OPIR Imagery Scientist

Noblis • Charlottesville, VA

1d

About The Position

Noblis is seeking an OPIR Imagery Scientist to join its Charlottesville, Virginia team. The position works alongside community experts to advance persistent infrared remote sensing applications, applying OPIR expertise to develop practical tools. The role combines imagery exploitation and analysis with software development, including the use of agentic AI to accelerate tool design, development, and validation while preserving analyst judgment where needed.

The scientist supports exploitation of OPIR and other EO/IR sensor data, evaluates processed data and collection conditions, and develops algorithms, analytic tools, and data-processing pipelines. The position also establishes repeatable data-conditioning and quality-control workflows, compares laboratory or modeled signatures with overhead observations, and helps transition tools and methods into operational use. The role involves preparing technical communications, supporting collection requirements and field tests, and working directly with government customers and multidisciplinary teams. Travel within the United States may be up to 10%.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship.
• Active TS/SCI clearance and ability to obtain and maintain a CI polygraph.
• One of the following: bachelor's degree and 8 years of related experience; master's degree and 6 years; associate degree and 11 years; or high-school diploma and 14 years.
• Hands-on exploitation of OPIR or other infrared sensor data for intelligence production.
• Working knowledge of IR phenomenology, including sensor resolution, sensitivity, and the strengths and limits of persistent overhead collection.
• Demonstrated experience developing analytic tools or data-processing software in Python or a similar language, including version control such as Git, testing, and documentation.
• Proficiency with standard GEOINT and MASINT tools such as ArcGIS, ENVI, SOCET GXP, or RemoteView.
• Ability to travel up to 10% within the United States.
• Ability to lift up to 30 pounds, walk, bend, and drive.

Nice To Haves

• Prior support to NGIC, NASIC, NGA, MDA, or another DoD or IC production center.
• Knowledge of TIV, PIV, or AFAST.
• A degree in physics, engineering, remote sensing, computer science, or another STEM field; graduate education is a plus.
• Background in radiometry, including radiometric calibration, detector response, signal-to-noise characterization, and uncertainty propagation.
• Experience with temporal analysis, including time-series conditioning, event segmentation, and transient characterization.
• Experience designing multi-step or tool-using AI agent workflows, or evaluating AI performance on analytic tasks.
• Experience deploying software in classified or air-gapped environments, including containerization, CI/CD, and configuration management.
• Familiarity with detection theory, signal processing, image processing, or machine learning.
• Experience with SAR, MSI/HSI, or LiDAR exploitation in addition to IR.
• Experience planning or supporting collections at CONUS or OCONUS test ranges.

Responsibilities

• Support first- through third-phase exploitation of OPIR and other EO/IR sensor data to detect, track, and characterize events, distinguishing real signatures from background clutter and false alarms.
• Review OPIR processed data, sensor metadata, and collection geometry to determine data quality.
• Design, build, and maintain algorithms, analytic tools, and data-processing pipelines for PIR collection planning, exploitation, and signature analysis, using version control, testing, documentation, and code review.
• Use agentic AI tools and workflows to accelerate tool development, automate repetitive exploitation and data-conditioning tasks, and prototype analytic methods; verify and validate AI-generated code and outputs before operational use.
• Develop repeatable workflows for data conditioning, calibration, quality control, and uncertainty characterization.
• Compare laboratory or modeled signatures with overhead observations, accounting for sensor response, geometry, atmospheric effects, and background conditions.
• Support transition of new tools and methods into operational use, including testing, verification and validation, documentation, and user feedback.
• Author and review reports, graphics, and briefings for analysts, leadership, and customers, tailoring technical depth to the audience.
• Help draft and prioritize collection requirements, and support field tests, test-range activities, and data collections.
• Work directly with government customers, collectors, engineers, and analysts to understand tool requirements.

Benefits

• Health, life, disability, financial, and retirement benefits.
• Paid leave.
• Professional development.
• Tuition assistance.
• Work-life programs.
• Award programs recognizing exceptional performance and superior demonstration of service standards.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: High school or GED