Senior Lidar Systems & Geospatial Engineering Lead

Title:

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KBRs Science and Space Division is seeking a Senior Lidar Systems & Geospatial Engineering Lead to support the USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Centers EROS Calibration/Validation Center of Excellence (ECCOE) project. This is a full-time specialized position that provides technical leadership for lidar system characterization quality assurance accuracy assessment and advanced geospatial analysis with emphasis on large-scale airborne lidar programs such as the USGS managed 3D Elevation Program (3DEP). The role combines lidar subject-matter expertise algorithm and software development standards support and technical leadership to develop rigorous scalable methods for evaluating point-cloud quality density spatial consistency and elevation accuracy. The Senior Lidar Systems & Geospatial Engineering Lead will write and publish results for peer-reviewed publications and actively participate in professional organizations conferences and workshops.

Core Responsibilities

• Lead technical QA/QC and characterization of airborne lidar datasets and derived elevation products against 3DEP ASPRS contractual and project-specific requirements.
• Develop and implement advanced methods for evaluating lidar point density spatial distribution completeness and localized deficiencies including point-based and Voronoi-based density approaches.
• Perform vertical accuracy assessments using GNSS total-station terrestrial laser scanning UAS and other independent reference datasets; evaluate bias RMSE variability and spatial error patterns and metrics.
• Investigate lidar anomalies and determine whether observed deficiencies are associated with acquisition calibration classification processing or product-generation workflows.
• Develop scalable Python-based tools for processing tens of millions of points per tile and thousands of production datasets using libraries such as NumPy SciPy GeoPandas Shapely PDAL laspy and Rasterio.
• Design automated QA/QC workflows acceptance metrics statistical summaries density histograms spatial deficiency maps and project-level exception reporting.
• Conduct applied research to improve lidar quality metrics and evaluate limitations of conventional raster-based density and accuracy assessment methods.
• Perform sensitivity analyses addressing point-return selection edge effects spatial resolution density thresholds and algorithm configuration.
• Support development and interpretation of ASPRS lidar density and positional accuracy standards and related industry guidance.
• Evaluate emerging airborne terrestrial UAS and spaceborne lidar technologies and their potential application to national-scale 3D mapping programs.
• Provide technical review of methodologies specifications statements of work contractor deliverables and research products.
• Lead and mentor multidisciplinary teams of scientists engineers analysts and software developers and communicate complex technical findings to program managers government stakeholders industry partners and researchers.
• Work with USGS representatives at EROS and the National Geospatial Technical Operations Center (NGTOC) to incorporate lidar data quality products and processes into standards and specifications.
• Support ECCOE System Characterization team with commercial data quality analysis

• Qualifications

• Minimum of MS in physics mathematics remote sensing geospatial science geomatics environmental science or a related field; PhD preferred
• 8 years of progressive lidar-related experience
• Fundamental programming skills

Desired Skills

• Airborne Lidar
• 3DEP QA/QC
• ASPRS Standards
• Point Density & Spatial Distribution
• Voronoi Analysis
• Vertical Accuracy
• GNSS/TLS/Total Station Validation
• Point-Cloud Processing
• DEMs & Terrain Analysis
• Python Geospatial Development
• PDAL/laspy/LASTools
• Large-Scale Data Processing
• Algorithm Development
• System Characterization
• Technical Leadership
• Strong Communication Skills

Work Location

• This position supports a team anchored in Sioux Falls SD and is offered in a hybrid remote/onsite work environment. Fully remote work will be considered for the right candidate.
• Three years of continuous residency in the US for issuance of a Government Security credential is required.

Three years of continuous residency in the US for issuance of a Government Security credential

Experience and/or Education in lieu of these qualifications will be reviewed for applicability to meet these requirements.

KBR Benefits:

KBR offers a selection of competitive lifestyle benefits which could include401K plan with company match medical dental vision life insurance AD&D flexible spending account disability paid time off or flexible work schedule. We support career advancement through professional training and development.

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Belong Connect and Grow at KBR

At KBR we are passionate about our people and our Zero Harm culture. These inform all that we do and are at the heart of our commitment to and ongoing journey toward being a People First company. That commitment is central to our team of teams philosophy and fosters an environment where everyone can Belong Connect and Grow. We Deliver Together.

KBR is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion disability sex sexual orientation gender identity or expression age national origin veteran status genetic information union status and/or beliefs or any other characteristic protected by federal state or local law.