Aireon deployed the world's first global space-based air traffic surveillance system, providing real-time aircraft monitoring capabilities around the world, including over the poles, over the oceans and in remote areas.

Aireon data enables safer, more efficient and more environmentally friendly aviation travel, resulting in significant CO2 emission reductions. More than 20 Air Navigation Service Providers representing more than 40 countries - including NAV CANADA, NATS (UK), Air Traffic and Navigation Services (South Africa), Airports Authority of India (AAI), and ASECNA (Africa) -- rely on Aireon data to navigate aircraft in their airspaces.

We are committed to offering an employment experience and benefits package that enables you and your family to grow with us and to share in our success.

The Data Scientist role will have a significant role in the design and development of Aireon's Machine Learning applications and products as well as supporting data analysis of the performance of the Aireon space-based Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) air traffic surveillance system. Aireon is currently exploring new and exciting opportunities to leverage Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence; this role will help establish the foundation of that work. In this role you'll be reporting to the Director of Modeling & Analysis / Data Science. As such you will be primarily involved with: Developing Machine Learning Models, Data Analysis, Algorithm Development, & Prototyping Solutions. In addition to these primary tasks the Data Scientist may also act as a subject matter expert to support activities such as requirements development, system tests, software development, and performing trade studies. In this role, you will be encouraged to innovate and ensure that key technical milestones are met for the broader engineering team.

The Data Scientist will primarily work on development of proof-of-concepts and prototypes for Aireon's new products to deliver high-quality solutions to challenges facing the aviation community leveraging Aireon's global Space-Based ADS-B data. This role will work closely with members of Aireon's Integrated Product Team (IPT) and Sales teams along with Aireon's worldwide customer base to ensure these solutions meet customer requirements and expected levels of performance. There will also be collaboration in the technical activities of Aireon development partners, including Iridium (the payload procurement manager, payload development and integration technical manager, the Hosted Payload Operations Center (HPOC) developer and operator, and the host satellite services provider) and Harris (the payload supplier, the systems engineering contractor, the Aireon Processing and Distribution (APD) system provider and operator).

Effective communication and adeptness at working with a variety of personalities and skills across multiple organizations, and multiple time zones, and willingness to contribute broadly in a fast-paced, start-up environment will be a key part of this role.

What You'll Do

Machine Learning Models
• Using Aireon's vast stores of recorded ADS-B data to develop models that predict and evaluate trends in air traffic.
• Developing complex simulations to evaluate potential modifications to the Aireon system.
• Working on leading-edge products that provide analytics and services to our customers by leveraging big data techniques.
• Data Analysis
  • Working with large data to discover trends and evaluate the performance of the Aireon system.
  • Packaging, delivering, and presenting results to colleagues and customers.
  • Developing tools that allow for data transformation, visualization, and investigation.
• Algorithm Development
  • Create and modify algorithms to implement new features or updates to the Aireon system design.
  • Support development in implementing algorithms as operational systems.
• Prototyping
  • Working closely with customers and the sales team to rapidly prototype new products.
  • Supporting the Aireon IPT in developing operational products based on prototype designs and performance.
• Contribute to updates of the design and validation of the Aireon system and subsystems.
• Technical support for demonstrations to customers and key stakeholders.

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated hands-on experience developing ML models using large datasets and deploying data science solutions.
• Minimum of a Bachelor's Degree in Data Science, Engineering, or Computer Science.
• 5+ years of experience with either Python or MATLAB.
• 5+ years of experience acting as a data scientist.
• 5+ years of experience performing data analysis.
• Demonstrated experience using ANN development frameworks (e.g., TensorFlow, PyTorch, Keras)
• Some experience using cloud-based platforms such as Azure or AWS
• Basic experience and understanding of Linux Operating Systems.
• Excellent problem-solving skills involving complex and ambiguous issues.
• Ability to handle multiple simultaneous assignments.
• Ability to quickly learn and embrace Aireon's safety culture.
• Ability to work as part of a team comprised of internal and external resources located in multiple geo-graphic locations and time-zones.
• Flexibility to take on additional roles related to technical system development, testing, and operations to help where needed.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with other programming languages such as C# is desirable.
• Experience with Databricks and PySpark is desirable.
• Understanding or background with aircraft surveillance technologies such as ADS-B and/or Mode S is desirable.

About You

You are a self-starter. Sitting and waiting isn't an option. You take the initiative to make things happen.

You are comfortable in multi-tasking. Managing and juggling priorities across tasks seems to come naturally in your everyday workload. You have a sense on how to balance priorities and communicate clearly when overloaded for assistance/help.

You love solving problems. You enjoy digging into problems and finding the most efficient ways to solve them. You have a passion for understanding issues and logically tackling them.

You are collaborative. You're a team player who puts the interest of the team above your own. You display a positive attitude, are open, and enjoy contributing.

You are a natural leader. No matter where you find yourself, others tend to gather around you, leading to encouragement and mentoring.

Technology is your passion. It doesn't just provide a paycheck; you are genuinely interested in what you do and the impact that it has on others.

1-3-6-12 Month Plan

In the first month we'll expect you to...

• Get onboarded and train with your manager
• HR Onboarding
• Aireon Engineering Training
• Gain access to various systems
• Get acclimated into the role and shadow Aireon's Modeling & Analysis staff
• Gain familiarity with Aireon Engineering resources in Bitbucket, Confluence, Jira, SharePoint, Databricks, etc.

At 3 months we'll expect you to...

• Begin to understand the ins-and-outs of Aireon's data
• Independently perform simple data analysis tasks such as pulling and formatting data or investigating system anomalies
• Contribute to existing work on prototyping by supporting design or model development with other members of the M&A team

At 6 months we'll expect you to...

• Begin modifying and maintaining existing models and prototypes
• Support root-cause analysis of more complex events that require detailed analysis and investigation
• Contributing to technical data packages that are presented to customers and other stakeholders

At 12 months we'll expect you to...

• Independently develop prototypes to support requests from other groups such as sales
• Develop your own data analysis tools & techniques and process requests from other groups at Aireon such as systems engineering or test
• Develop and document new algorithms for new system features including prototyping simulations

About the Team

Aireon's Modeling & Analysis team acts as a resource that supports the broader engineering group and other departments at Aireon as subject matter experts on our data and how it is processed. The team currently collaborates on various projects and fully supports a hybrid/remote working environment. The entire team meets to discuss high level objectives once per week but also holds as needed meetings to cover individual projects. Team members are currently located in Northern Virginia as well as full time remote employees in different parts of the country.

Perks and Benefits

Premium medical, dental and vision plan

Life Insurance and AD&D

Short Term and Long Term Disability

Health Savings Account (HSA)

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

Retirement 401K plan with Employer Matching

Education Assistance and Tuition Reimbursement

Paid Time Off, Sick Leave, Floating Holidays

Paid Parental Leave

Company Sponsored Events

Employee Referral Program

Aireon is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or status as a protected veteran. EOE of Minorities/Females/Vets/Disability and other protected categories.