Tree Species Interpretation Specialist

Flash Forest integrates forestry intelligence with automated reforestation. We use advanced imaging and machine learning methods to deliver a complete digital twin of the forest. We then execute precision reforestation via multi-modal automation (drone, helicopter, or ground-based systems). With our primary location in Mississauga and a Western office in Alberta, we are growing across Canada and the United States. Our Forest Intelligence Services team uses drone-based RGB, multispectral and LiDAR data, paired with field ground truth, to deliver free-to-grow assessments and forest inventory for clients. This is a fully remote, hourly contract role to support our tree species interpretation.

Your Contribution

You are a forester or silviculture professional with real fieldwork experience in boreal forests. You have walked enough blocks to know what species look like in the stand, and ideally you have also spent time interpreting aerial photos.

As a contract Tree Species Interpretation Specialist, you will work closely with our machine learning and Forest Intelligence team to identify tree species from drone imagery. The labels you create and check will inform the training data that teaches our models to recognize species at scale. Your judgment directly shapes how accurate our species classification is for clients.

Role & Responsibility

We extract individual tree images from RGB orthomosaics, supported by LiDAR-derived canopy height and crown structure, multispectral bands, and ground truth maps from field plots. You will work alongside a team of professionals to interpret those images and help us get the species labels right. Responsibilities include:

● Review individual tree images and point cloud data to assign or validate species labels, focusing on the major species in our central and northern Ontario and BC work:

○ Conifers: Jack Pine, Black Spruce, White Spruce

○ Hardwoods: Trembling Aspen, Balsam Poplar, White Birch, Yellow Birch, Sugar Maple, Red Maple, Oak

● Interpret RGB imagery using crown shape, texture, colour, branching pattern, shadow and stand context to identify species

● Use LiDAR-derived height and crown form alongside the imagery to support difficult calls

● Cross-check labels against ground truth plot data and field photos, and flag mismatches or likely errors in either

● Flag ambiguous, overlapping, dead, damaged or non-tree crowns, and record a confidence level where a call is uncertain

● Help build and refine a species interpretation key and labelling guidelines, describing the visual features that separate each species from above

● Bonus: interpret multispectral data (e.g. red edge and near-infrared bands, vegetation indices) to help separate species and species groups that look similar in RGB

● Track hours and progress, and document labelling decisions so they can be applied consistently

Competencies & Qualifications

● Several years of field forestry or silviculture experience in boreal forests and/ or Interior BC, such as silviculture and free-growing surveys, regeneration surveys, cruising, or planting quality inspection

● Strong tree species identification skills, including confident separation of similar species (e.g. black vs. white spruce, aspen vs. poplar, birches, maples)

● Aerial photo interpretation experience (e.g. VRI photo interpretation or forest cover mapping) is a strong asset

● Familiarity with Ontario boreal and Great Lakes-St. Lawrence species

● Experience working with multispectral imagery or vegetation indices is an asset

● Familiarity with LiDAR products such as canopy height models is an asset

● Previous experience labelling data for machine learning is an asset but not required

● RPF or RFT designation, or equivalent, is an asset

● Detail-oriented and consistent, with the ability to work independently, manage your own hours, and meet batch deadlines

Engagement Details

● Independent contractor, paid hourly at a competitive rate based on experience

● Fully remote with flexible hours; work is delivered in batches

● We will start with a short paid calibration batch to align on labelling standards before scaling up

● All imagery and data are confidential; a confidentiality and IP agreement is required

To Apply

Send your resume along with a short note on your species identification and aerial interpretation experience, the regions you have worked in, your hourly rate, and how many hours per week you can commit.

What We Value

IMPACT - We started Flash Forest to offset enough carbon emissions to have a significant and measurable impact on climate change within the next decade.

QUALITY - We work closely with plant scientists and forestry experts and will use multispectral mapping UAV technology to select ideal planting sites and provide valuable follow-up data on ecosystem health.

INCLUSIVITY - We want everyone to have a way of personally contributing to a large-scale environmental solution through an organization they can trust.

COOPERATION - We are committed to partnering with local groups, agencies, scientists, and individuals of all types to share knowledge and resources for the best reforestation solutions.

Flash Forest is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity, inclusion and fairness. We encourage applications from all backgrounds and experiences, treating everyone with respect, and offering equal opportunities for advancement and growth. Join our team and join a culture that celebrates uniqueness and embraces collaboration!