Remote Sensing & Nuclear Activity Detection Engineer

Salas O'Brien

$185K — $195K *
Aerospace & Defense
15+ years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Active Q or Top Secret security clearance required.
  • 20+ years in nuclear detection, remote sensing, or non-proliferation experience, including DOE SRS work.
  • Bachelor's degree in engineering or related discipline.
  • In-depth knowledge of nuclear signatures and detection modalities, such as gamma/neutron detection.
  • Familiarity with satellite and airborne sensing systems or high-altitude detection platforms.
  • Strong analytical, modeling, and technical writing skills.
  • Willingness to assist with various task types, including administrative duties.

Responsibilities

  • Provide expert advice on tritium operations to the NA-192.1 Director.
  • Recommend solutions for tritium operations at the SRS site.

Benefits

  • Generous paid time off and flexible work hours.
  • Professional development opportunities.
  • Support for continuing education and training.
  • Comprehensive health and wellness programs.
Full Job Description
Remote Sensing & Nuclear Activity Detection Engineer

Pay range: $185 - $195,000 annually

Job Summary:

As a full-time Remote Sensing & Nuclear Activity Detection Engineer, you will support program reviews and conferences on mission-critical efforts to prevent, detect, and deter nuclear proliferation worldwide. You will conduct technical analysis, perform program and conference reviews, and advise on detecting nuclear-related activities from stand-off ranges greater than 100 meters from a facility, including airborne, orbital, deep-space, and planetary-based sensing platforms, using your technical expertise in nuclear signatures-radiological, spectral, thermal, seismic, neutron, gamma, and other modalities-and the integration of remote systems capable of identifying, characterizing, and assessing nuclear-related operations. This is a full-time, onsite role supporting Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA), located in Washington, DC.

Responsibilities:
  • Provide tritium expertise to the NA-192.1 Director and their team.
  • Advise and recommend solutions regarding tritium operations at the SRS site.

Qualifications and Experience:
  • Active Q or Top Secret clearance.
  • 20 or more years of direct nuclear detection, remote sensing, or non-proliferation work experience. DOE SRS tritium operations work experience.
  • Bachelor's degree in an engineering discipline.
  • Deep knowledge of nuclear signatures and relevant sensing modalities (e.g., gamma/neutron detection, hyperspectral imaging, thermal infrared analysis, RF anomaly detection).
  • Understanding of satellite or airborne sensing systems, or high-altitude/space-based detection platforms.
  • Strong modeling, analysis, and technical writing skills.
  • Willingness to assist the program team with any task assigned, ranging from hanging posters at program reviews/conferences to taking meeting minutes in assigned mission critical meetings as well as performing your own work scope on complex-wide program proposals reviews and assessments.


Preferred qualifications:
  • Master's or PhD in nuclear engineering, physics, remote sensing, radiological science, space systems engineering, or related field.
  • Experience working with DOE/NNSA, DoD, NASA, or the Intelligence Community.
  • Familiarity with nuclear fuel cycle processes, facility operations, and proliferation pathways.
  • Hands-on experience with:
    • Synthetic aperture radar (SAR)
    • Hyperspectral/multispectral payloads
    • Radiation detection instrumentation
    • AI/ML anomaly detection for overhead imagery or sensor data
    • Knowledge of orbital mechanics, space mission design, or planetary remote sensing.


Compensation & Benefits:

The expected base salary range for this role is $185 - $195,000 annually. Actual compensation will be determined based on factors including skills, experience, qualifications, and location.

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