Skip to main content
U.S. flag
Back to results

Imagery Analyst (OPIR Analyst)

Department of Defense
National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
This job announcement has closed

Summary

Imagery Analysts maintain and build tasking strategies, and analyze and interpret imagery to support U.S. military and policymaker interests. They analyze the activities and interests of countries, regions, and non-state entities, as well as the impact of natural and man-made disasters. In addition, these analysts conduct multi-INT research, populate and exploit intelligence databases, and produce

Overview

Help
Job closed
Open & closing dates
01/20/2026 to 01/31/2026
Salary
$83,265 to - $154,280 per year
Pay scale & grade
IA 03
Locations
10 vacancies in the following locations:
Aurora, CO
5 vacancies
Buckley AFB, CO
5 vacancies
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - Occasional Travel Required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent - This is a permanent position.
Work schedule
Full-time - Full Time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
3
Job family (Series)
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Drug test
Yes
Announcement number
20260045
Control number
854958300

This job is open to

Help

Clarification from the agency

External Applicants Only

Duties

Help

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: This mission is in support of the National GEOINT Operations Center (NGOC), Current Operations Division - West. The positions reside at Buckley Space Force Base, Aerospace Defense Facility, Colorado.
This position is 24x7 shift-work environment that may require overtime. Applicants accepted into this announcement will serve the time-limit based on their probationary service (up to 24 months) prior to serving an non-24x7 position within NGA.
Overhead Persistent InfraRed (OPIR) Analysts will support the National GEOINT Operations Center (NGOC) in delivering timely, accurate, and actionable GEOINT-based warning of threats to US interests worldwide; insight into current issues of highest US policy concern; GEOINT-based situational awareness to support US military planning and operations; and tip-offs to facilitate effective collection by imagery and other sources against fleeting issues. OPIR Analysts operate in a fast-paced environment, use a wide-range of collaboration tools and technology, and integrate multi-INT and other intelligence sources as relevant to provide a more complete intelligence story. OPIR Analysts must have a thorough and demonstrated familiarity with all elements of the collection, exploitation, and reporting cycle, and have excellent analysis, writing, and briefing skills. Analysts should have broad familiarity with GEOINT; the ability to multi-task and handle a high ops tempo; a willingness to learn and employ new tools. The NGOC has developed a robust on-the-job training program for OPIR analysts, new teammates will be expected to become conversant with the worldwide intelligence issues that fall within the purview of the NGOC warning mission.

Requirements

Help

Conditions of employment

  • US Citizenship is required.
  • Designated or Random Drug Testing required.
  • Security Investigation

SPECIAL INFO:
As a condition of employment at NGA, persons being considered for employment must meet NGA fitness for employment standards.

- U.S. Citizenship

- Security Clearance - Top Secret /Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI)

- Polygraph & Drug Test

- Direct Deposit

- Trial Period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. We may consider: performance conduct; needs and interests of the agency; and whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government and the efficiency of the Federal service

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
You must be able to obtain and retain a Top Secret security clearance with access to SCI. In addition, you are subject to a Counterintelligence Polygraph examination in order to maintain access to Top Secret information. All employees are subject to a periodic examination on a random basis in order to determine continued eligibility. Refusal to take the examination may result in denial of access to Top Secret information, SAP, or unescorted access to SCIFs.

Employees with SCI access and who are under NGA cognizance are required to submit a Security Financial Disclosure Report, SF-714, on an annual basis in order to determine continued eligibility. Failure to comply may negatively impact continued access to Top Secret information, Information Systems, SAP, or unescorted access to SCIFs.


NGA utilizes all processes and procedures of the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS). Non-executive NGA employees are assigned to five distinct pay bands based on the type and scope of work performed. The employee's base salary is established within their assigned pay band based on their unique qualifications. A performance pay process is conducted each year to determine a potential base pay salary increase and/or bonus. An employee's annual performance evaluation is a key factor in the performance pay process.

This position is a DCIPS position in the Excepted Service under 10 U.S.C. 1601. DoD Components with DCIPS positions apply Veterans' Preference to preference eligible candidates as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 USC, in accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 2005, DCIPS Employment and Placement. If you are an external applicant claiming veterans' preference, as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 U.S.C., you must self-identify your eligibility.

Qualifications

MANDATORY QUALIFICATION CRITERIA: For this particular job, applicants must meet all competencies reflected under the Mandatory Qualification Criteria to include education (if required). Online resumes must demonstrate qualification by providing specific examples and associated results, in response to the announcement's mandatory criteria specified in this vacancy announcement:

1. Familiarity with OPIR data.
2. Demonstrated experience performing dynamic GEOINT analysis (Specifically Imagery), incorporating multiple sources of intelligence.
3. Experience using critical thinking skills and/or data analytics to solve problems and draw logical conclusions.
4. Demonstrated experience working as part of a cohesive team with demonstrated high quality results or output and willingness to learn new skills and technologies.
5. Experience with research and analysis, imagery, and/or geospatial analysis

EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: A. Education: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Engineering, Foreign Area Studies, Geography, History, International Affairs, International Studies, Military Science, Physical Science, Political Science, Remote Sensing, or a related field. -OR- B. Combination of Education and Experience: A minimum of 24 semester (36 quarter) hours of coursework in any area listed in option A, plus experience working in an Intelligence discipline analyzing and interpreting imagery and maintaining and building tasking strategies, or a related area that demonstrates the ability to successfully perform the duties associated with this work. As a rule, every 30 semester (45 quarter) hours of coursework is equivalent to one year of experience. Candidates should show that their combination of education and experience totals 4 years. -OR- C. Experience: A minimum of 4 years of experience working in an Intelligence discipline analyzing and interpreting imagery and maintaining and building tasking strategies, or a related area that demonstrates the ability to successfully perform the duties associated with this work.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENT: Distinguish principal colors and shades/hues of principal colors; Near visual acuity of 20/20 or better with or without corrective lenses; Stereopsis ability; Hand steadiness

ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENT: Prolonged exposure to video display units

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATION CRITERIA: In addition to the mandatory qualifications, experience in the following is desired:

1. Flexibility and adaptability in crisis situations enabling the successful handling of unforeseen challenges inherent to working in a high visibility and fast tempo environment as required.
2. Experience with Esri suite of GIS tools
3. Experience or familiarity coding in Python.
4. Knowledge of national or commercial imagery systems to include tasking, processing, exploitation, and analysis.
5. Prior experience working successfully in a 24/7 environment, including effective performance of time critical GEOINT exploitation and reporting.

Additional information

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Applicants are not required to submit a cover letter for employment consideration with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. However, a cover letter is recommended. Applicants will have the option to attach a cover letter in the Qualifications - Attachments step of the online application.

APPLICANT EVALUATION PROCESS: Applicants will be evaluated for this job opportunity in three stages:

1) All applicants will be evaluated using the Mandatory Qualification Criteria,

2) Qualified applicants will then be evaluated by an expert or panel of experts using a combination of qualification criteria to determine the best-qualified candidates,

3) Best-qualified applicants may then be further evaluated through an interview process.

Military retiree applicants, if selected, may be impacted by the 180-day appointment restrictions of DODI 1402.01. HD personnel will provide additional information if applicable.

Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the Assignment Description, Additional Information Provided By the Selecting Official, and the Qualification Requirements; and then construct their resumes to highlight their most relevant and significant experience and education for this job opportunity. This description should include examples that detail the level and complexity of the performed work. Applicants are encouraged to provide any education or degree information referenced in the announcement that is relevant. If education is listed as a mandatory requirement, only degrees obtained from an institution accredited by an accrediting organization recognized by the Secretary, US Department of Education will be accepted.

In accordance with section 9902(h) of title 5, United States Code, annuitants reemployed in the Department of Defense shall receive full annuity and salary upon appointment. They shall not be eligible for retirement contributions, participation in the Thrift Savings Plan, or a supplemental or re-determined annuity for the reemployment period. Discontinued service retirement annuitants (i.e., retired under section 8336(d)(1) or 8414(b)(1)(A) of title 5, United States Code) appointed to the Department of Defense may elect to be subject to retirement provisions of the new appointment as appropriate. (See DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 300). Reemployed annuitants must meet additional selection criteria as outlined in the DODI 1400.25, v300.

All candidates will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, disability, or sexual orientation.

NGA provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Applications will only be accepted online. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify us at recruitment@nga.mil. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis.

Your session is about to expire!

Your USAJOBS session will expire due to inactivity in 8 minutes. Any unsaved data will be lost if you allow the session to expire. Click the button below to continue your session.