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Remote Researcher Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

DataAnnotation

Clinical Researcher

Washington, DC · Remote

$40/hr

We are looking for a Clinical Researcher to join our team to train AI models. You will measure the ... Benefits This is a full-time or part-time REMOTE position You'll be able to choose which projects ...

For People

Senior UX Researcher (Contract)

Arlington, VA · On-site +1

$100K - $130K/yr

Your research will show the Commonwealth where the friction actually is, who is being failed by the ... Our entire team is remote across the United States, from the West Coast to the East Coast. There ...

For People

Senior UX Researcher (Contract)

Arlington, VA · Remote

$100K - $130K/yr

Your research will show the Commonwealth where the friction actually is, who is being failed by the ... Our entire team is remote across the United States, from the West Coast to the East Coast. There ...

New

Georgetown University

Researcher

Washington, DC · On-site +1

Requirements Job Overview Researcher, Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation - Georgetown ... Remote . Please note that work mode designations are regularly reviewed in order to meet the ...

DataAnnotation

UX Researcher

Washington, DC · Remote

$40/hr

We are looking for a UX Researcher to help train and improve cutting-edge AI models. You'll assess ... Benefits This is a full-time or part-time REMOTE position You'll be able to choose which projects ...

INFOASSA

Policy Researcher

Washington, DC · On-site +1

$1.50K - $4K/mo

We are dedicated to researching global hot issues, conducting policy analysis, and providing comprehensive information security advisory services. Run entirely online, INFOASSA brings together ...

INFOASSA

Policy Researcher

Washington, DC · Remote

$1.50K - $4K/mo

We are dedicated to researching global hot issues, conducting policy analysis, and providing comprehensive information security advisory services. Run entirely online, INFOASSA brings together ...

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See Reston, VA salary details

$31.2K

$117.7K

$171.1K

How much do remote researcher jobs pay per year?

As of May 30, 2026, the average yearly pay for remote researcher in Reston, VA is $117,666.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $69,700.00 and $160,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What Does a Remote Researcher Do?

As a remote researcher, you work from home to study and research a particular topic. In this field, you may conduct surveys, analyze trends, or access databases of information to help with your analysis of a topic. Remote researcher roles can be found in medical, academic, marketing, legal, finance, or other industries based on the needs of employers. Most remote researchers specialize in a single industry, and often just a single part of that industry. For example, remote financial researchers may pay attention to certain parts of the stock market or focus on finding technology startup investment opportunities.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Remote Researcher, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Remote Researcher, you need strong analytical skills, advanced research methodology knowledge, and typically a relevant degree in your field. Familiarity with data analysis software (such as SPSS, R, or Python), online survey tools, and academic databases is essential. Excellent written communication, self-motivation, and time management are crucial soft skills for producing quality work independently and meeting deadlines. These abilities ensure reliable, insightful research outcomes and effective collaboration in a virtual environment.

How do Remote Researchers typically collaborate with team members and stakeholders given the virtual work environment?

Remote Researchers often use a variety of digital collaboration tools, such as video conferencing platforms, project management software, and shared document systems, to stay connected with their teams and stakeholders. Regular virtual meetings, clear communication protocols, and scheduled check-ins help maintain alignment on project goals and timelines. Despite the lack of in-person interaction, successful Remote Researchers proactively share updates, seek feedback, and participate in collaborative brainstorming sessions to ensure their research supports organizational objectives.

What are Remote Researchers?

Remote Researchers are professionals who conduct research tasks from a location outside of a traditional office, often working from home or any internet-connected location. They gather, analyze, and interpret information in various fields such as market research, academia, science, or business. Their responsibilities may include designing surveys, reviewing literature, collecting data, and compiling reports. Remote Researchers use digital tools to collaborate with teams and access resources, making this role ideal for individuals seeking flexible work arrangements.
More about Remote Researcher jobs
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Remote Researcher jobs near you

Remote Sensing Engineer

Riverside Research Institute

Fairfax, VA • On-site, Remote

$150K - $180K/yr

Full-time

Posted 14 days ago

Job description

Riverside Overview
Riverside Research is an independent National Security Nonprofit dedicated to research and development in the national interest. We provide high-end technical services, research and development, and prototype solutions to some of the country's most challenging technical problems.
All Riverside Research opportunities require U.S. Citizenship.
Position Overview
Riverside Research's Cognitive Intelligence Solutions Group (CISG) is seeking a Remote Sensing Engineer to support cutting-edge geospatial intelligence, autonomous sensing, and AI/ML-driven data exploitation efforts for the U.S. Department of Defense and Intelligence Community. The successful candidate will serve as a technical lead responsible for the automated verification and validation (V&V), test and evaluation (T&E), and performance assessment of remote sensing data pipelines, AI/ML models, and third-party vendor capabilities. This role bridges rigorous scientific methodology with production-grade engineering, enabling CISG to deliver validated, mission-ready geospatial intelligence products. The ideal candidate combines deep expertise in multispectral and hyperspectral remote sensing with hands-on experience applying machine learning to operational geospatial workflows.
This position is located in Fairfax, VA.
#LI-Onsite
Responsibilities
  • Design, develop, and implement automated V&V and T&E frameworks to assess the accuracy, performance, and operational readiness of remote sensing data products, AI/ML models, and vendor-delivered geospatial capabilities.
  • Lead the technical evaluation of commercial and government remote sensing platforms, sensors (multispectral, hyperspectral, SAR, LiDAR), and associated data products against mission-specific requirements.
  • Develop and maintain scalable, production-grade machine learning pipelines for geospatial applications including change detection, land cover classification, object detection, and environmental monitoring.
  • Apply state-of-the-art AI/ML techniques - including deep learning, transfer learning, self-supervised learning, and large vision/language models - to automate remote sensing data exploitation and analysis workflows.
  • Conduct rigorous uncertainty quantification, validation metric development, and statistical performance benchmarking across multi-source, multi-temporal geospatial datasets.
  • Architect and execute data quality assessment (DQA) protocols for ingested satellite, airborne, and in-situ sensor data; document and communicate findings to program teams and stakeholders.
  • Collaborate with program managers, government customers, and interdisciplinary engineering teams to translate operational requirements into validated technical solutions.
  • Evaluate and integrate emerging remote sensing technologies and open-source AI/ML frameworks; assess vendor claims, algorithm documentation, and technical data packages.
  • Contribute to IRAD initiatives advancing CISG's remote sensing and autonomous sensing capabilities, including development of novel approaches for environmental monitoring, target detection, and geospatial change analytics.
  • Author technical reports, white papers, and briefings documenting methodology, V&V results, and performance findings for government sponsors.
  • Provide technical mentorship to junior engineers and researchers on remote sensing methods, ML best practices, and geospatial data science.
  • Stay current with advances in foundation models, multi-modal geospatial AI, and emerging remote sensing sensor modalities relevant to national security applications.

Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
  • Active U.S. Citizenship (required for all Riverside Research positions).
  • Must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance with SCI access; ability to obtain program-specific clearances as required. Candidates with an active TS/SCI are strongly preferred.
  • Bachelor's degree in Remote Sensing, Geospatial Science, Earth Systems, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a closely related STEM field.
  • A minimum of 8 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree, 6 years with a Master's degree, 3 years with a PhD, or equivalent combination of education and experience. Graduate research experience counts toward this threshold.
  • Demonstrated expertise in multispectral and/or hyperspectral remote sensing data analysis, including atmospheric correction, spectral indices, spectral unmixing, and feature extraction.
  • Proficiency in Python for geospatial data engineering, including experience with rasterio, rioxarray, xarray, GDAL, geopandas, NumPy, and scikit-learn.
  • Hands-on experience with machine learning and statistical modeling applied to remote sensing or geospatial datasets (e.g., classification, regression, anomaly detection, change detection).
  • Experience developing and executing V&V or T&E processes for data products, software systems, or AI/ML models, including design of test plans, performance metrics, and acceptance criteria.
  • Familiarity with geospatial platforms and tools: ArcGIS Pro, QGIS, ENVI, and/or Google Earth Engine.
  • Experience with cloud-based geospatial workflows (AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure) and version control practices (Git/GitLab/GitHub).
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills with demonstrated ability to present complex technical findings to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Desired / Preferred Qualifications:
  • Active Top Secret/SCI clearance - candidates who already hold an active TS/SCI will be given strong preference and can expect an accelerated onboarding timeline.
  • Experience supporting DoD, Intelligence Community, or national security remote sensing programs (NRO, NGA, AFRL, ARO, or equivalent).
  • Familiarity with hyperspectral sensing platforms (e.g., AVIRIS, PRISMA, orbital hyperspectral systems) and hyperspectral analytics pipelines including mineral characterization and vegetation health assessment.
  • Experience applying deep learning frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow, Hugging Face) to geospatial or computer vision tasks, including fine-tuning foundation models or geospatial FMs (e.g., Prithvi, SatMAE, Clay).
  • Background in SAR processing, LiDAR analysis, or multi-modal sensor fusion for environmental or intelligence applications.
  • Experience with automated testing frameworks, CI/CD pipelines, and MLOps practices for geospatial AI/ML systems.
  • Track record of peer-reviewed publication, conference presentations (e.g., IGARSS, AGU, SPIE), or technical reports in remote sensing or geospatial AI.
  • Demonstrated experience in a lead or senior individual contributor role, including mentorship of junior technical staff and coordination across multi-disciplinary teams.
  • Familiarity with GEOINT tradecraft, NSDI standards, or DoD geospatial data standards (NTM, NITF, STANAG imagery formats).

Global Comp
$115,000 - $200,000 This represents the typical compensation range for this position based on experience, location and other factors.
Closing Statement
Riverside Research Institute is a not-for-profit, technology-oriented defense company, where service to our customers and support of our staff is our overall mission. Riverside is an affirmative action-equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding recruitment and hiring. Riverside offers comprehensive compensation and benefit packages to our employees.
Riverside bases its employment decisions solely on technical experience, qualifications and other job-related criteria related to our organizational purpose as a not-for-profit company, and without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, physical or mental disability, veteran's status or any other status legally protected by applicable federal, state, and local law.

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