Remote Sensing SAR Specialist and Developer to support NOAA/NESDIS/STAR.
This position is located in College Park, MD.A hybrid model of onsite and telework each week may also be considered.Position Summary:The successful candidate will work with a group of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) scientists and software developers at the Satellite Oceanography and Climatology Division (SOCD) under the NOAA Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR). This position could be long-term depending on performance and Federal Government Funding.
Primary Duties:- The individual in this position will be responsible for the development and maintenance of science code for production of flood mapping datasets from multiple SAR sensors (e.g., Sentinel-1, RADARSAT Constellation Mission, RADARSAT-2, and NISAR).
- Development, implementation, and improvement of flood inundation detection algorithms, and evaluation of their performance.
- This is a scientific position that requires a strong understanding of physical science, mathematics, and scientific computing.
- Additional duties may include:
- Classification studies of river ice, i.e., detecting ice jams, tracking ice movement and breakup, and assessment of flooding risk.
- Utilizing SAR imagery to identify, outline, and characterize suspected oil slicks.
- Assisting with additional coastal, ocean, and cryosphere applications of SAR.
Required Education/Experience/Skills:- PhD or MS, with a minimum of 5 years of professional experience, in a quantitative field of research such as Remote Sensing, Oceanography, Physics, Mathematics, or Statistics.
- Knowledge of SAR remote sensing, satellite & oceanographic data, systems, and analyses.
- Proficiency with Python and IDL programming languages.
- Experience with application of machine learning algorithms using PyTorch or TensorFlow is desired, however, a working knowledge of machine learning techniques will suffice.
- Experience with data formats frequently used by the remote sensing community such as netCDF4, HDF5, GeoTIFF, Xarray, and Zarr.
- Experience with Linux operating systems and common tools.
- Proven list of deliverables (peer-reviewed publications, derived products, software packages, etc.).
- Willingness and ability to conduct independent research (problem definition, technical solution, coding, publication) while being a team player.
- Strong scientific analytical skills with detail-oriented working style.
Selected applicants will be subject to a government background investigation. CompensationAt GST, we celebrate your contributions. We will provide you with opportunities and choices and support your total well-being. Our offerings include health, life, disability, financial, and retirement benefits, as well as paid leave, professional development, tuition assistance, work-life programs, and dependent care for full-time employees working 30-plus hours per week. Our recognition awards program acknowledges employees for exceptional performance.
Salary at GST is determined by various factors, including but not limited to location, the individual's combination of education, knowledge, skills, competencies, and experience, as well as contract-specific affordability and organizational requirements. The projected compensation range for this position is $90,000 to $120,000 (annualized USD). The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range or this position and is just one component of the GST total compensation package for employees.
Identity StatementAs part of the application process, you are expected to be on camera during interviews and assessments. We reserve the right to take your picture to verify your identity and prevent fraud.
Work Definitions: If this position is listed as remote or hybrid, you'll periodically work from a company or client site facility.
- If this position is listed as onsite, you'll work at the client site - in person, or as needed for the specific role.
Please note, effective 5/7/2025, that as part of the onboarding process for this position, individuals undergoing identity verification for new PIV card issuance, must present a REAL ID compliant form of identification or an equivalent acceptable form.
