Exploitation Specialist / Imagery Scientist (EO) Lead – NGA

Exploitation Specialist / Imagery Scientist (EO) Lead – NGA

"Advance the future of Electro-Optical exploitation and 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 (EO) Lead to support advanced geospatial intelligence and imagery exploitation initiatives for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA).

This role focuses on:

• Electro-Optical (EO) imagery science
• Advanced exploitation methodologies
• Remote sensing and image processing
• Sensor characterization and phenomenology
• Scientific workflow automation and algorithm development

You will serve as the lead EO subject matter expert (SME), helping shape the next generation of imagery exploitation capabilities supporting national security missions.

Position Overview

The EO Imagery Scientist is responsible for providing technical leadership and scientific expertise across all aspects of:

• EO imagery exploitation
• Sensor analysis
• Remote sensing methodologies
• Data preparation and processing pipelines

This role requires a deep understanding of:

• Electro-optical collection systems
• Image formation and phenomenology
• Scientific processing workflows
• Geospatial intelligence operations

You will collaborate closely with Government stakeholders, analysts, engineers, and fellow imagery scientists to improve exploitation capabilities and support mission-driven analysis.

Required Qualifications

Experience

• 4+ years of advanced EO imagery exploitation experience
• Strong understanding of:
• • EO collection systems
  • Remote sensing phenomenology
  • Image formation processes
  • Exploitation products and methodologies

Technical Expertise

• Experience exploiting EO imagery to:
• • Detect
  • Identify
  • Locate objects of interest
• Experience developing and evaluating:
• • Algorithms
  • Scientific workflows
  • Exploitation methodologies

Processing & Automation Tools

• Hands-on experience using:
• • Python
  • MATLAB
  • Google Earth Engine
  • EO imagery processing tools
• Experience automating scientific processing workflows

Remote Sensing & Imagery Science

• Deep understanding of:
• • Remote sensing principles
  • EO imagery processing
  • Advanced exploitation methods
  • Sensor/platform limitations and advantages

Communication

• Ability to communicate technical concepts effectively to:
• • Technical teams
  • Non-technical audiences
  • Intelligence stakeholders

Desired Qualifications

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

Core Competencies

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

What You'll Be Doing

EO Exploitation & Imagery Science

• Serve as the lead SME for EO imagery exploitation
• Analyze:
• • EO collection capabilities
  • Sensor phenomenology
  • Image formation processes
• Exploit imagery to identify and locate objects of interest across intelligence scenarios

Algorithm Development & Automation

• Develop, test, and evaluate:
• • EO exploitation algorithms
  • Analytical methodologies
  • Automated processing workflows
• Utilize advanced tools including:
• • Python
  • MATLAB
  • Google Earth Engine
• Support automation of EO scientific processing and analysis workflows

Sensor & Data Evaluation

• Assess emerging EO sensor characteristics and capabilities
• Evaluate impacts to:
• • Metadata structures
  • Data formats
  • APIs and ETL processes
  • Existing operational pipelines

Data Processing & Standardization

• Develop strategies to:
• • Pre-process EO imagery
  • Normalize and standardize datasets
  • Convert formats and tile imagery
• Prepare imagery for:
• • Labeling
  • Model testing
  • Advanced exploitation workflows

Cross-Platform Imagery Integration

• Investigate gaps in emerging EO sensor capabilities
• Collaborate with SAR Imagery Scientists to:
• • Identify coincident imagery opportunities
  • Align EO imagery with temporal and geographic collection windows
• Support multi-INT exploitation workflows

Technical Leadership & Communication

• Communicate EO imagery capabilities and methodologies to:
• • Technical teams
  • Analysts
  • Government stakeholders
• Provide technical guidance and mentorship across exploitation efforts

What Will NOT Be a Fit

• General GEOINT analysts without EO expertise
• Data scientists without imagery science background
• EO users without exploitation depth
• Candidates lacking remote sensing knowledge

What Success Looks Like

• Successful exploitation of advanced EO datasets
• Improved scientific processing and exploitation workflows
• Effective integration of emerging sensor capabilities
• Enhanced intelligence production and mission support
• Strong collaboration across multi-INT teams

Summary

This is an opportunity to work at the cutting edge of:

• Electro-Optical exploitation
• Remote sensing science
• Advanced GEOINT operations
• AI/ML-enabled imagery analysis

We are seeking a highly technical, mission-focused EO Imagery Scientist who can combine:

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

...to help drive the future of geospatial intelligence at NGA.

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.