Scientist 2​/3

What You Will Do

This position is open for external candidates only to apply.

This position will be filled at either the Scientist 2 or Scientist 3 level, depending on the skills and experience of the selected candidate. Additional responsibilities will be assigned at the higher level.

The Space Remote Sensing and Data Science Group, ISR-6, at Los Alamos National Laboratory is seeking a scientist to contribute to cutting-edge research and development in remote sensing, data science, image processing, signal processing, machine learning, and sensor data exploitation.

ISR-6 develops advanced methods and technologies for collecting, processing, analyzing, and interpreting data from space, airborne, ground-based, and laboratory remote-sensing systems. We are interested in candidates with strong technical foundations in image processing, signal processing, statistical analysis, computational modeling, scientific data analysis, or applied machine learning/AI. Experience with any specific sensing phenomenology is welcome but not required.

In this role, you will contribute to one or more of the following areas:

• Developing algorithms for processing, analyzing, and interpreting image, spectral, time-series, RF, optical, or other sensor data
• Applying statistical, mathematical, machine-learning, AI, or physics-informed methods to detection, estimation, characterization, and inference problems
• Supporting source-to-sensor modeling, including source behavior, propagation, sensor response, and measurement uncertainty
• Analyzing experimental or field-collected data and comparing results with theoretical, simulated, or modeled expectations
• Contributing to the design, characterization, calibration, and optimization of sensing systems and instruments
• Participating in laboratory, field, or deployment activities to collect and evaluate remote-sensing data
• Communicating technical results through reports, presentations, publications, and collaboration with interdisciplinary teams
• Support field experiments at national and, as needed, international locations

The successful candidate will have many of the following qualifications:

• Background in engineering, physics, applied mathematics, computer science, data science, or a related technical field
• Experience conducting basic or applied research, engineering development, or technical analysis relevant to sensing, imaging, signal processing, scientific computing, machine learning, or sensor data analysis
• Working knowledge of image processing, signal processing, statistical analysis, numerical methods, machine learning, or related data-analysis techniques
• Experience using scientific programming tools or languages such as Python, MATLAB, C/C++, Julia, IDL, or similar
• Demonstrated ability and enthusiasm for leveraging modern AI/agentic systems to accelerate scientific research, software development, data analysis, or engineering workflows.
• Familiarity with one or more types of sensor or measurement systems, which may include cameras, focal plane arrays, optical systems, RF systems, acoustic/vibration sensors, spectral sensors, data-acquisition systems, laboratory instrumentation, or field sensors
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team
• Clear written and oral communication skills, including the ability to contribute to technical reports, presentations, or publications
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q clearance, which generally requires U.S. citizenship

In addition to the Job Requirements outlined above, qualification at the R&D Engineer 3 level requires:

• Extensive experience applying image/signal processing, statistical methods, applied math, machine learning, or scientific computing to complex problems
• Proven ability to develop, implement, or improve algorithms for sensor data analysis
• Experience handling various data types, including imagery, spectral, time-series, RF, optical, vibration, or multi-sensor data
• Familiarity with advanced areas such as Fourier analysis, estimation theory, sparse signal methods, image reconstruction, spectral analysis, sensor fusion, machine learning, anomaly detection, physics-informed ML, scalable data processing, or sensor calibration
• Ability to link physical concepts, data traits, and computational techniques for effective analysis
• Experience leading technical tasks or mentoring, coordinating teams, or contributing to proposals

Positions requires a Bachelor' degree in a STEM field from an accredited college and university and 4 years of related experience, typically with post-doctoral research experience at a university or national lab or equivalent experience directly related to the occupation

Position requires a Master's degree in a STEM field from an accredited college or university and 6 years of relevant experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience directly…