Senior Lidar Systems & Geospatial Engineering Lead

KBR, Inc; Sioux Falls (SD); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K plan with company match

Medical, dental, vision insurance

Life insurance

Job summary

KBR, Inc. is seeking a Senior Lidar Systems & Geospatial Engineering Lead to head lidar QA/QC for large-scale 3D mapping programs. The role focuses on accuracy assessment, density analysis, and scalable Python tooling to process massive point clouds.

You will lead a diverse team, publish results, and engage with USGS ECCOE and external collaborators. The position anchors in Sioux Falls, SD, with a hybrid work model; residency requirements for security credentials apply.

Qualifications

• MS in physics, mathematics, remote sensing, geospatial science, geomatics, environmental science, or related field.
• PhD preferred; 8+ years lidar-related experience is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical QA/QC and characterization of airborne lidar datasets and elevation products against 3DEP and standards.
• Develop methods for evaluating point density, spatial distribution, and accuracy metrics across large datasets.
• Perform vertical accuracy assessments using GNSS, TLS, UAS, and other references.
• Design scalable Python-based tools for processing tens of millions of points per tile.
• Mentor multidisciplinary teams and communicate findings to stakeholders.

Skills

Programming

Geospatial analysis

Team leadership

Communication

Education

MS in physics or related field

Tools

PDAL

laspy

LASTools

Python Geospatial

NumPy

SciPy

GeoPandas

Shapely

Rasterio

Job description

Title: Senior Lidar Systems & Geospatial Engineering Lead

BELONG. CONNECT. GROW. with KBR. Around here, we define the future. We are a company of innovators, thinkers, creators, explorers, volunteers, and dreamers. But we all share one goal: to improve the world responsibly and safely.

KBR’s Science and Space Division is seeking a Senior Lidar Systems & Geospatial Engineering Lead to support the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center’s EROS Calibration/Validation Center of Excellence (ECCOE) project. This is a full-time, specialized position that provides technical leadership for lidar system characterization, quality assurance, accuracy assessment, and advanced geospatial analysis, with emphasis on large-scale airborne lidar programs such as the USGS managed 3D Elevation Program (3DEP). The role combines lidar subject-matter expertise, algorithm and software development, standards support, and technical leadership to develop rigorous, scalable methods for evaluating point-cloud quality, density, spatial consistency, and elevation accuracy. The Senior Lidar Systems & Geospatial Engineering Lead will write and publish results for peer-reviewed publications and actively participate in professional organizations, conferences, and workshops.

Core Responsibilities

• Lead technical QA/QC and characterization of airborne lidar datasets and derived elevation products against 3DEP, ASPRS, contractual, and project-specific requirements.
• Develop and implement advanced methods for evaluating lidar point density, spatial distribution, completeness, and localized deficiencies, including point-based and Voronoi-based density approaches.
• Perform vertical accuracy assessments using GNSS, total-station, terrestrial laser scanning, UAS, and other independent reference datasets; evaluate bias, RMSE, variability, and spatial error patterns and metrics.
• Investigate lidar anomalies and determine whether observed deficiencies are associated with acquisition, calibration, classification, processing, or product-generation workflows.
• Develop scalable Python-based tools for processing tens of millions of points per tile and thousands of production datasets using libraries such as NumPy, SciPy, GeoPandas, Shapely, PDAL, laspy, and Rasterio.
• Design automated QA/QC workflows, acceptance metrics, statistical summaries, density histograms, spatial deficiency maps, and project-level exception reporting.
• Conduct applied research to improve lidar quality metrics and evaluate limitations of conventional raster-based density and accuracy assessment methods.
• Perform sensitivity analyses addressing point-return selection, edge effects, spatial resolution, density thresholds, and algorithm configuration.
• Support development and interpretation of ASPRS lidar density and positional accuracy standards and related industry guidance.
• Evaluate emerging airborne, terrestrial, UAS, and spaceborne lidar technologies and their potential application to national-scale 3D mapping programs.
• Provide technical review of methodologies, specifications, statements of work, contractor deliverables, and research products.
• Lead and mentor multidisciplinary teams of scientists, engineers, analysts, and software developers and communicate complex technical findings to program managers, government stakeholders, industry partners, and researchers.
• Work with USGS representatives at EROS and the National Geospatial Technical Operations Center (NGTOC) to incorporate lidar data quality products and processes into standards and specifications.
• Support ECCOE System Characterization team with commercial data quality analysis.

Qualifications

• Minimum of MS in physics, mathematics, remote sensing, geospatial science, geomatics, environmental science, or a related field; PhD preferred 8 + years of progressive, lidar-related experience.
• Fundamental programming skills.

Desired Skills

• Airborne Lidar 3DEP QA/QC ASPRS Standards, Point Density & Spatial Distribution Voronoi Analysis, Vertical Accuracy GNSS/TLS/Total Station Validation, Point-Cloud Processing DEMs & Terrain Analysis, Python Geospatial Development PDAL/laspy/LASTools, Large-Scale Data Processing Algorithm Development System Characterization Technical Leadership Strong Communication Skills

Work Location

This position supports a team anchored in Sioux Falls, SD, and is offered in a hybrid remote/onsite work environment. Fully remote work will be considered for the right candidate. Three years of continuous residency in the US for issuance of a Government Security credential is required.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Three years of continuous residency in the US for issuance of a Government Security credential. The candidate must be able to obtain and maintain a national agency check and background investigation after hiring to obtain a badge for government facility access and user account. Experience and/or Education in lieu of these qualifications will be reviewed for applicability to meet these requirements.

KBR Benefits

• KBR offers a selection of competitive lifestyle benefits which could include 401K plan with company match, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, AD&D, flexible spending account, disability, paid time off, or flexible work schedule.

We support career advancement through professional training and development.

Belong, Connect and Grow at KBR

At KBR, we are passionate about our people and our Zero Harm culture. These inform all that we do and are at the heart of our commitment to, and ongoing journey toward being a People First company. That commitment is central to our team’s philosophy and fosters an environment where everyone can Belong, Connect and Grow. We Deliver - Together.

Equal Opportunity Statement

KBR is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, veteran status, genetic information, union status and/or beliefs, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

One KBR Values

• We Value Our People – We create diverse, inclusive environments in which each person can feel safe, respected and valued, and where everyone has opportunities to grow and reach their full potential.
• We Deliver – We are uncompromising in our commitment to deliver innovative, high-quality, technology-led solutions for our customers and exceptional, sustainable value for all our stakeholders.
• We Are People of Integrity – We value honesty, trust, courage, fairness, prudence and tenacity. We believe doing what’s right for the planet, the communities where we work, and our people is good for business.
• We Empower – We empower our people with a shared purpose, the right tools and the supportive culture they need to be proactive decision-makers, to be adaptive to change, and to succeed.
• We Are a Team of Teams – We have a will to succeed, but we value the achievements of our team of teams over individual accomplishments. Our collective focus makes us a better, stronger, more effective company.
• We have also embedded environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles in every business operation and corporate function. Not only are we committed to operating safely, sustainably and equitably, but we are also committed to using our capabilities and expertise to help our customers accomplish their sustainability goals.
• Worldwide, KBR employs a diverse workforce approximately 29,000 people strong, with customers in more than 80 countries and operations in 40 countries. At KBR, We Deliver.