technology with customers around the globe.

• A mission-driven company making space accessible to help solve real-world challenges.

• A diverse, ambitious, and supportive team.