Remote Sensing Scientist - Vegetation Mapping
KBR (formerly Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies (SGT)) is seeking a Scientist to join its talented team in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. KBR, headquartered in Houston Texas, is the primary contractor to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) for performing work at the Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center (http://eros.usgs.gov/) near Sioux Falls, SD. (http://www.siouxfalls.org)
Education: MS in Geography, Forestry or Ecology
Experience: 5+ years
Job Description
The primary focus of this position is to process and manipulate spatially referenced data and Landsat imagery and/or lidar to map vegetation type, cover and height for the United States. The successful candidate will participate as a member of the USGS EROS Center’s Landscape Fire and Resource Management Planning Tools (LANDFIRE) Team. An advanced level of computer proficiency is required as well as demonstrated initiative and the ability to self-teach in areas of weakness utilizing available on-the-job training resources. The primary duties associated with this position are processing raster and vector data to assist in the creation of LANDFIRE existing vegetation products. Specific duties include:
- Contributes to the definition, direction, and implementation of the LANDFIRE Program
- Provides technical support and performs data production to support program objectives
- Works in team environment to develop creative solutions to help shape, manage and execute projects applying GIS and remote sensing data and software to geospatial problems and to meet the objectives of medium to large land cover mapping projects
- Collaborate with team members to define and implement quality assurance elements of medium to large land cover mapping projects
- Analyze image data primarily acquired from Landsat, using statistical analysis software, image analysis software, or Geographic Information Systems (GIS) such as ArcGIS, ERDAS, ENVI, GDAL and Python
- Evaluate and analyze data obtained from remote sensing systems to obtain meaningful results
- Process satellite imagery to create products such as land cover maps, Existing Vegetation Type, Existing Vegetation Cover and Existing Vegetation Height using automated, semi-automated and/or manual interpretation techniques
- Develop or build databases for remote sensing or related geospatial project information
- Monitor quality of remote sensing data collection operations to determine if procedural or equipment changes are necessary. Investigates, interprets, and evaluates requirements and recommends solutions
- Documents and develops results from both basic and applied scientific and technical research for use in technical reports and papers.
Required Skills
- Expertise in processing and interpretation of remotely sensed data (imagery, lidar)
- Proficient with remotely sensed data processing and GIS software (i.e. ERDAS, ArcGIS)
- Proficient in high level programming languages, such as Python
- Perform spatial analysis and validation
- Strong team player with ability to communicate effectively with technical and scientific staff members, project partners, and customers
- Strong interpersonal communication, technical writing, editing and presentation skills and an advanced knowledge of Microsoft office tools for reporting and documentation of processes and procedures
- Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving
- The ability to handle multiple tasks and coordinate effectively with others, working with, a “get-it-done”, no-ego team in a dynamic and agile environment
Desired Skills and Experience
- Demonstrated flexibility in a rapidly changing environment
- Demonstrated familiarity with raster and vector data processing
- Demonstrated attention to detail and follow-through skills
- Knowledge of Landsat data and its application to land cover mapping
- General familiarity with relational database management systems (RDBMS)
- General familiarity with land cover validation principles and practices
- Specific coursework or relevant work experience in remote sensing, image processing, geographic information systems, geography, forestry, ecology or fire behavior
- Work history of organizing, analyzing, driving findings and recommendations from large amounts of raw data, collected through a number of mechanisms, including remote sensing geospatial and field measurements
The candidate must be able to obtain and maintain a national agency check and background investigation after hire to obtain a Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Credential for facility and system access.
This position will be posted to the career opportunities listing on the KBR website (http://www.sgt-inc.com). This position may be filled by a KBR teammate on the TSSC Contract. Please apply on line.
KBR is an equal opportunity employer. EOE/m/f/disabled/veteran.