Expert SAR Imagery Scientist

Expert SAR Imagery Scientist (Lead)

Geo Owl
· SDVOSB
· Est. 2013

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

As the SAR Lead, you are the authoritative subject matter expert on synthetic aperture radar for the AGAIM program. You will direct technical work to identify, acquire, and prepare SAR imagery necessary to support Level 3 AI model accreditation testing. You will 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.

• 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; be available during NGA core hours (10am–2pm EST) for government meetings and technical discussions

AGAIM has a mandate to accredit every GEOINT AI model NGA deploys for robustness against adversarial tactics. The SAR imagery you identify and prepare is essential for Level 3 accreditation testing. Without it, models do not get cleared for operational use.

As the SAR Lead, you represent Geo Owl’s technical credibility at the highest visibility point in the contract. Your performance directly shapes our standing on AGAIM and our ability to grow within the program.

You will gain unique expertise at the intersection of SAR science and AI/ML model accreditation—an area that is growing rapidly as NGA scales its computer vision programs.

• 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

• 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
• 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 (ICSR, MNR), 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…