Scientist (EO/IR Image Analysis)

Location: Tucson, Arizona, United States; onsite work at the hirify.global Optical Systems worksite

Company

hirify.global is an end-to-end space company developing rockets, spacecraft, optical systems, payloads, and other critical space subsystems for commercial, civil, and national security missions.

What you will do

• Develop, validate, optimize, and deploy algorithms for EO/IR sensor data, including noise reduction, image enhancement, registration, correction, and pattern recognition.
• Detect, classify, and track objects in EO/IR data for mission-critical space payload applications.
• Build modeling and simulation libraries and image simulators that generate synthetic EO/IR data for algorithm development, testing, and validation.
• Maintain and improve deployed algorithms, troubleshoot fielded systems, and implement improvements to support mission performance and reliability.
• Analyze complex EO/IR datasets, develop software tools for data collection and performance assessment, and document technical results.
• Translate customer requirements into algorithm and subsystem requirements, present results to technical and government stakeholders, and support project meetings, schedules, and travel as needed.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in physics, optical sciences, computer science, mathematics, electrical engineering, or a related technical discipline, with demonstrated experience in image processing or EO/IR systems.
• U.S. citizenship is required, along with an active U.S. Government security clearance and TS/SCI eligibility.
• At least 12 years of professional experience.
• Experience with MATLAB, Python, and/or C/C++ for analysis, modeling, simulation, or algorithm development.
• Strong experience designing, implementing, testing, and optimizing EO/IR image-processing and pattern-recognition algorithms.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including technical documentation and presentations to diverse audiences.

Nice to have

• Master's degree or PhD in a relevant technical discipline.
• Experience with EO/IR feature extraction, classification, tracking, and sensor calibration.
• Expertise in modeling and simulation across multiple EO/IR phenomenologies.
• Experience across product development phases, from architecture and requirements through integration, verification, and production.
• Experience managing or leading others in a technical or functional engineering capacity.

Culture & Benefits

• Work on space, terrestrial, and airborne optical systems supporting Department of Defense and Intelligence Community customers.
• Collaborate on high-impact missions involving spacecraft, payloads, and national security applications.
• Work in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines, technical teamwork, and a focus on delivering mission outcomes.
• The role may involve prolonged sitting, standing, walking, computer work, and occasional exposure to moderate noise, dust, and fumes in production areas.