Application Guide

How to Apply for EU Technical Project Lead

at Development Seed

🏢 About Development Seed

Development Seed is a remote-first engineering cooperative that builds open-source technology for global social impact. They work with leading organizations like ESA, ECMWF, and EUMETSAT on projects that advance climate science and earth observation. Their commitment to open tech and positive change makes them a unique place for mission-driven engineers.

About This Role

As EU Technical Project Lead, you'll own the technical delivery of EU-funded projects, acting as the bridge between engineering teams and clients like ESA and EUMETSAT. You'll shape project strategy, manage budgets and timelines, and contribute to new business development. This role is impactful because you'll directly influence how open technology is used to address critical environmental challenges.

💡 A Day in the Life

Start your day with a stand-up with the engineering team, reviewing sprint progress and unblocking issues. Mid-morning, you'll hop on a call with ESA to discuss project milestones and budget adjustments. After lunch, you'll draft a technical section for a new Horizon Europe proposal, then review a pull request from a team member. You end the day updating the project risk log and planning next week's deliverables.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Development Seed Is Looking For

  • A seasoned engineer or technical PM who has led complex projects while staying hands-on with the code or architecture.
  • Deep understanding of earth observation, satellite data, or geospatial tech—comfortable discussing both R&D and operational systems.
  • Proven project management discipline: quarterly planning, realistic costing, risk management, and version control.
  • Experience writing or contributing to EU proposals (e.g., Horizon Europe, ESA contracts) and coordinating with consortium partners.

📝 Tips for Applying to Development Seed

1

Highlight specific EU-funded projects you've led or contributed to, mentioning the funding program and your role.

2

Showcase your technical depth by linking to your GitHub or open-source contributions, especially in geospatial or climate tech.

3

In your cover letter, reference a recent Development Seed project (e.g., open satellite imagery tools) and explain how your experience aligns.

4

Quantify your project management impact: e.g., 'Delivered project on time and under budget by 15% through agile sprint planning.'

5

Emphasize your experience working with ESA, ECMWF, or EUMETSAT—if you don't have direct experience, highlight adjacent clients like NASA or Copernicus.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your hands-on technical background and ability to lead engineering teams while staying close to the work.', 'Proven track record managing EU-funded projects, including scope, budgets, and stakeholder coordination.', "Familiarity with open-source principles and how you've contributed to open tech for social impact.", "Your experience in business development: how you've written technical sections of proposals and won contracts."]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Review Development Seed's open-source projects on GitHub, especially those related to earth observation and climate.
  • → Read their blog posts on EU-funded projects (e.g., 'Building open tools for Copernicus data') to understand their approach.
  • → Study recent ESA and EUMETSAT technical announcements to see what types of projects they're prioritizing.
  • → Look at their team page to understand the cooperative structure and remote culture.

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk us through a complex EU project you led: how did you handle scope creep and stakeholder alignment?
2 How do you balance R&D exploration with operational delivery in a project with fixed deadlines?
3 Describe your approach to writing a technical proposal for an ESA tender—what sections do you focus on?
4 How do you manage a distributed team of engineers and coordinate with consortium partners across time zones?
5 Tell us about a time you had to make a difficult prioritization decision between technical debt and new features.
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Don't apply if you lack hands-on technical experience—this role requires understanding engineering trade-offs.
  • Avoid generic project management language without specifics to earth observation or EU funding.
  • Don't overlook the cooperative aspect: if you're not comfortable with shared decision-making, this isn't the right fit.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Development Seed!

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