Exploitation Specialist / Imagery Scientist (SAR) Lead – NGA

Exploitation Specialist / Imagery Scientist (SAR) Lead – NGA

"Drive the future of SAR exploitation and advanced geospatial intelligence."

Client: National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) Locations:

• Springfield, VA
• St. Louis, MO
• Denver, CO

Work Location: Onsite – Field Contractor Office

Salary: $260,000 – $263,000 (Based on experience and technical interview)

Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Required

Clearance: Active TS/SCI Required

Why This Role Matters

We are seeking a highly specialized Exploitation Specialist / Imagery Scientist (SAR) Lead to support mission-critical initiatives for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA).

This role sits at the intersection of:

• Advanced SAR exploitation
• Remote sensing science
• Algorithm development
• Intelligence analysis
• AI/ML-enabled imagery processing

You will serve as the subject matter expert (SME) for Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) phenomenology, exploitation methodologies, and advanced image processing workflows supporting national security operations.

Position Overview

The Imagery Scientist serves as the lead technical authority for SAR exploitation and imagery science initiatives.

This position requires deep expertise in:

• SAR collection and phenomenology
• Image formation and quality analysis
• Advanced processing and exploitation workflows
• Metadata and sensor characterization
• Scientific automation and algorithm development

You will work directly with Government stakeholders and technical teams to:

• Evaluate emerging sensor capabilities
• Develop exploitation methodologies
• Improve data ingestion and processing pipelines
• Advance intelligence analysis capabilities

Required Qualifications

Experience

• 6+ years of advanced SAR exploitation and imagery science experience
• Demonstrated expertise in:
• • SAR collection and phenomenology
  • Image formation processes
  • Exploitation methodologies
  • Sensor metadata interpretation

Technical Expertise

• Hands-on experience with:
• • SARPy
  • MATLAB SAR Toolbox
• Strong knowledge of:
• • RNIIRS
  • Information theoretic image quality metrics
  • Integrated Sidelobe Ratio (ISLR)
  • Multiplicative Noise Ratio (MNR)
  • SAR geometry impacts (graze, squint, azimuth)

Scientific & Processing Skills

• Experience developing and evaluating:
• • Algorithms
  • Automated workflows
  • Scientific exploitation methods
• Strong skills using:
• • Python
  • MATLAB
  • Google Earth Engine

Remote Sensing Expertise

• Deep understanding of:
• • Remote sensing principles
  • Advanced imagery exploitation
  • Geospatial intelligence methodologies

Communication

• Proven ability to communicate technical concepts to:
• • Technical audiences
  • Non-technical stakeholders
  • Intelligence users

Desired Qualifications

• Experience applying:
• • Computer Vision (CV)
  • Machine Learning (ML)
  • AI-enabled analytics to SAR imagery exploitation challenges

Core Competencies

• Scientific problem solving
• Advanced analytical thinking
• Technical leadership and mentorship
• Mission-driven collaboration
• Innovation and experimentation mindset

What You'll Be Doing

SAR Exploitation & Imagery Science

• Serve as the lead SAR subject matter expert (SME)
• Analyze:
• • SAR collection characteristics
  • Sensor phenomenology
  • Image formation processes
• Conduct exploitation and analysis of SAR imagery to identify and locate objects of interest

Algorithm Development & Scientific Processing

• Develop, test, and evaluate:
• • New algorithms
  • Exploitation methodologies
  • Scientific workflows
  • Automated processing techniques
• Utilize advanced processing tools including:
• • Python
  • MATLAB
  • Google Earth Engine
  • SARPy

Sensor & Data Evaluation

• Assess emerging sensor capabilities and performance differences
• Evaluate:
• • Metadata structures
  • Data formats
  • Collection latency
  • Security domains
• Support integration into existing:
• • Databases
  • APIs
  • ETL pipelines
  • Data operations workflows

Data Preparation & Standardization

• Determine preprocessing and normalization strategies for SAR data
• Convert and standardize imagery into usable formats for:
• • Labeling
  • Model testing
  • Analytical exploitation
• Support geospatial tiling and transformation workflows

Cross-Platform Intelligence Integration

• Investigate collection gaps and complementary data sources
• Identify coincident collections from:
• • EO platforms
  • Additional imagery systems
• Assess geographic and temporal overlap across platforms

Technical Leadership & Communication

• Communicate complex SAR capabilities and methodologies to:
• • Technical teams
  • Analysts
  • Government stakeholders
• Provide technical direction and mentorship across exploitation efforts

What Will NOT Be a Fit

• General imagery analysts without SAR depth
• Data scientists without imagery science expertise
• GEOINT professionals lacking SAR phenomenology knowledge
• Candidates without hands-on exploitation experience

What Success Looks Like

• Successful exploitation of advanced SAR datasets
• Improved processing and analytical methodologies
• Enhanced intelligence production capabilities
• Effective integration of emerging sensor technologies
• High-value scientific contributions to mission operations

Summary

This is a rare opportunity to work at the forefront of SAR exploitation, remote sensing science, and advanced GEOINT analysis supporting national security missions at NGA.

We are seeking a highly technical, mission-focused scientist who can combine:

• Scientific expertise
• Advanced imagery exploitation
• Algorithm development
• Operational intelligence support

...to help shape the future of geospatial intelligence.

Benefits Overview (W-2 Employees)

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off and holidays
• Tuition reimbursement
• Professional development and training
• Employee wellness programs
• Commuter benefits

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)

Fathom Management, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. All employment decisions are made without regard to any protected characteristic under applicable law.