Technical Lead (Python / LiDAR)
Key Skills
Job Description
About us: Clear Timber Analytics combine drone imagery, LiDAR data, and machine learning to help forest owners manage and protect forests worldwide. Founded in 2020, we’re evolving from a forestry-driven startup into a scalable software company. We turn billions of real-world 3D measurements into detailed digital inventories of individual trees, with our technology already used on projects for organisations including Deutsche Bahn, Staatsbosbeheer and Rijkswaterstaat. About the role: We're now looking for a hands-on, strategic Tech Lead to take ownership of how our engineering team builds and delivers - while continuing to build alongside them. You'll join three highly autonomous engineers working across point-cloud analytics, machine learning and production software. Formal people management remains with the founder, so your focus is technology, delivery and technical leadership. This is a leadership role where you keep coding. You'll work directly on our Python-based LiDAR analytics platform while bringing structure, direction and focus to the wider engineering team. What you'll do day-to-day: Build: Develop and improve the Python workflows that turn large-scale LiDAR point clouds into Clear Timber products. Lead: Own technical and architectural decisions and raise the bar on engineering practices. Drive delivery: Own sprint planning, prioritisation and the backlog, keeping the team focused on the right problems. Shape strategy: Work directly with our founder to turn half-year and annual goals into technical roadmaps and two-week sprints. Improve how we ship: Strengthen CI/CD, testing and releases while helping our infrastructure scale with growing datasets. Bridge research and production: Turn promising prototypes and algorithms into maintainable production software. What we're looking for: Strong Python engineering experience, including production data workflows. Hands-on experience with LiDAR, point clouds or 3D spatial data. Experience owning technical projects and making architectural decisions. Strong English communication skills. Experience with CI/CD, testing and cloud infrastructure (particularly Azure). Exposure to sprint planning, prioritisation, Scrum or product ownership is ideal. Broader experience across geospatial/GIS, remote sensing, machine learning, 3D computer vision or SLAM is a plus. What we'll offer you: A competitive salary, based on your experience. 25 days' holiday, plus the option to work abroad for up to three weeks. 6% pension scheme. NS Business Card and OV-bike subscription. Hybrid working from our Hilversum office - surrounded by forests, fittingly! Direct input into product and technology strategy from day one. Coaching and support as you grow as a technical leader. A collaborative startup environment where you can help build something meaningful from the ground up. A longer-term opportunity to grow towards broader technology leadership, potentially CTO-level responsibility.
Core Responsibilities
Build and improve Python workflows that process large-scale LiDAR point clouds, and lead technical and architectural decisions while maintaining strong engineering practices. Own sprint planning, prioritisation, and delivery; shape technical roadmaps with the founder; and improve CI/CD, testing, releases, and the transition of research prototypes into production software.
Requirements
The role requires strong Python engineering experience with production data workflows, hands-on experience with LiDAR, point clouds, or 3D spatial data, and experience owning technical projects and architectural decisions. Strong English communication is required; CI/CD, testing, cloud infrastructure—particularly Azure—and sprint planning experience are sought, while geospatial, remote sensing, machine learning, 3D computer vision, or SLAM experience is a plus.
Benefits
- 25 Days' Holiday
- Option to Work Abroad for up to Three Weeks
- 6% Pension Scheme
- NS Business Card
- OV-Bike Subscription
- Hybrid Working
- Coaching and Support
About Clear Timber Analytics
Industry: Environmental Services
Company size: 2-10 employees
Clear Timber Analytics specializes in digital tree inventories for cities, forest managers, and nature organizations. We take raw LiDAR point clouds collected by drones, mobile mapping vehicles, or handheld scanners and process them into structured, practical data. Each tree is mapped with a full set of structural measurements like height, crown dimensions, DBH, crown volume, and more. The result is a digital tree inventory that teams can actually work with, whether they're managing urban street trees or monitoring large forest areas.