Atmospheric Scientist

OUR MARKET AND VALUE PROPOSAL

QAIrbon addresses the regulatory CO₂ market, and provides industry, finance and institutions with precise, reliable and certified data on CO₂ emissions of industrial sites. We tackle the current situation where all CO₂ data are based on declarations and proxies, and build our products on direct measurement of emissions.

We are targeting a 2 b€ serviceable addressable market, with 20% CAGR, driven by increasingly stringent regulations and reputational aspects. Just considering Europe, 10,000’s companies will report their CO₂ emissions, and 70 b€ of CO₂ quotas are expected to be paid by 2030 by industry and importers.

QAIrbon will provide the very first independent, reliable and validated measurement of industrial CO₂ emissions to the economy ecosystem (Industry, Finance, Insurance, Institutions, Consultants), fostering transparency and impact for a greener economy.

Our ambition is to become the worldwide reference of industrial CO₂ emissions.

OUR PROJECT

QAIrbon uses Earth observation techniques by combining all accessible satellites—both institutional and commercial—as well as operating its own satellite. We’re also developing an intelligence platform that integrates every measurement source to provide our customers with actionable, validated data.

We harness a unique, disruptive space optical measurement instrument from a leading European space player. Our high-tech partner ecosystem includes top French labs in atmospheric science and AI, plus some of Europe’s most innovative companies. Our Board features Philippe Ciais (Research Director at LSCE) and Denis Payre (successful multi-entrepreneur—co-founder of Business Objects and President of Nature and People First).

We have significant institutional interest, with confirmed support for our development roadmap. This gives the company solid credibility and a clear path to rapid growth. We’ve secured a contract with CNES (the French space agency) for our first Proof of Concept and identified early adopters across Industry, Finance, and Consulting.

In 2024, we completed our first funding round, backed by both private and public investors.

THE FOUNDERS / THE TEAM

Hervé Hamy, as CEO, Jean-Philippe Durieux, as Managing Director, and Benoît Blanco, as CTO, gathered with the strong initial motivation of having an impact on the environment, leveraging state-of-the-art technologies and best market positioning. We leverage over 40 years of experience in top executive positions, and bring huge experience in GHG monitoring, space technologies, sales, complex project management, and business partnership.

We have already gathered 3 top talents in atmospheric modelling, data science and IT security. We are now growing the team, attracting new top atmospheric and data scientists, and making our team international.

We are based in Grasse, on the French Riviera, in a both scientific and technological ecosystem.

JOB DESCRIPTION

We’re looking for an experienced Atmospheric Scientist to develop the first industrial CO₂ measurement chain using our satellite CO₂ datasets. You’ll use remote sensing data, LES or XSTILT atmospheric modeling tools, and numerical simulations (in Python and Fortran) to accurately model and predict CO₂ dispersion. This involves processing meteorological data, setting boundary conditions, and visualizing results.

You’ll collaborate closely with our existing Atmospheric Scientist, CTO, CO₂ Lead Data Scientist, and Remote Sensing Scientist. You’ll also lead research partnerships with reference academic labs, driving advances in high-resolution atmospheric inversion and inserting these outcomes into our tech roadmap. A deep understanding of atmospheric processes (including land/ocean/atmosphere interactions) is crucial.

TARGETED PROFILE

The expected competence and expertise of the Atmospheric Scientist who will join QAIrbon are:

1. Strong knowledge of atmospheric processes and interactions (land/ocean/atmosphere)
2. Expertise in atmospheric modeling tools (DALES, WRF)
3. Experience with numerical simulations, particularly X-STILT, Flexpart and LES is a plus
4. Proficiency in Python and Fortran for modeling and data analysis
5. Skilled in processing meteorological data (initialization, boundary conditions)
6. Strong visualization capabilities for atmospheric and simulation results
7. Knowledge of CO2 retrieval and plume quantification techniques is a plus

The insertion in the QAIrbon team will be key, particularly by sharing the same initial motivation. Having already a significant experience of a start-up is preferred.

Having experience in GHG emissions monitoring ecosystem, in GHG data production and product development, as well as in satellite data processing is preferred.

The position is based in the south of France, in Grasse (Alpes-Maritimes); remote working is possible, under conditions to be agreed.

The position is open for an operational start in June 2025.

The proposed package is to be agreed based on two components, adapted to a start-up environment: a yearly salary and BSPCE (company stock purchase warrant).