To apply, please contact Beata Hranaiova (founder) at bea@kahu.earth.
Role: Technical Lead / Senior Engineer (Contract → Cofounder path)
Type: Full-time
Start: Immediate
Location: Remote
About KAHU
KAHU is building a new layer of ocean visibility by crowdsourcing radar data from vessels into a global map of maritime activity. Our mission is to uncover dark fleets, protect marine ecosystems, and close critical gaps in ocean intelligence. We’re a Norwegian startup with a US subsidiary, part of the StartBlue Ocean Enterprise Accelerator, and backed by Antler and Innovation Norway, with early pilots underway. Joining now means helping shape both the technology and the company from the ground up. We’re looking for a highly motivated, hands-on builder with a visionary mindset. Someone ready to be the architect of a shared sea-to-space intelligence network with real global impact. The role starts as a 3-month paid contract and can evolve into a full-time cofounder position with significant equity if there is a fit.
You’ll work on
- Leading the development of KAHU’s core vessel-to-cloud radar intelligence platform – from onboard data collection to global map visualization
- Integrating radar, ARPA, and other vessel data streams into a unified architecture capable of scaling across thousands of ships
- Designing a robust data pipeline that securely transfers and processes real-time signals from vessels to the cloud.
- Turning raw radar data into actionable vessel tracks, analytics, and insights that reveal patterns invisible to existing maritime systems
- Collaborating with marine hardware manufacturers, integrators, and research partners to ensure seamless connectivity and performance at sea
- Working with our team of advisors (radar tech, GIS mapping, AI, marine data)
- Shaping the overall technical strategy and long-term architecture for a distributed sea-to-space intelligence network
- Building and mentoring a team of engineers as the company scales
You’ll bring
- Strong software engineering skills – you can design, build, and ship production-grade code across backend and data systems
- Deep experience in backend and systems engineering, with the ability to develop and maintain reliable, high-performance data pipelines
- Proficiency in cloud deployment, scaling, and infrastructure operations
- Solid foundation in geospatial programming – working with GIS data, APIs, and visualization tools to turn raw inputs into intelligence
- Comfort working with open-source and legacy maritime systems, bridging modern software with real-world vessel infrastructure
- A pragmatic, hands-on mindset – you thrive in ambiguity, iterate quickly, and make things work end-to-end
- Clear, structured documentation habits that ensure repeatability / IP continuity
- Curiosity and ambition to push boundaries – you see the ocean as an unexplored data frontier and want to help map it
Bonus
- Experience with sensor fusion, marine electronics, or embedded systems – you understand how data moves from hardware to the cloud and love bridging that gap
- Familiarity with real-time or high-frequency data streams, and interest in extending them with Earth Observation or satellite inputs
- Passion for maritime, space, or environmental technology – you’re motivated by impact and want to apply your skills to protecting the ocean and advancing global transparency
- Background or curiosity in radar, AIS, or navigation systems
Why join
You’ll join at a pivotal moment – as we bring the first vessels online and turn radar data into a living map of the world’s oceans. This is a chance to build something with real global impact, take early ownership, and help define both the technology and the mission. You’ll have the freedom to experiment, the autonomy to shape our direction, and the opportunity to grow into a key technical cofounder leading the future of maritime intelligence – all within a flexible, fully remote setup driven by purpose.