Geospatial Frontend Engineer (TypeScript)

Orcrist is building a next generation data intelligence platform using cutting-edge technologies. We're handling petabyte-scale data with sub-second queries. Our product is a Kubernetes‑based platform delivered as B2B SaaS or as a self‑hosted on‑prem solution, including air‑gapped deployments. We enable customers across defense, law enforcement, and enterprise to turn mission-critical data into actionable intelligence.

Role

Build the web GIS experience analysts use to explore imagery, combine layers, and understand spatial and temporal relationships. You'll work primarily in TypeScript and React, with MapLibre and deck.gl at the center of a highly customised map platform.

Your work will range from precise, responsive analyst tools to the rendering and data-loading code that keeps complex maps usable. You'll bring capabilities familiar from desktop GIS tools such as QGIS and ArcGIS Pro into the browser, continuously expanding the map platform's rich feature set while keeping interactions coherent and responsive. You'll extend the existing Sentinel frontend and help establish reusable map and layer components for multiple applications.

What you'll do

• Develop a reusable map canvas and layer system for raster imagery, vector features, terrain, and analytical overlays, using MapLibre and deck.gl.
• Build layer discovery, grouping, ordering, visibility, opacity, legends, styling, and persistent workspace state, including predictable behavior when sources refresh or fail.
• Implement GIS interactions such as drawing, measurement, spatial selection, feature inspection, coordinate readouts, filtering, and map export.
• Create temporal exploration tools, imagery comparison views, and linked map/table interactions that make complex analytical results understandable.
• Extend mapping libraries with custom layers, controls, picking behavior, and rendering logic. Work below the React component layer when the interaction or performance requirement calls for it.
• Integrate COGs, PMTiles, GeoParquet, and Arrow-based data sources with viewport-aware loading, cancellation, caching, and progressive feedback.
• Profile CPU, GPU, network, and memory usage. Keep panning, zooming, and interaction responsive through sensible level-of-detail strategies, background processing, and controlled layer updates.
• Work closely with UX designers and analysts on cartography, accessibility, and interaction quality. Maintain component examples, browser tests, and performance checks within Sentinel's shared UI system.

About you

• Several years building sophisticated production interfaces with TypeScript and React.
• Substantial experience with web mapping or geospatial visualization, using MapLibre, deck.gl, Mapbox GL, OpenLayers, CesiumJS, or comparable tools.
• Experience extending mapping libraries or building reusable visualization components, beyond embedding a standard map.
• Strong understanding of frontend state, asynchronous data loading, browser rendering, and performance profiling.
• Familiarity with WebGL concepts and the practical costs of geometry processing, GPU buffers, large textures, and frequent layer updates.
• Good geospatial fundamentals: projections, coordinate systems, vector tiles, raster imagery, scale, and spatial accuracy.
• Care for cartography and interaction details, including readable symbology, useful legends, keyboard access, and clear loading and error states.
• Clear communication in English and an ability to collaborate with backend engineers, designers, and domain experts. Eligible to work in Germany.

Nice-to-haves

• Custom deck.gl layers, shaders/GLSL, luma.gl, WebGPU, or other graphics programming experience.
• GeoArrow, loaders.gl, DuckDB-WASM, Web Workers, or efficient browser handling of large geospatial datasets.
• Experience with kepler.gl, CARTO, or comparable spatial analytics interfaces, and translating their exploration, filtering, and visualization patterns into reusable web components.
• TanStack Query/Store/Router, Tailwind CSS, Storybook, and Playwright.
• Terrain and 3D visualization, imagery band controls, temporal animation, or experience building professional GIS tools.
• Military mapping conventions and interoperability standards, including MGRS coordinate grids, NATO APP-6 symbology, and relevant STANAG requirements.
• Experience working in defence and intelligence environments or on related projects.
• Strong interest and practical ability in agentic software development: using coding agents to plan, implement, test, and review software, and keeping up with rapidly evolving tools, techniques, and trends.
• Open-source mapping contributions, German language skills, or experience with offline and self-hosted applications.

What we offer

• The opportunity to shape a substantial web GIS and shared map platform.
• Technically demanding work across interaction design, cartography, browser performance, and GPU rendering.
• Direct access to designers and GEOINT specialists, with room to improve both the underlying libraries and the product experience.
• Remote-first, Germany-wide: Work from wherever you do your best work, with regular team gatherings in Berlin and other off-site locations.
• Flexibility by default: Flexible working hours help you make work fit your life.
• Your setup, your way: Get a personal home-office equipment budget to create a workspace that works for you.
• 30 days of vacation: Take the time you need to recharge and come back with fresh energy.
• Keep growing: We invest in your personal and professional development.
• Get rewarded for impact: Performance bonuses are tied to agreed objectives and key results.
• A warm welcome: Every new team member gets a welcome goodie bag.
• Good people, good times: From summer and Christmas parties to regular team gatherings, we make time to celebrate together.
• A mission that matters: Work on challenges with tangible impact on public safety and national security.