Sr. Software Development Engineer – Imagery

Mclean, Virginia

Job TypeDirect Hire

Compensation$160000 - $200000 / yr

Confidential Opportunity

Sr. Software Development Engineer – Imagery

A Sr. Software Development Engineer – Imagery role is available in McLean, Virginia, with a confidential employer in the defense sector. This position demands an active Top Secret clearance and offers the chance to advance national security through cutting-edge geospatial technologies. Compelling compensation and relocation support are provided.

Role Snapshot

CompanyConfidential Employer

LocationMclean, Virginia, USA

IndustryAerospace / Defense

Compensation$160,000 - $200,000 per year

Employment TypeFull Time/Direct Hire

Remote StatusHybrid Remote

Total Openings1

Work Experience8 - 15 years

ZIP20817

Opportunity

This is your chance to join a confidential leader in the defense and intelligence industry as a Senior Software Development Engineer specializing in imagery. Your expertise will directly shape the next generation of geospatial and remote sensing analysis tools used by analysts across the nation.

You will work at the intersection of GIS, photogrammetry, and remote sensing, building software that processes data from a wide array of sensors—multispectral, hyperspectral, radar, LiDAR, and full-motion video. Your code will enable intelligence professionals to extract critical insights from massive datasets, supporting time-sensitive national security missions. Every algorithm you craft and every interface you refine will accelerate the speed and accuracy of decision-making in the field.

The ideal candidate is a cleared software engineer with a deep understanding of imagery formats and a passion for solving hard problems. You thrive in collaborative environments where rigorous scientific methods meet agile development. You are comfortable navigating ambiguity in user requirements and translating them into robust, scalable software. Whether you prefer C++ or C#, you write clean, efficient code and take pride in delivering products that exceed expectations.

This position comes with an exceptional salary, top benefits, and full relocation to the McLean, Virginia area—a hub for national security agencies. If you hold an active Top Secret clearance and are ready to apply your skills to imagery exploitation at the highest level, we want to hear from you. Apply today to take the next step in your career and make a real impact.

Non-Negotiables

You must have five or more years of software development experience building COTS or GOTS imagery applications
Professional proficiency in C++ or C# is essential for this role
You need applied experience in remote sensing, image processing, photogrammetry, or image analysis application development
You must bring demonstrated experience within the defense or intelligence communities
An active U.S. Top Secret clearance with eligibility for SCI access is mandatory
A bachelor’s degree in computer science, geography, engineering, remote sensing, photogrammetry, or a closely related field is required

What's In It For You

A competitive annual salary ranging from $160,000 to $200,000 is offered for this direct-hire position
You will receive top-tier comprehensive benefits, including health, retirement, and paid time off
Relocation assistance is provided to help you transition smoothly to the McLean, Virginia area
This role places you at the forefront of imagery exploitation, working with advanced modalities like multispectral, hyperspectral, radar, and full-motion video
You will collaborate with a highly skilled team of software developers and product engineers in a mission-critical environment
The work directly supports U.S. national security objectives, offering a deep sense of purpose and impact
There are clear pathways for professional growth as you master new sensor technologies and analytical capabilities

Responsibilities

Understand U.S. Department of Defense and intelligence community user requirements and develop GIS and remote sensing software for diverse defense scenarios
Solve complex technical problems and articulate solutions to build exceptional user experiences
Develop rich image processing and analysis capabilities for multiple modalities, including electro-optical, multispectral, hyperspectral, thermal infrared, radar, and motion imagery
Create industry-leading software for defense and intelligence formats such as NITF, TFRD, and MISB-compliant full-motion video
Build advanced image processing components, algorithms, and APIs
Design and implement radiometric image processing and photogrammetric software components, workflows, and user interfaces
Collaborate with fellow developers to integrate community toolkits and libraries into the ArcGIS platform

Preferred Qualifications

A master’s or PhD in computer science, remote sensing, or another engineering or scientific discipline is strongly preferred
Experience using Esri APIs will give you a significant advantage
Experience optimizing image processing pipelines is highly valued
Familiarity with the NITF format and its specifications will help you hit the ground running
Proficiency with ArcGIS, ENVI, Socet GXP, or RemoteView is a plus

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Sr. Software Development Engineer – Imagery

Role Snapshot

Opportunity

Non-Negotiables

What's In It For You

Responsibilities

Preferred Qualifications

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