Senior Scientist

About the role

At Skyline Scientific, your ideas won't get buried in bureaucracy—they'll directly shape mission-critical capabilities for the intelligence and defense communities. Our engineers build cutting-edge software that powers real-world remote sensing, OPIR, and dynamic sensor operations. You'll work alongside experts in AI, high-performance computing, and advanced analytics to solve some of the hardest technical challenges in national security.

Skyline is looking for a Senior Scientist to lead research, algorithm development, and advanced analytics for cutting-edge electro-optical and infrared sensing systems. This role applies physics-based modeling, image science, and data analytics to detect, track, locate, and characterize remote sensing targets. While familiarity with OPIR is valuable, the primary emphasis is on EO/IR phenomenology, sensor performance, and multi-platform remote sensing analytics in support of intelligence and defense missions.

Why Skyline Scientific?

• Mission-Focused Work: We solve hard problems in remote sensing, AI-enhanced analytics, and sensor fusion—our work directly impacts national security.
• Industry-Leading Benefits: 15% 401(k) match (no contribution required) and employer-paid healthcare—one of the best packages in the industry.
• Custom Solutions, Not Cookie-Cutter Code: We build AI-enhanced software for electro-optical, infrared, OPIR, SAR, and dynamic sensor applications.
• High-Performing Team: Collaborate with AI/ML experts, algorithm engineers, and sensor specialists to develop cutting-edge software.
• Opportunities to Innovate: Our engineers don't just write code—they research, design, and deploy groundbreaking AI/ML and sensing algorithms.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior-level research and development of advanced algorithms for EO/IR remote sensing systems, enabling detection, tracking, location, and characterization of targets.
• Design, implement, and evaluate algorithms to assess EO/IR sensor and camera system performance, including noise modeling, calibration, and sensitivity analysis.
• Conduct advanced analytics research across multiple remote sensing platforms, sensors, and collection geometries.
• Analyze datasets to extract signatures, characterize targets, and generate actionable intelligence insights.
• Review, validate, and enhance analytic products to ensure technical rigor and mission relevance.
• Maintain detailed, reproducible analysis logs documenting workflows, assumptions, and analytic methods.
• Adapt quickly to real-time mission demands and respond to EO/IR analysis requests.
• Support collection planning and requirements definition for remote sensors, coordinating priorities across multiple systems.
• Test and evaluate emerging EO/IR algorithms, tools, and exploitation platforms; and help develop new trade studies and capability assessments.
• Prepare and deliver technical briefings, analytic findings, and customer-facing presentations.
• Produce technical reports documenting analytic methodologies, results, limitations, and conclusions.
• Mentor junior analysts and researchers; contribute to analytic standards, best practices, and methodology development.
• Recommend enhancements to sensor tools, processes, and workflows; support development of new analytic applications that improve product quality.

Requirements

• Active TOP SECRET/SCI with the ability to obtain a Poly: This position requires a security clearance, which is issued by the US government—U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.
• Bachelor's degree in Image Science, Engineering, Applied Physics, Atmospheric Science, Applied Mathematics, or related fields and 5 years of OPIR experience.
• Experience with image processing and/or digital signal processing tools that process short and mid-wave infrared.
• Experience using algorithms for target detection and background suppression.
• Experience in the TCPED process for OPIR, either in Tasking, Collection, Processing, Exploitation, and Dissemination.
• Experience using multi-data stream ingest and analysis techniques.
• Excellent documentation skills, organizational skills, and verbal communication (including presentation) skills.
• Ability to work independently or with a team.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Image Science, Engineering, Applied Physics, Applied Mathematics, or related fields and 5 years of OPIR experience.
• Experience with Python, C/C++, IDL and/or MATLAB.
• Familiar with ArcGIS, Google Earth, Opticks, Palette.

Benefits

• Attractive Salary
• Paid Time Off (PTO): 25 days
• Medical, Dental, & Vision: Employer-Paid
• Disability & Life Insurance Coverage
• 401k: 15% Employer Match (no contribution required)
• Profit Sharing Options
• Compressed Workweek Options
• Annual Performance Bonus
• Referral & Incentive Bonus Opportunities
• Professional Development & Education Assistance