GIS Researcher

At Emlid, we make modern professional geodetic equipment for highly accurate measurements. We develop both hardware and software ourselves, and constantly communicate with our users to gather feedback that inspires us to enhance our products.

Our team is united by a shared interest in research, deep engagement in tasks, and a collective drive for excellence — and we welcome those who share our values and approach to work.

Now we’re looking for a new GIS Researcher to join our team.

In this role, you will:

You’ll own the geodetic and GIS knowledge inside the team. Your research directly shapes what we build, how it behaves in the field, and how it fits into the tools our users already rely on. Tasks range from one-day deep dives on a user complaint to multi-week research projects that change our roadmap. A few examples:

  • Define how surveying algorithms should behave in our app — from stakeout math to line and surface computations and volume calculations — and turn that into specs engineers can build from, with the edge cases and accuracy trade-offs spelled out.
  • Untangle how surveyors actually work in different parts of the world — local geodetic practices, how GNSS is combined with conventional instruments, how site calibrations are set up — and translate that into concrete requirements for the product and the internal coordinate systems database.
  • Decide how our product should exchange data with the rest of the surveying world. Investigate the file formats and standards users move data through, define how we read, write, and round-trip them, and make sure nothing important gets lost on the way in or out.
  • Prototype to de-risk decisions before engineering commits. Build small, throwaway prototypes to answer feasibility questions about new data sources, online services, or integrations — and write up what we learned.
  • Benchmark how other professional surveying tools solve a given problem, synthesize the user feedback around it, and turn the findings into a clear problem statement and a proposal that product and engineering can act on.
  • Be the domain expert in the room — reviewing designs with UX, answering questions from engineers and support, and sharing knowledge inside the company through internal articles and documentation.

Requirements

  • Solid grasp of the theoretical backbone of geodesy — coordinate systems and transformations, projections, datums, geoids — and the math behind them.
  • Familiarity with modern surveying: how the work is actually done in the field, what tools surveyors use, and how data flows between the field and the office.
  • Experience with GIS and CAD tools (e.g. QGIS, ArcGIS, AutoCAD or similar) and with common geospatial / CAD file formats.
  • Experience with PROJ for coordinate transformations, or a strong willingness to become fluent in it.
  • A research mindset — you enjoy digging into ambiguous problems, comparing options, and writing clear conclusions others can act on.
  • Fluent business English, written and spoken (B2 or higher).
  • Prior experience in a similar geodesy / GIS / surveying-software role is highly desirable.

Your advantage would be:

  • Hands-on surveying experience with GNSS receivers and/or total stations.
  • Any flavor of coding ability — from polished Python or JavaScript to AI-assisted prototypes you’ve never shown to anyone. We don’t expect you to write production code, but being able to script your way to an answer or build a quick prototype is a real plus.
  • Experience with GDAL, geospatial databases, or OGC web services (WMS, WFS, etc.).
  • A degree in geodesy, surveying, geomatics, mathematics, computer science, or a related field.

What we offer:

  • Remote work with Rivermate — Your contract and payments will be managed through Rivermate, a global platform that ensures all contracts are legally compliant and that payments are processed securely and on time.
  • Time off — 20 days off per year, plus 5 public holidays per year.
  • Sick leave — up to 10 days per year, during which your contract payment will remain unchanged.
  • Flexible start time for working hours — We understand that everyone has different schedules, so you can start your workday anytime before 12 PM CET/CEST.
  • Work setup — We provide all the necessary tools and licenses for a comfortable and effective workflow.
  • Streamlined processes — Only focused, purposeful meetings and clear workflows, so you can actually get things done.
  • Growth and development — We encourage your professional journey by offering learning opportunities, mentorship, and space to take on new challenges.

Ready to join our team?
Send your application to hr@emlid.com.