Senior GeoAI Engineer
Overview
Design, build, and operationalize geospatial AI pipelines, models, and services to transform Earth observation and geospatial data into policy-relevant indicators and decision-support tools for Arab Member States.
Key Responsibilities
- Design a scalable, cloud-based geospatial data architecture.
- Establish reproducible pipelines using cloud-optimized formats and tools.
- Ensure interoperability with existing DSDS platforms.
- Develop, fine-tune, and validate machine learning and deep learning models.
- Apply and adapt geospatial foundation models.
- Document model performance, uncertainty, and limitations.
- Develop interactive geospatial dashboards and map-based decision-support tools.
- Produce subnational indicator datasets.
- Explore integration of geospatial retrieval and analysis into LLM-based agentic workflows.
- Apply ESCWA's AI governance principles to all GeoAI work.
- Prepare model cards and data documentation.
- Contribute technical content to the GeoInsights for Policymaking practitioner manual.
- Design and deliver technical trainings or workshops.
- Provide technical input to project proposals, concept notes, and briefs.
- Mentor DSDS staff and junior consultants.
Required Experience
At least seven years of progressively responsible experience in geospatial data science, remote sensing or GIS engineering, including at least four years developing and deploying machine learning or deep learning models on Earth observation data is required. Demonstrated experience building production-grade geospatial pipelines on cloud platforms (e.g., Google Earth Engine, AWS, Azure, Planetary Computer) is required. Experience with segmentation, object detection and time-series analysis of satellite imagery is required. Experience with geospatial foundation models, LLM-based geospatial workflows or MLOps practices is desirable. Experience producing policy-relevant indicators (e.g., SDG monitoring, poverty mapping, economic activity estimation) is desirable. Experience in the Arab region, in international organizations or in conflict-affected settings is desirable. A portfolio of published code, peer-reviewed papers or deployed applications is desirable.
Qualifications
A Master's degree or equivalent in geoinformatics, remote sensing, computer science, data science, geography, civil/environmental engineering or a related field is required. A PhD in a relevant field is desirable. A first-level university degree with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.