Maven Exploitation Specialist/Imagery Scientist (SAR Focused) EXPERT

BTS Software Solutions; Springfield (VA); On-site; USD 210,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive benefits package

PTO

401K matching

Job summary

BTS Software Solutions is seeking a Maven Exploitation Specialist/Imagery Scientist (SAR Focused) Expert to support Department of Defense IC missions in Springfield, VA. You will lead imagery acquisition, pre-processing, tiling, and data workflow integration for SAR and EO data.

Required 4+ years of SAR expertise, strong experience with SAR tooling, Python/MATLAB, and metadata-driven data operations. TS/SCI clearance is required, with willingness for CI poly in the future, based in Springfield,

Qualifications

• 4+ years as a SAR expert with understanding of collection, phenomenology, image formation, and exploitation products.
• Experience using SARPy and Matlab SAR toolbox.
• Experience in RNIIRS and SAR imagery quality metrics and sensor metadata effects on geometry.
• Experience exploiting SAR to identify occurrences and locations of objects of interest.

Responsibilities

• Integrate emerging sensors into existing data pipelines and workflows and develop data structures for new sources.
• Assess differences in metadata, data formats, and ETL processes for new sensors.
• Determine data acquisition methods, latency, formats, and security domains.
• Pre-process and standardize data to match standards for labeling and model development.
• Generate pre-labels from intelligence reports and machine/human observations to guide labeling.

Skills

SAR Exploitation

Image processing

Machine learning

Geospatial analysis

Python

Tools

SARPy

MATLAB

Python

Google Earth Engine

Job description

+++ This opportunity is for an upcoming award expected in November 2026****

BTS Software Solutions is seeking a Maven Exploitation Specialist/Imagery Scientist (SAR Focused) Expert to support Department of Defense IC missions at Springfield, VA.

The Maven Exploitation Specialist/Imagery Scientist (SAR Focused) EXPERT will provide technical direction and conduct the work necessary to acquire and prepare imagery of the necessary quality, standards, and requirements provided by the Government. Developed solutions should be informed by specific phenomenology limitations and advantages of the sensors and platforms in mind.

Primary Location: Springfield, VA

Secondary Locations: St. Louis, Missouri

Clearance Requirement: TS/SCI, must be willing to take a CI Poly in the future

What You'll Get to Do:

Job Duties:

• Integrate emerging sensors and platforms into existing Maven or Government directed data pipelines and workflows. These emerging sensors may still be going through their experimentation/pre-IOC (Initial Operating Capability) phase prior to final full operational status. With as much available information as possible on the emerging sensor, develop pipelines and relevant data structures to incorporate new sensor source into existing data workflows.
  * Conduct assessment of potential differences between new sensor characteristics and capabilities compared to currently utilized platforms
  * Assess 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 pipeline
  * Determine how to acquire new data, potential latency associated with acquisition, data formats, and security domains
  * Determine 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 development purposes. This may involve converting between file format types or tiling full-size images into specified sizes or geospatial bounds.
• Investigate any gaps in the emerging sensor capability that may need to be supplemented by other sources
• Explore options for coincident imagery collects from other imagery platforms ( e.g., EO platforms) that align with areas of emerging sensor's collection. Determine other platforms with similar geographic and temporal coverage.
• Develop and implement mathematical conversion models to transform data labels from multiple imagery types ( e.g., PNG to SICD, WBID, SIDD), as well as between orthorectified and non-orthorectified imagery
• Develop methods to execute tiling and pre-processing of full-size raw imagery into specified sizes and data formats (e.g., PNG) while maintaining metadata and data integrity
• Develop and implement mathematical conversion models to transform pre-processed tiles between image types and generate tiles with specified, precise geospatial boundaries. These methods should account for orthorectification and other geospatial aspects to ensure edges of the tile remain geospatially accurate. Generate tiles from full-size image
  collects that match specific pixel dimensions or geospatial boundaries.
• Analyze and assess image quality and sensor metadata to make recommendations and
  curate imagery acquisition in alignment with Government directed priorities.
• Execute day-to-day management of all imagery curation, acquisition, and pre-processing of imagery, such as image tiling, generation of pre-labels (i.e., labels generated from intelligence reporting, machine-derived observation, human observation, or other method that indicates the geospatial location and classification of an object according to a defined ontology used to tip and cue human labelers to an object of interest), and converting
  between file types in accordance with NGA Maven data strategies
• Generation of pre-labels derived from: Intelligence reporting, Machine-derived
  observations, Human observations, other methods identifying geospatial location and object classification. Pre-labels must conform to defined ontology standards and serve to tip and cue human labelers to objects of interest.
• Provide EO imagery coincident with any SAR delivered imagery within a specified geographic and temporal range
• Identify methods to curate imagery according to Government directed prioritization. Examples of curation methods include using Natural Language Processing (NLP) to extract information from Intelligence Reporting, develop automated or semi-automated machine-based technologies to maximize likelihood of imagery with objects of interest or connect to intelligence repositories via API
• Monitor and prioritize data holdings to support data diversity needs defined by the
  Government ( e.g., different geographic regions, temporal windows, metadata
  characteristics, scene characteristics, image sensor platforms)
• Develop, test, and evaluate new algorithms, processes, methodologies, and products using
  remotely sensed data, imagery, and cloud-based solutions.
• Oversee weekly deliveries of processed imagery and conduct ad-hoc deliveries as needed for quick-tum operations support.

Education/Experience:

• 4+ years as a SAR expert with understanding of collection, phenomenology, image formation process, and exploitation products.
  * Exhibit experience using SARPy and Matlab SAR toolbox
  * Experience in RNIIRS, information theoretic-based image quality metrics, SAR imagery quality metrics ( e.g., Integrated Sidelobe Ratio, Multiplicative Noise Ratio), and sensor metadata describing impacts of geometry on phenomenology ( e.g., graze, squint, azimuth)
  * Exhibit experience exploiting SAR to determine the occurrence and location of objects of interest
  * Exhibit experience developing, testing, and evaluating new algorithms, processes, methodologies, and products using SAR imagery including experience utilizing advanced processing tools (e.g., Python, MATLAB, Google Earth Engine, etc.) to automate scientific processes of SAR imagery data to aid analysis
  * Exhibit 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 a deep understanding of the principles of remote sensing and imagery processing and advanced exploitation metho

Desired Skills

• Exhibit experience applying CV and machine learning (ML) techniques to SAR imagery and data to address intelligence problems

Pay Range: $210,000-$230,000

The BTS pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Our approach to crafting offers considers various factors to establish an equitable and competitive compensation package. These considerations include, but are not limited to, the extent and intricacy of the role's responsibilities, the candidate's educational background, their work experience, and the specific competencies crucial for success in the role.

Company Overview:

BTS Software Solutions is a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business who are community-focused innovators who transform ideas into technology to serve people. We recognize that innovation is only valuable when applied towards a needed solution. Technology has no value without the hard work to turn ideas into reality. Our roots are in helping save Soldiers' lives through technology. We bring that ethos to serving our community. We create solutions that touch people's lives - products to communicate, to connect companies with customers, to stay informed, to save lives, and to enhance lives.

We have a small company persona with a large company ethos and capabilities; we create elegant solutions for complex problems that will enrich people's lives. We offer one of the best benefits packages in the industry: Competitive health benefits package, PTO, 401K matching and vested from day one to name just a few of our benefits and perks.

BTS Software Solutions is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). All employment decisions shall be made without regard to age, race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, citizenship status or any other basis as protected by federal, state, or local law.