Geo Owl · SDVOSB · Est. 2013

Expert SAR Imagery Scientist (Lead)

NGA AGAIM PROGRAM · SYNTHETIC APERTURE RADAR · GEOINT · EXPERT LEVEL · KEY POSITION

NGA's Accreditation of GEOINT AI Models program exists to ensure that every AI model used for national security actually works against real operational imagery — not just in the lab. As the Expert SAR Imagery Scientist and modality lead, you are the person who makes that possible for SAR. You identify what imagery is needed, assess new sensors against evolving model requirements, and drive the technical direction that keeps AGAIM's accreditation pipeline moving.

As the SAR Lead, you are the authoritative subject matter expert on synthetic aperture radar for the AGAIM program. You'll direct the technical work to identify and acquire SAR imagery necessary to support Level 3 AI model accreditation testing — working from model cards, data cards, and test procedures to determine what imagery is required, how to acquire it, and how to pre-process and standardize it for model testing. You'll lead the SAR team, guide junior scientists, and interface with the AGAIM government team on all SAR-related requirements and recommendations. This is a fully remote SCIF-based role at a contractor facility.

A Day in the Life

• ✓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

Why This Role Matters

Core Responsibilities

• ▸At the direction of the AGAIM government team, 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
• ▸Perform imagery forecasting to anticipate future accreditation testing needs based on incoming model pipeline and operational developments
• ▸Develop, test, and evaluate new SAR algorithms, processes, and methodologies using advanced tools to advance AGAIM's accreditation capabilities

Required 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

Experience Point Requirement

This is a Expert-level (Level 5) position requiring a minimum of 18 experience points. Points are calculated as follows:

• Education: Associate's = 2 pts · Bachelor's = 3 pts · Master's = +2 pts · PhD = +3 pts
• Professional / Military Experience: 1 pt per year of relevant experience
• Certifications: 0.5 pts each
• Specialized Training: 0.25 pts per relevant course
• Professional Impact (publications, presentations, patents): up to 3 pts total

Tools, Technologies & Tradecraft

What Makes Someone Successful in This Role

• ▸You read a model card and immediately understand what SAR imagery — by geometry, resolution, and scene characteristics — will make or break the accreditation test
• ▸You can assess an unfamiliar sensor with incomplete documentation and make sound, defensible recommendations to the government customer
• ▸You lead technically — your team trusts your judgment on SAR science, and you communicate it clearly enough that non-technical stakeholders act on it
• ▸You're a forward thinker — you don't just respond to requirements, you anticipate what the accreditation pipeline will need next and position the team accordingly
• ▸You hold a high standard for data quality — you understand that the wrong imagery for a model test produces misleading accreditation results, and you prevent that

Is This Role For You?

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.