Sr. R&D Staff Active Sensing at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tennessee

Job Description:

Requisition Id4717

Position Overview

The National Security Sciences Directorate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory leads scientific and technological breakthroughs to confront some of the nation's most difficult security challenges. We develop interdisciplinary applications needed for the security of our nation today and target our vision on how these challenges may manifest themselves in a decade or more.

Our research and development focus on cybersecurity and cyber physical resiliency, data analytics, geospatial science and technology, nuclear nonproliferation, and high-performance computing for sensitive national security missions. We also enhance ORNL contributions to national security challenges by working closely with leading researchers at the lab in areas such as environmental, nuclear and chemical sciences and engineering, applied materials, advanced manufacturing, biosecurity, transportation, and computing.

We are currently seeking qualified applicants for a Senior R&D Staff position in Active Sensing within our Geographic Data Science Section and Remote Sensing group. The position requires exceptional skills in active sensing such as Synthetic Aperture RADAR (SAR) and LiDAR research experience for satellite, airborne and terrestrial platforms. The position affords the unique opportunity to work with a talented interdisciplinary team of R&D professionals enabling true impact on critical national security missions. The Geographic Data Science Section develops sensor technologies, analytical methods and models that collect, integrate, analyze and derive value from spatiotemporal data.

Within the Remote Sensing group, you will develop your skills in active sensing modalities surrounded by other experts in imagery and data analysis as well as one of the world's most robust high-performance computing platforms.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead research projects to create active sensing through SAR and LiDAR solutions for real-world problems, collaborating with scientists in our division sections of human security and geographic sciences as well as collaborations across the laboratory.


• Initiate, steer and perform independent and impactful R&D on an ongoing basis as evidenced by innovative S&T artifacts delivered to sponsors, publications, successful proposals, technical presentations and technology demonstrations, professional community engagement, inventions/patents/copyrights, etc.


• Develop and implement plans to exploit new opportunities and/or expand existing research efforts.


• Provide relevant input to assist the R&D Group Lead and Section Head with staff development while providing direct and impactful guidance to staff on a regular basis.


• Exercise scientific integrity in proposing, performing, and communicating research while ensuring all work is carried out safely, securely, and in compliance with ORNL policies, standards, and procedures.


• Exemplify a commitment to excellence in research, operations, and community engagement, and work cooperatively to leverage scientific capabilities across ORNL.


• Advance the reputation of the group members and standing of the group through collaboration, professional society leadership and involvement, and organization of technical events.


• Work in a highly collaborative environment with other data scientists, remote sensing scientists, engineers, physicists and geographers to deliver systems from prototyping to production level.

Basic Requirements:

• Ph.D. with a minimum of 6 years relevant experience, a M.S. with a minimum of 12 years experiences, or a B.S. with 15 years of experience and a focus on photogrammetry, image science, remote sensing, geomatics, civil engineering, geography, computational science, environmental engineering, physics, mathematics or related fields


• Experience programming in scientific programming languages.


• Demonstrated publication track record in remote sensing with an emphasis on active sensing modalities such as SAR and/or LiDAR.


• Experience using production tools related to remote sensing such as ENVI, QGIS and similar tools.


• Excellent interpersonal skills with a demonstrated leadership ability and a strong commitment to a teaming environment.


• Strong written and oral communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with Ku, X, and C band SAR


• Experience with polarimetric and interferometric SAR workflows


• Experience with various forms of LiDAR applications including but not limited to maritime applications, gas detection (dial), and disaster assessment applications.


• Past hands-on involvement in significant active remote sensing, computer vision, geomatics, image science, remote sensing, or geospatial projects


• Experience programming in Julia, Python, Scala, R, C/C++.


• Experience with GDAL and SIX


• Experience with LAStools and QT Modeler


• Experience with high performance computing environments including software and research deployment in cloud environments and edge devices


• Demonstrated track record in national and/or international engagements that seek to sustain and strengthen the geographic data science R&D community.


• Experience working for or collaborating with DOE National Laboratories, academic institutions, other research organizations and the private sector.


• Highly motivated to learn new topics and skills, to develop innovative products for our customers, and build whatever is necessary along the way

Special Requirement:

This position requiresthe ability to obtain and maintain a clearance from the Department of Energy. As such, this position is a Workplace Substance Abuse (WSAP) testing designated position. WSAP positions require passing a pre-placement drug test and participation in an ongoing random drug testing program.

Senior R&D Staff at ORNL bring together a group of peers with the primary goals of pursuing global scientific leadership in their field and developing strategies to build a world class research capability. These position's report to a Group Leader and work closely with R&D Section Heads to implement the group's scientific vision; develop group members to enable their career advancement; establish capabilities that enable programs to excel at the forefront of science and technology; perform R&D to advance the field of knowledge and/or technology in one's respective specialty; sets, implements, and models standards for performance of work consistent with Environment, Safety, Security, Health, and Quality (ESH&Q) requirements and business rules; and ensures a diverse and inclusive work environment where every employee feels safe, heard, and appreciated-a workplace that sets an example for the broader community.

The National Security Sciences Directorate conducts research and development to confront some of the nation's most difficult security challenges and adversaries. Our directorate houses S&T leadership in cybersecurity and cyber-physical resiliency, data analytics, geospatial science and technology, nuclear nonproliferation, and high-performance computing for sensitive national security missions. We draw on the Laboratory's exceptional facilities and work closely with leading researchers in other areas at the lab such as nuclear and chemical sciences and engineering, applied materials, advanced manufacturing, biosecurity, transportation, and computing. Our multi-disciplinary research teams are passionate about discovery and innovation as we create science-based solutions to complex security threats that put public safety, national defense, energy infrastructure, and the economy at risk.

Our commitment to diversity:As we strive to become the world's premier research institution in the sciences and technologies that underpin critical national security missions, we are committed to creating an inclusive environment that highly values a diverse workforce. We recognize that a breadth of perspectives, insights, and experiences are necessary to drive the level of innovation and discovery that is mission critical to national security sciences. Our commitment extends beyond our workforce to the next generation of researchers with STEM education outreach that seeks to engage a diverse range of students.

This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.

We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment.

If you have trouble applying for a position, please email ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.

ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply. UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.