Technical Scientist - SME (OPIR)

Location: Springfield, Virginia, United States. The role supports a customer site in Herndon, Virginia and requires an active Top Secret clearance.

Salary: $150,000–$235,000 USD per year

Company

hirify.global delivers technical and mission expertise for national security and defense challenges.

What you will do

• Lead research and development of algorithms for OPIR and EO/IR remote sensing, including target detection, tracking, location, and characterization.
• Design and evaluate sensor and camera performance methods involving noise modeling, radiometric calibration, and sensitivity analysis.
• Analyze optical signatures, phenomenology, and multi-platform remote sensing data to produce intelligence insights.
• Support the OPIR TCPED process from tasking and collection planning through exploitation and dissemination.
• Validate analytic products, test emerging tools, document reproducible workflows, and recommend capability improvements.
• Brief customers and stakeholders, prepare technical reports, respond to real-time analysis requests, and mentor junior analysts.

Requirements

• Active Top Secret clearance with the ability to obtain SCI and a CI polygraph.
• Bachelor’s degree in Image Science, Engineering, Applied Physics, Atmospheric Science, Applied Mathematics, or a closely related field.
• 5+ years of hands-on OPIR experience in EO/IR phenomenology, optical signature analysis, or sensor performance assessment.
• Experience with image processing, digital signal processing, short-wave and mid-wave infrared data, and target detection or background suppression algorithms.
• Knowledge of multi-data-stream analysis and the TCPED process for OPIR collection and exploitation.
• Strong technical documentation, communication, independent working, and prioritization skills.

Nice to have

• Master’s degree in a relevant technical discipline.
• Experience with optical signature modeling, EO/IR phenomenology, radiometric calibration, sensor noise modeling, or end-to-end sensor performance modeling.
• Proficiency in Python, MATLAB, IDL, or C/C++.
• Experience with ArcGIS, Google Earth, Opticks, Palette, collection planning, or requirements definition.
• Familiarity with AI/ML-enhanced remote sensing analytics and classified defense or intelligence programs.

Culture & Benefits

• Mission-driven work supporting national security customers and technically complex defense programs.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus a company-contributed Health Savings Account.
• Annual paid time off, paid holidays, and paid parental leave.
• 401(k) with a company match, financial wellness support, and family assistance.
• Training and development opportunities, award programs, and company-sponsored events.