How to hire a remote sensing scientist

How to hire a remote sensing scientist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step remote sensing scientist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a remote sensing scientist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new remote sensing scientist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a remote sensing scientist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your remote sensing scientist job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a remote sensing scientist for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A remote sensing scientist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, remote sensing scientists from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   Here's a comparison of remote sensing scientist salaries for various roles:

   Type of Remote Sensing Scientist	Description	Hourly rate
   Remote Sensing Scientist		$25-65
   Scientist	A scientist is responsible for researching and analyzing the nature and complexities of the physical world to identify discoveries that would improve people's lives and ignite scientific knowledge for society. Scientists' duties differ in their different areas of expertise, but all of them must have a broad comprehension of scientific disciplines and methods to support their experiments and investigations... Show more	$32-67
   Staff Scientist	The primary role of a Staff Scientist is to develop and manage scientific research projects with minimal supervision. They are also responsible for the technical and budgetary aspects of scientific research projects.	$30-65

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Remote Sensing
   • Data Analysis
   • LiDAR
   • Algorithm Development
   • GIS
   • Data Collection
   • USGS
   • R
   • NGA
   • ArcMap

   Responsibilities:

   • Develop and manage third party claim investigations and contractor remedial oversight for various insurance companies.
   • Prepare and document GIS coverage and databases.
   • Devise associative memory for spectral and spatial sensor fusion successfully for Lidar and HSI data.
   • Provide GIS analysis of yield maps, soil sampling results, and scouting maps for establishment of management zones.
   • Review key biomarkers staining on prostate biopsy samples daily to ensure quality of IHC/IF staining and adherence to GLP guidelines.
   • Study dimensional manifold in Lidar 4D segmentation and classification.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your remote sensing scientist job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A remote sensing scientist salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, remote sensing scientists' average salary in hawaii is 53% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level remote sensing scientists earn 61% less than senior-level remote sensing scientists.
   • Certifications. A remote sensing scientist with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a remote sensing scientist's salary.

   Average remote sensing scientist salary

   $85,891yearly

   $41.29 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level remote sensing scientist salary

   $53,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 21, 2026

   Average remote sensing scientist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$107,981	$52
   2	District of Columbia	$104,846	$50
   3	Massachusetts	$91,745	$44
   4	Virginia	$91,021	$44
   5	Washington	$79,005	$38
   6	Colorado	$77,935	$37
   7	Florida	$77,390	$37
   8	Ohio	$69,193	$33
   9	New Mexico	$67,379	$32
   10	North Carolina	$66,728	$32
   11	Texas	$63,845	$31
   12	Missouri	$62,897	$30

   Average remote sensing scientist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Apple	$143,992	$69.23	68
   2	Baker Hughes	$115,360	$55.46	2
   3	Booz Allen Hamilton	$114,644	$55.12	88
   4	Amazon	$113,773	$54.70	626
   5	Mapbox	$111,953	$53.82
   6	Sandia National Labs	$104,894	$50.43	12
   7	Global Science & Technology, Inc.	$104,254	$50.12
   8	Battelle	$99,821	$47.99	22
   9	P&G	$98,766	$47.48	4
   10	Los Alamos National Laboratory	$98,611	$47.41	19
   11	BAE Systems	$97,023	$46.65	20
   12	Radiometer	$96,488	$46.39
   13	Systems & Technology Research	$95,601	$45.96
   14	Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings	$95,389	$45.86	15
   15	The Aerospace Corporation	$93,724	$45.06	8
   16	California Institute of Technology	$91,667	$44.07	4
   17	INFICON	$91,000	$43.75
   18	RadianceTechnologies	$89,763	$43.16
   19	Starbucks	$89,400	$42.98	5
   20	The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory	$88,295	$42.45	20

4. Writing a remote sensing scientist job description

   A job description for a remote sensing scientist role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a remote sensing scientist job description:

   Remote sensing scientist job description example

   Global Science & Technology, Inc., a fast growing scientific and high technology firm, is seeking a Remote Sensing Scientist to support the NASA Terrestrial Information Systems Laboratory.
   
   This position is located in Greenbelt, MD. Work assignments will be done remotely until the NASA facility reopens, at which point a hybrid model of onsite and telework each week will likely be put in place.
   
   GST has an opening for a Research Scientist to support a project related to passive microwave remote sensing of soil moisture Soil moisture is a key hydrologic variable that controls the Earth's water and energy balance L-band microwave observations provide the optimum all-weather day-night observations to estimate surface soil moisture remotely. Microwave measurements from NASA's Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission are used along with a variety of ancillary data to estimate soil moisture at various resolutions. This research role involves conducting different analyses to understand the performance of microwave soil moisture retrieval algorithms and to assess the accuracy of the retrieved soil moistures with the ultimate goal of improving microwave retrieval algorithms and soil moisture products.
   
   The work will also include assimilating soil moisture observations in the NASA Land Information System (LIS) to model land surface hydrology. The impact of soil moisture and the added skill for water cycle will be investigated. The value of soil moisture in extreme events (droughts and floods) will be evaluated.
   
   Additionally, the work will include use of land surface observations for agriculture crop modeling. Land surface variables (soil moisture and surface temperature) are critical parameters for crop growth and food security. The use of soil moisture in the NASA LIS system to provide input for crop models will be investigated.
   
   The current L-band radiometers provide a spatial resolution of about 40 km, yet future Earth science needs are anticipated to be in the 1-10 km range for many hydrologic and agricultural applications. Thus, this research opportunity will also include developing methodologies to improve the spatial resolution of accurate soil moisture retrievals from L-band missions in space, and to develop soil moisture products and procedures of value to a variety of applications and end users.
   
   The individual in this role will engage with scientists to define and conduct specific analyses to assess and improve microwave soil moisture retrieval algorithms. The individual will also work with the NASA LIS team on assimilation of soil moisture for various applications.
   • Develop algorithms for soil moisture and its evaluation. • Develop vegetation parameters, using observations. • Develop microwave retrieval algorithms, using observations. • Collect supporting data, such as climatic or field survey data, to corroborate remote sensing data analyses. • Design or implement strategies for collection, analysis, or display of remote sensing data. • Engage with scientists to define and conduct specific analyses to assess and improve microwave soil moisture retrieval algorithms. • Conduct validation studies to access the accuracy of the retrieved soil moisture with the ultimate goal of improving soil moisture estimates. • Submit and publish the results in a peer reviewed journal. Secondary Duties: • Collaborate with team members to develop software tests • Participate in team and teleconference meetings, as needed. • Attend professional conferences or symposiums, as needed. • Assist outreach and educational activities, as needed. Qualifications: Required Qualifications: • MS degree in remote sensing, electrical engineering, or a relevant scientific discipline • Research experience in passive microwave remote sensing of soil moisture • Knowledge of basic physical principles involved in microwave remote sensing and/or microwave radiative transfer/electromagnetic theory • Knowledge of tools and software for the processing and analysis of satellite and/or airborne microwave data • Knowledge of Land surface hydrology models • Excellent oral and written communication skills Desired Qualifications: • Experience with a range of passive and active microwave sensor systems, different frequencies, and technologies • Experience with agriculture models • Experience with electromagnetic modeling for land surface parameters, particularly its implementation in microwave retrieval algorithms. • Knowledge of tools and software for the processing and analysis of satellite and/or airborne microwave data GST offers competitive salaries; vacation, sick, and holiday leave; major medical, dental, life, long-term and short-term disability insurance; 401K retirement plan; tuition assistance; and opportunities for employee career growth and development. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veterans' status. GST is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

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5. Post your job

   To find the right remote sensing scientist for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with remote sensing scientists they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit remote sensing scientists who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your remote sensing scientist job on Zippia to find and recruit remote sensing scientist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit remote sensing scientists, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new remote sensing scientist

   Once you've decided on a perfect remote sensing scientist candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new remote sensing scientist first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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