Expert SAR Imagery Scientist

About the role

The NGA's Accreditation of GEOINT AI Models program ensures that every AI model used for national security actually works against real operational imagery. As the Expert SAR Imagery Scientist and modality lead, you are responsible for identifying and acquiring SAR imagery necessary to support Level 3 AI model accreditation testing.

Responsibilities

• Review incoming model cards and test procedures from the AGAIM government team; assess what SAR imagery is required in terms of modality, geography, resolution, and look angles to support Level 3 testing
• Assess emerging SAR sensors: evaluate differences in collection characteristics, metadata, data formats, and phenomenology compared to currently utilized platforms
• Determine pre-processing and standardization approaches for new sensor data — file format conversions, tiling to specified sizes or geospatial bounds, and ETL adaptations for schema and API changes
• Perform imagery forecasting: anticipate what SAR imagery upcoming models may require by tracking accreditation pipeline and monitoring world operational events
• Explore coincident EO imagery options that align geographically and temporally with SAR collections; coordinate with the EO lead to ensure coverage
• Lead, guide, and technically mentor the SAR team; available during NGA core hours (10am–2pm EST) for government meetings and technical discussions
• Identify and acquire priority SAR imagery necessary to conduct Level 3 AI model accreditation testing
• Conduct assessments of new and emerging sensor characteristics, capabilities, metadata, and format differences compared to currently utilized platforms
• Determine data acquisition pathways, latency factors, formats, and security domain requirements for new SAR data sources
• Define pre-processing and standardization requirements to transform SAR data into states usable for labeling and model testing — including file format conversion and geospatial tiling
• Investigate sensor capability gaps; identify supplemental sources and coincident imagery platforms with matching geographic and temporal coverage
• Develop, test, and evaluate new SAR algorithms, processes, and methodologies using advanced tools to advance AGAIM's accreditation capabilities

Qualifications

• Active TS/SCI clearance with eligibility for SI/TK/G/HCS/NATO access; CI polygraph required or willingness to obtain
• Minimum 18 experience points required (see experience point calculation below)
• 6+ years as a SAR expert with deep understanding of collection, phenomenology, image formation process, and exploitation products
• Experience using SARPy and MATLAB SAR toolbox
• Experience with RNIIRS, information theoretic-based image quality metrics, SAR imagery quality metrics (Integrated Sidelobe Ratio, Multiplicative Noise Ratio), and sensor metadata describing geometry impacts on phenomenology (graze, squint, azimuth)
• Experience exploiting SAR to determine the occurrence and location of objects of interest
• Experience developing, testing, and evaluating algorithms and processes using SAR imagery; proficiency with Python, MATLAB, Google Earth Engine, or similar advanced processing tools
• Experience communicating SAR imagery capabilities, methodologies, and products to both technical and non-technical audiences
• Deep understanding of remote sensing principles, imagery processing, and advanced exploitation methods

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience applying computer vision (CV) and machine learning (ML) techniques to SAR imagery to address intelligence problems

Benefits

• Health Insurance (Geo Owl pays 80%+ of the premium)
• 401k matching
• Dental, Vision, and other supplemental insurance plans available
• Company-paid short-term and long-term disability and life insurance
• Peer-to-Peer spot bonuses
• 120 hours of PTO per year plus federal holidays
• Fully Paid Military Leave: *You make your full Geo Owl salary while you are on military duty*
• Exiting the Military? Apply to our Military Transition Program for key insights into making the transition to civilian life from people who have been there before!

Career Growth & Professional Value

This role places you at the technical frontier of AI model governance in the national security community — an area that is growing rapidly as NGA and its partners scale their computer vision programs. You'll develop expertise in AI/ML accreditation workflows, multi-program imagery assessment across multiple NGA AI/ML programs, and the Hyperspectral office, and cross-sensor integration at the pre-operational level. For a SAR expert looking to stay at the cutting edge while building program leadership experience, this is a distinctive opportunity.

About Us

Our mission is to empower EVERYONE with geospatial technologies. Geo Owl is a premier provider of geospatial intelligence services, delivering cutting-edge solutions to the Department of Defense, intelligence agencies, and enterprises around the globe. Our comprehensive products and services include advanced geospatial analysis, imagery intelligence, remote sensing analysis, data science, and space-based custom intelligence solutions. At Geo Owl, we are dedicated to leveraging the latest analytic principles and technology to support and enhance the missions of our clients.

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