LiDAR Engineer

Citian is a fast growing, venture backed SaaS technology company based in Washington, DC. Our software solutions revolutionize how our transportation and infrastructure systems – roads, rail, transit, bicycle, pedestrian – operate.

Our tech solutions:

• Reduce traffic fatalities
• Enhance pedestrian accessibility
• Empower system operators to save time & money

You’ll work with some of the brightest minds in the software and transportation industries. Our engineers and data scientists apply the latest in emerging tech, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning to build smarter, more advanced tools for our diverse client base. We work with clients across the United States, with global ambitions in the years ahead.

Who You Are:

As a LiDAR Engineer on Citian’s Data Success team, you own the LiDAR data that powers our geospatial work. You manage our relationships with LiDAR partners, set the standards their data must meet, and turn raw point clouds into accurate, reliable data our products and customers can depend on. You know point cloud data inside and out, from how it’s collected to how it’s classified, georeferenced, and checked for quality, and you know how to connect it to the larger GIS and data systems around it. You’re comfortable working directly with external vendors, solving technical problems on your own, and explaining complex data issues to engineers, data scientists, and customer-facing teams. You’re excited to build processes from the ground up at a growing Series A company where your work directly helps make streets safer and more accessible.

Expected Duties:

• Serve as Citian’s technical point of contact for LiDAR partners and vendors, managing data deliveries, timelines, and quality expectations.
• Define and maintain data specifications for partners, including accuracy, point density, classification, coordinate systems, and file formats.
• Build and maintain pipelines to ingest, process, and integrate LiDAR data into Citian’s geospatial data and products.
• Perform quality assurance and quality control on incoming point cloud data, find issues, and work with partners to resolve them.
• Extract transportation and infrastructure features from point clouds, such as roadway geometry, sidewalks, curb ramps, signs, and other assets.
• Make sure LiDAR data aligns with other geospatial sources, including imagery, GIS layers, and customer-provided data.
• Partner with Data Science and Engineering teams on point cloud classification and machine learning workflows.
• Work with Customer Success and Account Management to make sure LiDAR-derived data meets customer project needs and deadlines.
• Document processes, standards, and data lineage so the team’s LiDAR work is repeatable and scalable.
• Evaluate new LiDAR partners, sensors, and tools as Citian’s data needs grow.

Required Skills & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Geomatics, GIS, Remote Sensing, Civil Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• 3+ years of hands-on experience processing and analyzing LiDAR or point cloud data.
• Strong knowledge of point cloud formats (LAS/LAZ, E57), coordinate reference systems, datums, and georeferencing.
• Experience with LiDAR processing tools such as PDAL, LAStools, TerraSolid, or CloudCompare.
• Proficiency in Python for data processing and automation.
• Experience with GIS platforms such as ArcGIS Pro or QGIS.
• Experience working with external vendors or data partners.
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain technical topics to non-technical audiences.
• Ability to thrive in a demanding, team-based, fast-moving environment.

Salary Range: $100,000 - 150,000

Your Citian Advantage:

• Competitive salary and benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance and generous PTO.
• 401(k) company match and monthly commuter transportation benefit
• On-site gym and free snacks in the office
• High-growth potential and opportunities for advancement within a fast growing, venture-backed SaaS startup!

Let's build smarter cities together! Learn more about Citian here: www.citian.co

** Citian is an organization committed to diversity and inclusion to drive our business results and create a better future every day for our diverse employees, clients, partners, and communities. We believe a diverse workforce allows us to match our growth ambitions and drive inclusion across the business. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer Minorities/Females/Protected Veterans/Persons with Disabilities