OPIR Imagery Scientist

What Impact You'll Have

GRVTY is seeking an Imagery Scientist to join our Charlottesville, VA team. The candidate will work alongside community experts to advance applications within the field of persistent infrared remote sensing, bringing a background in Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) and the ability to turn that expertise into working tools. We're looking for someone who understands tool development, applying version control, testing, and code review, to accelerate development using agentic AI to design, build, and validate tools, while knowing where analyst judgment must stay in the loop.

What You'll be Owning

Support 1 st through 3 rd phase exploitation of OPIR and other EO/IR sensor data to detect, track, and characterize events, separating real signatures from background clutter and false alarms

Review OPIR processed data, sensor metadata, and collection geometry to determine data quality

Design, build, and maintain algorithms, analytic tools, and data-processing pipelines for PIR collection planning, exploitation, and signature analysis, using sound software development practices such as version control, testing, documentation, and code review

Use agentic AI tools and workflows to accelerate tool development, automate repetitive exploitation and data-conditioning tasks, and prototype new analytic methods, verifying and validating AI-generated code and outputs before they reach operational use

Develop repeatable workflows for data conditioning, calibration, quality control, and uncertainty characterization

Compare laboratory or modeled signatures with overhead observations, accounting for sensor response, geometry, atmospheric effects, and background conditions

Support the transition of new tools and methods into operational use, including test, verification and validation, documentation, and user feedback

Author and review reports, graphics, and briefings for analysts, leadership, and customers, matching technical depth to the audience

Help draft and prioritize collection requirements, and support field tests, test-range activities, and data collections

Work directly with government customers, collectors, engineers, and analysts to understand tool requirements

What You Must Have

U.S. citizenship and an active TS/SCI clearance, with the ability to obtain a CI polygraph

Hands-on exploitation of OPIR or other infrared sensor data for intelligence production

Working knowledge of IR phenomenology, including sensor resolution, sensitivity, and the strengths and limits of persistent overhead collection

Demonstrated experience developing analytic tools or data-processing software in Python or a similar language, including version control (e.g., Git), testing, and documentation

Proficiency with standard GEOINT and MASINT tools such as ArcGIS, ENVI, SOCET GXP, or RemoteView

What Would be Nice to Have

Prior support to NGIC, NASIC, NGA, MDA, or another DoD or IC production center

Knowledge of TIV, PIV, AFAST

Degree in physics, engineering, remote sensing, computer science, or another STEM field; graduate education a plus

Background in radiometry, including radiometric calibration, detector response, signal-to-noise characterization, and uncertainty propagation

Experience with temporal analysis, including time-series conditioning, event segmentation, and transient characterization

Experience designing multi-step or tool-using AI agent workflows, or evaluating AI performance on analytic tasks

Experience deploying software in classified or air-gapped environments, including containerization, CI/CD, and configuration management

Familiarity with detection theory, signal processing, image processing, or machine learning

Experience with SAR, MSI/HSI, or LiDAR exploitation in addition to IR

Experience planning or supporting collections at CONUS or OCONUS test ranges

Pay Range: At GRVTY, we understand that compensation is influenced by many factors—such as geographic location, federal contract labor categories, wage rates, prior experience, skillsets, education, and certifications. We’re proud to offer a work environment that empowers our team to achieve a strong work-life balance. GRVTY provides competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and meaningful opportunities for professional growth. Our benefits package is designed to support the well-being of our employees and their families, and includes coverage in areas such as healthcare, financial wellness, retirement planning, family assistance, continued education, and paid time off.

The pay range for this position is: $180,000 - $210,000

• Pay Range: At GRVTY, we understand that compensation is influenced by many factors—such as geographic location, federal contract labor categories, wage rates, prior experience, skillsets, education, and certifications.
• We’re proud to offer a work environment that empowers our team to achieve a strong work-life balance. GRVTY provides competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and meaningful opportunities for professional growth.
• Our benefits package is designed to support the well-being of our employees and their families, and includes coverage in areas such as healthcare, financial wellness, retirement planning, family assistance, continued education, and paid time off.

Virginia Pay Range

$180,000 — $210,000 USD

Why Choose GRVTY

The toughest national security challenges demand vision and ingenuity, not just resources. We deliver mission and technical expertise to outpace our adversaries. We’re purpose-built to tackle the most entrenched, systemic national security issues around the world.

We partner with our customers to help them overcome challenges in every corner of technology and defense—including the ones still being explored. Our growing capabilities create complementary advantages, giving on-the-ground operations the edge they need to succeed. We muster everything we have to answer every challenge presented, every day of our lives.

At GRVTY, we believe that when our employees thrive, our company thrives. That’s why we offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package designed to support your well-being, growth, and work-life balance.

Robust health plan including medical, dental, and vision

Health Savings Account with company contribution

Annual Paid Time Off and Paid Holidays

Paid Parental Leave

401k with generous company match

Training and Development Opportunities

Award Programs

Variety of Company Sponsored Events

EEO Statement

GRVTY, is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

Anyone requiring reasonable accommodations should email [email protected] or call 703-544-7930 with requested details. A member of the HR team will respond to your request within 2 business days.

Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal (eeoc.gov)

Please review our current job openings and apply for the positions you believe may be a fit. If you are not an immediate fit, we will also keep your resume in our database for future opportunities.