SAR Image Processing Engineer

The Data Production Department covers the lifecycle of the SAR data from downlink to delivery. Within this department, the SAR Processing unit is responsible for the development of the SAR image processing pipeline, which orchestrates deserialization, processing parameter estimation, focusing, and packaging into the different supported SAR data formats. Including its architecture, integration to ground systems and automation.

This role is about turning algorithms into a reliable, scalable production pipeline.

Responsibility

This is a hands-on, production-focused engineering role rather than a research position. You'll need a genuine SAR foundation, but your impact will come from system and pipeline engineering: integrating the processing algorithms, hardening them, and scaling across all acquisition modes and product types.

If you have a SAR/research background and want to move toward production and systems work, you'll fit well with us. If you've moved into research, management, or adjacent roles and want to return to hands-on SAR engineering, you're welcome too. If your goal is to stay in pure algorithm research, this role is not a good fit for you.

While knowledge of SAR principles is essential, the primary output is production-grade software and system architecture. As a radar engineer in our unit, you will work with radar data processing and image analysis for large datasets, while contributing to the design and development of future satellites’ radar systems.

Details of work

• Own and evolve the architecture of the SAR image processing pipeline

• Integrate and productionize SAR processing algorithms across acquisition modes and product types

• Investigate SAR image and processing issues, relating signal-level behavior (Doppler, geometry, focusing) to satellite and acquisition behavior

• Contribute to the end-to-end development of new SAR data products to expand our commercial offerings.

• Develop and automate tooling to analyze, troubleshoot, and verify products

• Collaborate with the design of a continuously growing ground system to include new operational modes

• Provide feedback on the system engineering of future satellites’ radar systems

Selling points of this role

• Work hands-on with spaceborne SAR with advanced processing technology at one of the leading companies in this field with full access to real sensor data and the complete signal chain.

• Act as the bridge between algorithm development, satellite development, and production

• Collaborate with engineers with diverse specialities (satellite engineering, signal and image processing, data science, machine learning, …).

• Participate in our “Shift-Left” quality roadmap by designing and implementing automated E2E testing frameworks for satellite product validation

• International, English-working environment in Tokyo

• Bachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications, Remote Sensing, Physics, or a related field

• You've owned a piece of a production system or processing pipeline end-to-end. Typically 3+ years in signal/image processing, radar, or a related software-heavy domain

• Solid grasp of SAR fundamentals: image formation, acquisition modes, and the SAR processing chain, or closely transferable coherent / aperture-synthesis imaging experience (radar, array processing, ultrasound, seismic)

• Solid foundation in digital signal or image processing

• Ability to write maintainable code in teams (not just scripting) in at least one language used for scientific/production work (e.g., Python, C++, Rust)

• Good verbal and written English

• Can work in office in Tokyo

To stand out

• Experience with spaceborne or airborne SAR data specifically

• Experience in Python and Rust

• Familiarity with SAR calibration, geometric/radiometric accuracy, or image-quality assessment

• Experience in satellite or remote sensing industry

• Good verbal and written Japanese