The Position

The Research and Innovation team at Global Fishing Watch connects data science and machine learning experts with leaders in the scientific community to produce new datasets, publish impactful research, and empower others to use our data.

We aim to reveal the activity of all ocean-going vessels in the world. Because most vessels do not broadcast their locations using the automatic identification system (AIS), we need to draw on satellite imagery to see all vessels. Additionally, the ocean is experiencing an accelerated expansion of offshore infrastructure. Thus, to quantify the true global footprint of fishing and non-fishing vessel activity, as well as the evolution of fixed infrastructure at sea, Global Fishing Watch is applying deep learning and data fusion techniques to petabytes of satellite imagery (radar and optical), and AIS. 

The data scientist will play a key role supporting the Research and Innovation team’s work to integrate multiple data sources into the most complete picture of human activity at sea. The position’s major activities will include data fusion using statistical methods to combine the outputs of our object detection models and AIS. Other activities include, but are not limited to, improving the labelling of data for training object detection models, and developing algorithms for geospatial analysis to advance Global Fishing Watch datasets, as well as maintaining code repositories, and assisting the development of research projects.

The successful candidate will have an interest in environmental issues and a versatile skill set in geospatial analysis, statistics and programming. The incumbent will build diverse technical skills in programming, big data, and cloud computing and gain a variety of experience working for a globally diverse, fully distributed, and growing organization.  

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

Geospatial data fusion and analysis 

• Improve upon methods in Kroodsma et. al (2022), including 1) matching radar/optical vessel detections to AIS and 2) estimating total vessel presence using the improved methods
• Integrate detections from multiple sources (e.g. Sentinel-1 SAR and Sentinel-2 optical), accounting for the recall of each model, length of the objects, cloudiness, and image resolution, among others
• Improve training datasets for vessel and fixed infrastructure detection models and build new training datasets for other human-made objects, potentially managing contractors to generate labels.

Additional tasks may include

• Provide technical support to the senior data scientist(s) responsible for developing and advancing other Global Fishing Watch datasets
• Analyze large amounts of data from various sources, such as vessel activity, identity, and satellite imagery to identify trends, anomalies, and insights
• Maintain and improve automated processes to extract and compile data from publicly available sources, such as vessel registries 
• Ensure the integrity and accuracy of key data pipelines and research tables
• Maintain and improve internal Python tools, such as modules and template repositories, to assist with migrating research projects from proof-of-concepts to automated prototypes

Candidate description

Qualifications you should have

• Graduate degree and at least two years of professional experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Experience developing analysis methods with Python 
• Strong foundation in mathematics and statistics
• Experience in geospatial analysis of satellite imagery and remotely sensed data
• Ability to work with large datasets and visualize data effectively
• Experience with version control software and collaboration tools such as git and GitHub
• Highly organized, analytical, detail oriented and self-motivated
• Ability to work efficiently and with an eye for detail
• Willingness to take ownership of projects and effectively communicate updates in a transparent and proactive manner
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while performing in a fast-paced, collaborative environment

Also great

• Some experience with additional programming languages such as SQL and R
• Familiarity with containerization tools like Docker
• Experience engaging with academic researchers and the peer-review process
• An understanding of the complexities and collaboration required to work effectively for a globally remote organization

If you don't think you check all the boxes, but believe you have unique skills that make you a great fit for the role, we want to hear from you!

Additional Information

Reporting to: Senior data scientist

Location: Remote

Staff: Research and Innovation

Hiring Process: If selected for consideration, the hiring process for this position will include a formal 45 minute interview with 2-3 staff followed by a 30 minute administrative call by an Human Resources manager. Candidates advancing beyond this round may be asked to take a technical assessment and/or submit a representative code sample. Lastly, an informal 30-45 minute call with 3-4 members of the Research and Innovation team will be held with finalists. 

Compensation: Compensation is commensurate with experience and will vary depending on the hired candidate’s country of residence, in accordance with local laws and regulations. For reference purposes, the estimated annual salary range for a US employee is $90,000-$100,000. Global Fishing Watch offers pension/retirement, health and other benefits commensurate with similar level Global Fishing Watch employees in the country of employment.

Working Hours: Global Fishing Watch supports flexible working, so the pattern of hours may vary according to operational and personal needs. Global Fishing Watch works across different time zones and weekend work may be required on occasion. The post holder may be required to undertake periodic domestic and international travel. No overtime is payable.

Equal Opportunities​: GFW is an equal opportunities employer. We hire and promote qualified professionals without regard to actual or perceived race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, national origin, age, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We believe that our mission is best advanced when welcoming the contributions of people of diverse backgrounds, beliefs and cultures. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all employees of GFW and our partners, vendors, suppliers and contractors.

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