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Remote Sensing Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

asrcfh

Geospatial Analyst

Reston, VA · On-site +1

Apply advanced remote sensing methods and GIS technologies to support crop production mapping and natural resource modeling * Use machine learning approaches for remote sensing and agricultural ...

asrcfh

Geospatial Analyst

Reston, VA · On-site +1

Apply advanced remote sensing methods and GIS technologies to support crop production mapping and natural resource modeling * Use machine learning approaches for remote sensing and agricultural ...

Skyline Scientific Inc

Senior Data Scientist

Mclean, VA · Remote

$150K - $200K/yr

Our engineers build cutting-edge software that powers real-world remote sensing, OPIR, and dynamic sensor operations. You'll work alongside experts in AI, high-performance computing, and advanced ...

Leidos

Senior Hyperspectral Image Scientist

Springfield, VA · On-site +1

$92.30K - $166.85K/yr

Integrate hyperspectral analytics with other GEOINT, remote sensing, and intelligence data sources. * Prepare technical reports, briefings, white papers, and documentation for government stakeholders.

Leidos

Expert Hyperspectral Image Scientist

Springfield, VA · Remote

$116.35K - $210.33K/yr

Integrate hyperspectral analytics with other GEOINT, remote sensing, and intelligence data sources. * Prepare technical reports, briefings, white papers, and documentation for government stakeholders.

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How much do remote sensing jobs pay per hour?

As of May 31, 2026, the average hourly pay for remote sensing in Reston, VA is $34.64, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $32.60 and $36.68 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What Is Remote Sensing?

Remote sensing is the process of using satellite, sonar, and aerial imagery to gather information about an area. Remote sensing is often used to collect information on the spread of forest fires, track weather formations, and map the bottom of the ocean. In most time-sensitive cases, sensors are attached to a drone or airplane so they can collect data and add it to the Geospatial Information System (GIS). For businesses, remote sensing is typically used for land surveying, commercial and economic planning, early warning systems, and air traffic control. Remote sensing information is also available through public programs like Google Earth which allow researchers and companies to analyze information without having to collect it themselves.

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

To thrive as a Remote Sensing Specialist, you need expertise in geospatial analysis, image processing, and a background in environmental science, geography, or a related field. Proficiency in GIS software (such as ArcGIS or QGIS), remote sensing tools (like ENVI or ERDAS Imagine), and programming languages (like Python or R) is typically required. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication skills make a candidate stand out. These abilities are vital for accurately interpreting satellite or aerial data and translating insights into actionable information for decision-makers.

What are some common challenges faced by professionals working in remote sensing, and how can they be addressed?

Professionals in remote sensing often encounter challenges such as handling and processing large volumes of complex data, staying updated with rapidly evolving technology, and ensuring data accuracy for analysis. These can be addressed by developing strong skills in data management and using advanced software tools, participating in continuous learning opportunities, and collaborating closely with multidisciplinary teams such as GIS analysts, data scientists, and field researchers. Establishing clear workflows and maintaining open communication with stakeholders also helps ensure project goals are met effectively.

What careers use remote sensing?

Remote sensing is used in careers such as environmental scientists, GIS analysts, cartographers, and remote sensing specialists. These roles involve analyzing satellite or aerial imagery to monitor land use, climate change, agriculture, and natural resources, often requiring skills in GIS software and remote sensing tools like LiDAR and multispectral imaging.

What is the difference between Remote Sensing vs GIS Analyst?

AspectRemote SensingGIS Analyst
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Geography, Environmental Science, or related; often GIS or remote sensing certificationsBachelor's in Geography, GIS, or related; GIS certifications common
Work EnvironmentField data collection, satellite image analysis, laboratory workOffice-based, map creation, spatial data analysis
Industry UsageEnvironmental monitoring, agriculture, defense, urban planningUrban planning, transportation, utilities, environmental management
Search & Comparison IntentFocus on satellite data analysis and image processingFocus on spatial data management and map creation

Remote Sensing and GIS Analyst roles share overlapping skills in spatial data and GIS tools, but Remote Sensing emphasizes satellite and aerial image analysis, while GIS Analysts focus on managing and analyzing geographic data for mapping and decision-making.

More about Remote Sensing jobs
What are popular job titles related to Remote Sensing jobs in Reston, VA? For Remote Sensing jobs in Reston, VA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Remote Sensing jobs in Reston, VA look for? The top searched job categories for Remote Sensing jobs in Reston, VA are:
What cities near Reston, VA are hiring for Remote Sensing jobs? Cities near Reston, VA with the most Remote Sensing job openings:
Remote Sensing jobs near you

Remote Sensing Engineer

Riverside Research Institute

Fairfax, VA • On-site, Remote

$150K - $180K/yr

Full-time

Posted 16 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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