Senior Imagery Scientist - EO (TS/SCI)

Xcellent Technology

$120K — $150K *
Aerospace & Defense
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Current active Top Secret / SCI clearance with willingness to obtain CI poly
  • PhD with 10 years, Master's with 13, Bachelor's with 15, or Associate's with 16 years of relevant experience
  • Expertise in EO collection systems, phenomenology, and image formation
  • Strong background in evaluating AI/ML algorithms using operational EO datasets
  • Experience in exploiting EO imagery to identify objects of interest
  • Proficiency in developing and testing analytic methodologies or algorithms
  • Skilled in Python, MATLAB, and/or Google Earth Engine

Responsibilities

  • Evaluate and validate AI-enabled GEOINT capabilities against operational imagery datasets
  • Analyze environmental effects on collection geometry, sensor limitations, and image quality
  • Design analytic methodologies and validation frameworks for AI systems
  • Shape the accreditation process for emerging AI capabilities within the NGA
  • Influence the operationalization of AI in national security applications
  • Directly impact how AI systems perform in conditions critical for mission success

Benefits

  • Engage in high-impact work at the intersection of GEOINT, remote sensing, and AI
  • Opportunity to shape national security initiatives and operational AI strategies
  • Contribute to the evaluation and assurance of advanced AI models
  • Work within a supportive and collaborative team environment
  • Access to ongoing professional development and training
Full Job Description
This is a special opportunity to join us as an Electro-Optical (EO) Imagery Scientist to support the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency's (NGA) Assurance and Governance Office (QA) Accreditation of AI Models (AGAIM) program. Looked upon your expertise to help evaluate and validate AI-enabled GEOINT capabilities against operational imagery datasets to ensure AI systems perform reliably in the environments where mission success matters most. Working at the intersection of GEOINT tradecraft, remote sensing science, and AI/ML evaluation. You'll analyze how environmental effects collection geometry, sensor limitations, and image quality impact algorithm performance to designing analytic methodologies and validation frameworks that test AI systems beyond ideal conditions. Your expertise in EO phenomenology, collection systems, and image exploitation will directly shape how NGA accredits and operationalizes emerging AI capabilities across the enterprise. If you are ready to apply your expertise and directly influence the future of operational AI within national security, apply today!

Requirements
  • Current active Top Secret / SCI clearance with the willingness to obtain CI poly.
  • You've achieved an accomplishment of a PhD + 10 years / Master's degree + 13 / Bachelor's degree + 15 / Associate's degree + 16 / 18+ years of relevant experience.
  • You've gained deep expertise in EO collection systems, phenomenology, and image formation to properly evaluate AI performance as understanding how imagery is created, how sensors behave, and how environmental conditions affect what an algorithm 'sees'.
  • Strong experience evaluating AI/ML algorithms using operational EO datasets to support in assessing whether an algorithm performs reliably across the variability complexity of real-world GEOINT collection.
  • Experience exploiting EO imagery to determine occurrence and location of objects of interest (OOIs), in order to evaluate whether AI outputs are analytically meaningful.
  • Experience developing, testing, or evaluating analytic methodologies or algorithms to support methodology design, testing framework, and measurable performance standards.
  • Proficiency with Python, MATLAB, and/or Google Earth Engine as you will be handling large operational datasets, testing analytic workflows, and assessing model outputs.
  • Deep understanding of remote sensing principles and GEOINT tradecraft.
  • Experience applying image quality metrics and assessing environmental or sensor impacts in order to understand how haze, shadows, off-nadir angle, weather, compression, or sensor limitations affect algorithm confidence and reliability.

Desired
  • Experience with computer vision and machine learning applied to EO imagery


If you are passionate in helping define how NGA evaluates AI performance, establishes operational confidence, and ensures AI-enabled GEOINT capabilities are mission ready before they reach the analysts or the battlefield, send your resume directly to Lanchi Lai, ([email protected]).

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