Geophysical Data Scientist

Founded and based in Richmond, BC, Ideon Technologies uses the energy from supernova explosions in space to image deep beneath the Earth’s surface. The world pioneer in cosmic-ray muon tomography, Ideon has developed the REVEAL™ Subsurface Intelligence Platform™, comprising an advanced suite of proprietary data-generation hardware, software, AI-powered services, and multi-physics fusion that provide x-ray-like visibility deep underground and unlock the exponential power of integrated spatial data.

By transforming muon data into reliable 3D density maps, Ideon helps geologists identify, map, characterize, and monitor mineral deposits with confidence. This reduces risk and cost of traditional methods, while saving time, optimizing return, and minimizing environmental impact across the mining value chain. In turn, this is helping accelerate the world’s transition to low-impact mining and transform how companies recover the critical minerals required to power the global shift to clean energy – improving peoples’ lives and enhancing economic prosperity.

We are a dynamic tech scale-up and a team that is entrepreneurial by nature and focused on doing things right to deliver great customer outcomes. We are committed to seeking out the best brains and the most exceptional humans, wherever they come from and however they happen to be packaged.

The Role

As we continue to grow, we are seeking a Geophysical Data Scientist who will advance analysis, modeling, and interpretation of geophysical data to advance Ideon’s subsurface imaging technology.

You will work in a collaborative environment with other customer geophysicists, field geophysicists, applied scientists, and software developers.

This is a technical role focused on enhancing data science workflows within geophysics. You will work on cross-functional projects that yield geophysical insights from multiple data sets coupled with advanced analytics and software to deliver subsurface insights to our customers in the mining sector.

You will make an impact and drive objectives forward by focusing on the following activities:

• Contributing to advanced geophysical data analysis and modeling for sensing systems
• Interpreting complex datasets to extract meaningful subsurface insights
• In collaboration with the software and R&D teams, developing and optimizing workflows for geophysical data processing and integration; collaborating closely with software and geoscience teams to improve modeling tools and data pipelines
• Supporting scientific validation and continuous improvement of Ideon’s geophysical methods
• Providing a critical interface layer between the geoscience and the software and R & D teams to integrate advanced algorithms, data processing methods and workflows into modeling and customer projects.

Priorities in the first few months will include:

• Making rapid progress coming up to speed with Ideon-specific knowledge and processes (month 1+)
• Collaborating with software developers to improve simulation and modeling tools (month 1+)
• Performing data analysis and modeling for active customer projects using Ideon’s passive muon data (month 2+)
• Making recommendations for refining and/or documenting internal geophysical workflows for greater efficiency and automation (month 3+)

Success in the role looks like:

• Developing and optimizing Python code to manipulate and process geoscience datasets; automating and speeding up processes and providing technical coherence
• Championing and integrating new algorithms, methods, process and methodologies developed with software and R & D teams for geophysical data analysis, into the geoscience team
• Delivering high-impact geophysical interpretations that enhance the resolution, accuracy, and value of Ideon’s imaging solutions
• Contributing to product innovation through deep technical knowledge and cross-functional collaboration
• Strengthening Ideon’s scientific reputation with clear, defensible, and well-communicated geophysical results

Qualifications

Must-haves – You’ll need the following to move forward in the hiring process (and be successful in the role):

• Undergraduate degree in an engineering or scientific discipline, or an equivalent combo of training and experience in physics or geoscience
• 5+ years experience in a non-academic, business setting in data science or data engineering, especially as applied to modelling physical systems
• Advanced-expert capabilities in Python and the scientific software ecosystem (numpy, matplotlib, plotly, scipy, scikit-learn, scikit-image, TensorFlow, PyTorch, etc.) - it would be helpful to include a link to your Github account in your application
• Experience with statistical analysis and inference and methodologies for dealing with uncertainty
• Modular or object-oriented design programming experience
• Experience with Microsoft Azure or other cloud computing solutions
• Sound footing in software design principles and best practices (i.e. Agile, version control)
• Previous success in delivering highly organized and collaborative projects, ideally in a commercial setting
• Detail-oriented and committed to delivering high-quality work quickly
• Keen and able to see how the work connects to the bigger picture and Ideon’s overall business
• Well-developed communication skills in English at a fluent or professional level; able to convey complex data insights clearly and professionally
• Legally able and currently documented to work full-time hours in Canada

Nice-to-haves

• Some experience or exposure to mineral exploration, mining operations, and/or mineral processing; knowledge of orebodies and associated mineralization processes preferably in critical mineral commodities
• Advanced skills in geoscientific data analysis and integration in a mining context, including geostatistics
• Knowledge of geophysical techniques such as muon tomography, gravimetry, or electromagnetics
• Familiarity with geophysical inversion algorithms, statistical modeling, or machine learning applications in geoscience
• Experience communicating technical results to non-technical audiences, clients, or external stakeholders

We also look for the following from all new Ideon team members: 

• Experience or excitement for working in a tech scale-up; happy to wear a few hats and learn on the fly. 
• An ambitious, can-do attitude; you get that we’re doing challenging work and are excited to dive in.
• Enthusiastic and confident to take initiative and be adaptable in an agile, fast-paced environment.
• Solid teamwork skills; you’re accountable to yourself and your team and will jump in to help where you can.
• Creative solutioning mindset with great problem-solving skills.
• Insatiable curiosity paired with a drive to deliver.
• Able to work well under pressure and to meet committed deadlines.
• Great interpersonal skills; able to build relationships with colleagues, customers, and external stakeholders.
• Able to contribute something “extra” to our culture beyond the work that you do, like wowing people with your home-baked goods, sharing improv comedy skills, or organizing sports games.

More Role Details

Location: Our office is located at #150 - 4611 Viking Way, just off the No. 6 Road exit on the east-west connector in Richmond, BC, Canada. Lots of free parking is available and a bus stop is one block away.

This is a hybrid role. We love seeing folks in the office 2+ times a week; you’re welcome to work from home the remainder of the week or come into the office all 5 days if you prefer. Our “be an adult” approach means you have the flexibility to determine your in-office schedule while factoring in the positive impact of face-to-face connection and communication with your leader and teammates.

Hours of work: 8 hrs/day, M-F. Typical working hours are 9AM-5PM-ish pacific time; some employees shift slightly earlier or later based on business and personal needs. As Ideon is a high technology company, you may be asked to be flexible with your hours due to business requirements.

What We Offer

Salary: The annual salary range for this role, in Canadian dollars, is $90,000 - $120,000.

• Equity option allocations upon hire plus the opportunity to earn performance-based option allocations annually.
• Accreditation and tuition support.
• Extended health and dental benefits, an employee assistance program, and a health/personal spending account to cover things that may not fall into other categories (i.e. exercise classes, transit, daycare, pet insurance).
• An annual paid closure between the Christmas and New Year’s stat holidays, in addition to vacation time.
• 5 paid sick days annually, in addition to other leaves per employment standards legislation.
• Parental leave top-up.
• Employee referral bonus.
• Casual dress – we like our jeans and hoodies.
• Free parking and tasty snacks at the office!
• While we work hard we also sprinkle social events and learning opportunities into our days.

Ideon’s salary ranges are determined by role and level and are benchmarked against companies of similar size and stage in the Vancouver, BC, Canada market. The range reflects the minimum and maximum new employee salary. It is not typical for a new employee to be hired at the top of the range; as experienced as someone may be they likely won’t have the directly related experience unique to working at Ideon. In exceptional circumstances, though, where a person has the knowledge, skills, and experience to exceed those needed for the position, we may consider compensating at the top of the range. In the application process you will be asked to provide your salary expectations.

What It’s Like at Ideon

Great ideas and rich company culture come from diversity of thought, experience, and perspective. The Ideon culture is anchored in a set of core values that directly shape how we hire, coach, evaluate, and develop our people:

• Driven by industry, informed by science
• Inspired to create, wired to deliver
• Unified team, personally accountable
• Boldly ambitious, exceptionally human

How to Apply and Accommodation Requests

Optional cover letters help us learn more about you beyond what’s on your resumé (i.e. what you’re looking for, role or industry shifts, chocolate or vanilla, cats or dogs, etc.). Also – please submit your documents as PDF files (they display the best).

We aim to provide an approachable and accessible hiring process for every candidate. If there are accommodations our team can make so you can show up as your best self, please let us know in your application.

Once you have submitted your application (via Collage), you will receive a confirmation email outlining what to expect during the hiring process.

Note: we have partnered with Sova Operations for hiring support with this role so you may hear directly from them.