Director of Open Technology

Director of Open Technology (CTO) - Leading our earth technology mission

Open Earth Foundation is a California-based research and deployment non-profit developing open innovative technology to increase planetary resilience and avoid a catastrophic climate crisis.

We are a diverse international team, working with a network of collaborators and partners globally (from the United Nations to cutting-edge startups) and always ready to have fun saving the world.

We are building open infrastructure for the Paris Agreement, energy finance, biodiversity tracking, and impact solutions at the intersection of emergent technologies (ML, blockchain, Web3 technologies, IoT devices) and climate innovations.

We have funding, a network of international partners and a team of experts focused on Earth systems and digital innovation. Now we need Digital Avengers to help us on our planetary mission.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it:

As the Director of Open Technology, you will create and lead our open technology developments across the entire organization and programs; ranging from planetary climate accounting, energy financing networks, Web3 protocols, AI-based Earth simulation engines and digital twins. You will co-lead a digital R&D lab with 5-10 members, and up to 5 different simultaneous agile technology and product development operations with multiple collaborators.

The position is remote (we value time zones closer to Pacific Time) and we will consider part-time collaborators.

The ideal candidate: relentless passion for decentralized technology for Earth system management

• Oversee all technology research, developments and deployment at the Open Earth Foundation.
• Have deep understanding and experience developing technology solutions in blockchain, AI, networking protocols, and big data.
• Ensure all in-house and outsourced developers within the Foundation’s Lab produce consistent and effective agile work that is well documented for the broader open source community.
• Be passionate about open source, multi-stakeholder open innovation, big-picture solutions to climate change, energy transition and biodiversity protection.

Responsibilities: Managing, engaging, thought-leadership and building

• Manage development roadmaps in a creative team with full-stack capabilities.
• Provide strategic direction for technical assessment, definition, prioritization, architecture, design and deployment of new products and services.
• Engage and manage technology collaborations with multiple stakeholders, including other open technology nonprofits like Linux Foundation, Blockchain Ecosystem Foundations, climate tech startups, and large corporate and government stakeholders.
• Supervise all other tech developers and engineers.
• Setup and approve all cloud hosting and DevOps infrastructure.
• Curate all code and documentation in the Foundation’s GitHub repository, and documentation platforms like GitBook.
• Co-design solution architectures and document in system diagrams.
• Direct development and delivery of open source code and software solution frameworks to meet system designs.
• Identify and execute business process improvements related to technical applications, systems and team dynamics.
• Identify priorities and communicate technology impacts throughout the decision making process across OEF.
• Negotiate and manage critical vendors / outsourced tech relationships to maximize value and timeliness of external innovations.
• Provide strong thought leadership on DLT, Web3, Spatial Web, AI, IoT and other emerging technologies.

Tech abilities: Emerging technology visionary and builder

• Decentralized Identifier (DIDs) frameworks (eg. Hyperledger Indy, Aries, Sovrin)
• Blockchain environments (eg. Hyperledger, Ethereum, Stellar, Polkadot)
• Working knowledge of basic DeFi mechanics
• Machine learning and AI tools
• GIS packages and approaches, eg. ESRI
• Experience writing, testing and deploying smart contracts (EVM, Hyperledger, Stellar or Polkadot)
• Some knowledge and experience with some areas of our tech stack (i.e. React, Node.js, Go, Python and MongoDB)
• AWS, Azure or Google Cloud management
• DevOps infrastructure familiarity
• VR and AR Game engines like Unity and Unreal
• Ability and drive to immerse yourself in new technologies as needed
• Experience with deploying to production environments
• Experience with CI/CD flows of Web3 applications
• Preference for Test Driven Development

Interpersonal Skills:

• Excellent interpersonal skills in dealing with all levels of management internally and externally.
• Excellent verbal and written skills in English (additional languages a plus)
• Trustworthiness and a strong code of ethics.
• Exceptional organizational skills; ability to identify needs, multitask and balance competing priorities in a dynamic team.
• Capacity to work independently, flexibly and remotely/virtually or in-office setting as well as a willingness to work flexible or extended hours.
• Ability to embrace new challenges, take ownership and initiative as a key team player.

Qualifications:

• University graduate degree (Masters equivalent or PhD). Ideal formal training includes startup and/or open source communities, computer science, electrical and electronic engineering, mechanical engineering, systems design or related areas.
• A minimum of five years with ideally 10 years of progressively responsible experience in agile technology research and development.

Compensation and benefits

• This position is full-time with compensation commensurate with experience. We are open to contractors and would consider part-time collaborators if they can demonstrate that they are the right fit.
• Open Earth offers a health insurance stipend, a competitive PTO plan that includes:, paid holidays and paid sick leave
• You will work remotely within a dynamic and international environment
• You will join us in our annual team retreat toWe celebrate our achievements during our in-person annual team retreat

Location:

• The position is remote and can be performed from outside the U.S, however we value time zones closer to Pacific Time.
• Being open to an eventual relocation to Los Angeles, CA in the future will be a plus.

OEF is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. We support diversity, equity and inclusion in teams, and believe people should align their work with their purpose. Join us if you love Earth.

Please apply by submitting your resume AND a cover letter, it is your opportunity to highlight why you feel you would be a great addition to the team.

We look forward to hearing from you!