OPIR Imagery Scientist

Responsibilities

Noblis is seeking an OPIR Imagery Scientist to join our Charlottesville, VA team. The candidate will work alongside community experts to advance applications within the field of persistent infrared remote sensing, bringing a background in Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) and the ability to turn that expertise into working tools. We're looking for someone who understands tool development, applying version control, testing, and code review, to accelerate development using agentic AI to design, build, and validate tools, while knowing where analyst judgment must stay in the loop.

Job Responsibilities:

• Support 1 st through 3 rd phase exploitation of OPIR and other EO/IR sensor data to detect, track, and characterize events, separating 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 sound software development practices such as 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 new analytic methods, verifying and validating AI-generated code and outputs before they reach 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 the transition of new tools and methods into operational use, including test, verification and validation, documentation, and user feedback

• Author and review reports, graphics, and briefings for analysts, leadership, and customers, matching 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

Required Qualifications

• US Citizenship is required

• Active TS/SCI clearance, with the ability to obtain and maintain a CI polygraph

• Must have a Bachelor's degree with 8 years of related experience OR Master's degree with 6 years of related experience OR Associate degree with 11 years of experience OR high-school diploma with 14 years of experience.

• 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 (e.g., Git), testing, and documentation

• Proficiency with standard GEOINT and MASINT tools such as ArcGIS, ENVI, SOCET GXP, or RemoteView

Travel up to 10% within US.

Lift up to 30 lbs, walk, bend, drive.

Desired Qualifications

• Prior support to NGIC, NASIC, NGA, MDA, or another DoD or IC production center

• Knowledge of TIV, PIV, AFAST

• Degree in physics, engineering, remote sensing, computer science, or another STEM field; graduate education 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

Overview

Overview

Noblis and our wholly owned subsidiaries, Noblis ESI and Noblis MSD, take on some of the nation’s toughest challenges, delivering advanced solutions to our customers’ most critical missions. We bring together leading scientific, engineering, and management expertise in a culture grounded in objectivity and collaboration, ensuring our work creates lasting impact across federal missions.

We work with a broad range of government agencies in the defense, intelligence, and federal civilian sectors. Learn more and find opportunities at careers.noblis.org (https://careers.noblis.org/about-noblis/)

Why Work at Noblis

At Noblis, we share a passion for excellence and innovation, and we create an environment where people can do meaningful work while maintaining the balance that keeps them energized and fulfilled. We seek out individuals with a natural curiosity and desire to collaborate and learn. We believe our people are our greatest strength, and we consistently seek exceptionally skilled, mission‑driven professionals who care deeply about doing work that enriches lives and makes our nation safer.

Noblis has earned numerous workplace awards (https://noblis.org/who-we-are/awards/) for our culture, our commitment to employee well‑being, and our dedication to meaningful, impactful work. We also maintain a drug‑free workplace.

Remote/hybrid status is subject to change based on Noblis and/or government requirements.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, sex, age, national origin, religion, physical or mental disability, pregnancy/childbirth and related medical conditions, veteran or military status, or any other characteristics protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact us (https://noblis.org/contact) .

EEO is the Law (https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/discrimination) | E-Verify (https://assets.cms.talentplatform.us/zhu9bbm0ym8duz1a5mj8osb7/attachments/iawiyhl3wfqccbsgnpticdz3-federal-e-verify-participation-poster-eng-and-sp-9-11-2024.pdf) | Right to Work (https://www.justice.gov/crt/case-document/file/1133936/download)

Total Rewards

At Noblis we recognize and reward your contributions, provide you with growth opportunities, 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, and work-life programs. Our award programs acknowledge employees for exceptional performance and superior demonstration of our service standards. Full-time and part-time employees working at least 20 hours a week on a regular basis are eligible to participate in our benefit programs. Other offerings may be provided for employees not within this category. We encourage you to learn more about our total benefits by visiting the Benefits (https://careers.noblis.org/benefits/) page on our Careers (https://careers.noblis.org/) site.

Compensation at Noblis is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the combination of education, certifications, knowledge, skills, competencies, and experience, internal and external equity, location, clearance level, as well as contract-specific affordability, organizational requirements and applicable employment laws. The projected compensation range for this position is based on full time status. For part time or on-call staff, compensation is proportionately adjusted based on hours worked. While monetary compensation is important, it's just one component of Noblis’ total compensation package.

Posted Salary Range

USD $119,610.00 - USD $186,975.00 /Yr.