4+ years of experience in data-intensive software development
Strong understanding of data structures, algorithms, and graph theory
Fluency in a systems/back-end programming language
Proven track record of creating performant and correct backend systems
Experience with DuckDB, Apache Arrow, or similar systems
A research-oriented mindset with comfort in prototyping solutions
Ability to manage ambiguous problems independently and communicate effectively.
Responsibilities
Research, prototype, and implement core components of a geospatial engine
Transform complex computational geometry challenges into production-ready solutions
Utilize the full spatial stack including DuckDB and Arrow
Investigate geospatial computation frontiers and integrate valuable insights into the product
Establish benchmarks for accuracy and performance on critical system outputs.
Benefits
401(k) matching
Health, Dental, and Vision insurance
Paid company holidays and PTO
Hybrid work model offering flexibility in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
Full Job Description
What You'll Achieve
Research, prototype, and ship core parts of the geospatial engine at the heart of Paces - large-scale spatial search and analysis that energy developers depend on.
Take open-ended, hard problems in computational geometry and performance - over tens of millions of parcels and nationwide infrastructure data - from prototype to production.
Work across the full spatial stack: DuckDB, Arrow/GeoArrow, file-based spatial indexing, and a OLTP-backed data lake.
Explore the frontier of geospatial computation - for example geospatial embeddings and foundation models (e.g. Clay) - and decide what's worth bringing into the product.
Set the bar for correctness and performance on a system where wrong or slow answers carry real cost.
Requirements
4+ years of experience building data intensive software in a similar role
Strong computer-science fundamentals: data structures, algorithms, graph theory, and a feel for where time and memory go.
Fluency in a systems/backend language.
A track record of building performant, correct backend systems - you can reason about a hot path and read a query plan.
Experience with DuckDB, Apache Arrow, or comparable columnar/analytical data systems.
A research mindset: comfort with open-ended problems, prototyping to learn, and knowing when to harden a prototype into a production system.
Comfort owning ambiguous problems end-to-end and communicating tradeoffs clearly in writing.
About You
You will thrive in our culture if you:
Correctness and performance matter to you. You measure before you claim, document your tradeoffs, and prefer a loud failure to a plausible wrong answer.
You have real depth in the fundamentals and reach for the right primitive, not the familiar one.
You operate with high agency - you scope ambiguous problems, decide, and own the outcome.
You're pragmatic: you ship the simplest thing that solves a real problem.
Bonus Points
Experience with a systems language - Rust, C, C++, Zig, or similar.
A geospatial / GIS background: PostGIS, GDAL/raster drivers, GeoArrow, projections and coordinate systems, or computational-geometry libraries (GEOS, georust/geo).
ML, embeddings, or geospatial foundation models (e.g. Clay).
Familiarity with zarr / GeoZarr or other large-scale array/raster formats.
Large-scale spatial pipelines, spatial indexing, or distributed/ephemeral compute.
Open source contributor.
Compensation and Benefits
$150K - $220K annual compensation
Competitive equity compensation
401(k) matching
Health, Dental and Vision insurance
Paid company holidays & PTO
Hybrid work in the office in Williamsburg, Brooklyn ~3x per week
