Remote Sensing Scientist

KBR•Edison Township, SD

3d•Remote

About The Position

KBR’s Science and Space division is seeking a Remote Sensing Scientist to support Landsat 10 mission and product development under its Technical Support Services Contract (TSSC) at the USGS Earth Resources Observation & Science (EROS) Center near Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The role applies fundamental remote sensing expertise to investigate the utility of superspectral data from the planned Landsat 10 Instrument Suite (LandIS) across Earth observation science and remote sensing applications. It supports mission development by assessing continuity with historical Landsat observations and interoperability with other multispectral and imaging spectroscopy missions. The scientist will evaluate sensor characteristics, develop and apply algorithms, and contribute to validation strategies for Landsat 10 observations and derived products, augmenting the Landsat Science Office’s interdisciplinary team. The position supports a team anchored in Sioux Falls and is offered in a hybrid remote/onsite (preferred) or fully remote environment. Travel may be required for conference presentations and team meetings. Candidates must be U.S. citizens, have at least three years of U.S. residency, and be able to obtain and maintain a national agency check and background investigation after hire for facility and user-account access. Candidates hired into KBR’s Mission Technology Solutions business before the planned spin-off are expected to transition to Trinzic when the separation is complete without reapplying. KBR describes its employees as team players who communicate effectively, follow safety and quality policies and company procedures, and demonstrate organization and time-management skills. Benefits may include a 401(k) plan with company match, medical, dental, vision, life and AD&D insurance, flexible spending account, disability coverage, paid time off, or a flexible work schedule. KBR also supports career advancement through professional training and development.

Requirements

Advanced degree or equivalent experience in remote sensing, Earth science, geography, or another relevant field.
At least 2–5 years of recent, related remote sensing work experience.
Demonstrated understanding of spectral remote sensing data, derived products, and applications.
Demonstrated expertise in multispectral and hyperspectral imaging and analysis.
Knowledge of radiative transfer fundamentals and atmospheric modeling.
Experience processing, visualizing, and analyzing in situ, airborne, and spaceborne remote sensing data.
Competency with image processing software such as ENVI, ERDAS Imagine, or ArcGIS.
Strong programming and scripting skills in Python, MATLAB, R, or comparable languages.
Proficiency with Git-based source code repositories and modern version control practices.
Must be a U.S. citizen and have three years of U.S. residency.
Must be able to obtain and maintain a national agency check and background investigation after hire for facility access and user accounts.
Ability to communicate effectively, work as a team player, follow safety and quality policies and company procedures, and demonstrate organization and time-management skills.

Nice To Haves

Expertise in column water vapor retrieval and atmospheric correction of remotely sensed observations.
Experience developing validation strategies and computational workflows for remote sensing data.
Conversance with bidirectional reflectance concepts and applications.
Experience with surface albedo retrieval and applications.
Familiarity with Linux and Windows computing platforms.
Experience with cloud-based data processing, visualization, and analysis.

Responsibilities

Provide technical and scientific support for Landsat 10 mission development milestones, reviews, and related science activities.
Conceptualize, develop, and execute science and application use cases demonstrating the strengths and potential benefits of Landsat 10’s enhanced spectral and spatial resolution.
Develop and maintain computational pipelines and processing workflows for Landsat 10 and Landsat 10-like data, including preparation, analysis, visualization, and product generation.
Participate in research and development related to quality assessment, atmospheric correction, and retrieval of surface geophysical parameters from Landsat 10 VSWIR and TIR observations over land and water.
Contribute to developing and evaluating algorithms, methodologies, and validation approaches for Landsat 10 science and applications.
Compare observations and derived products from multispectral and imaging spectroscopy instruments to evaluate cross-mission consistency and interoperability.
Communicate scientific findings through technical reports, presentations, and peer-reviewed publications.