Imagery Scientist (SAR)

Employer description

Leidos is actively hiring for a Imagery Scientist (SAR) to join our team in Alexandria, VA. 

The SAR Geospatial Analyst shall provide geospatial and imagery expertise and quantitative analysis to make recommendations that improve data curation and development in support of Machine Learning algorithm testing and evaluation.

Primary Responsibilities:

Assist the SAR lead in conducting assessment of potential differences between new sensor characteristics and capabilities compared to currently utilized platformsAssess potential differences in metadata, data format, and data structure characteristics in regards to changes to databases, schemas, APIs, and other ETL related processes for the ingestion and movement of data when integrating into the existing data operations pipelineDetermine how to acquire new data, potential latency associated with acquisition, data formats, and security domainsDetermine how to pre-process and standardize the data to match existing data standards or to be transformed into a usable state for labeling and model testing purposes. This may involve converting between file format types or tiling full-size images into specified sizes or geospatial bounds.Leverage multi-INT data, with an emphasis on SAR, to curate imagery from the emergent sensors. Curated imagery will be prioritized for creation of labeled data to support the model evaluation and accreditation. Curated imagery should have objects of interest or needed characteristics (e.g., geographic coverage, scene attributes) per Government prioritization.Based on the characteristics and limitations of the emergent sensor, recommend curation strategies and identify data gaps to develop a diverse, representative dataset for Machine Learning model evaluationAssist the SAR lead in conducting assessment of potential differences between new sensor characteristics and capabilities compared to currently utilized platformsAssess potential differences in metadata, data format, and data structure
Basic Qualifications:

4+years as a SAR expert with understanding of collection, phenomenology, image formation process, and exploitation products.Experience SAR imagery quality metrics and sensor metadata describing impacts of geometry on phenomenologyExhibit experience exploiting SAR to determine the occurrence and location of objects of interestExhibit experience communicating with a variety of technical and non-technical audiences on availability and capabilities of SAR imagery products, methodologies, procedures, and algorithms to enhance analysis.Exhibit an understanding of the principles of remote sensing and imagery processing and advanced exploitation methodsBachelor’s Degree in relevant field.  Additional years of experience can be considered in lieu of degreeActive TS/SCI with ability to be approved for a Poly
Preferred Qualifications:Exhibit experience applying CV and machine learning (ML) techniques to SAR imagery and data to address intelligence problems If you’re looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We’re not hiring followers. We’re recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We’re already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting:September 24, 2026

For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Pay Range:Pay Range $92,300.00 - $166,850.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.