Compliance Specialist – Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs

The NOAA Office of Space Commerce (OSC) is the lead U.S. federal office for commercial space policy and regulation, housing the Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs (CRSRA) programme — the regulatory body responsible for licensing and oversight of U.S. private remote sensing satellite operators under the Land Remote Sensing Policy Act. This Compliance Specialist position sits at the heart of that enforcement and compliance function. The postholder will develop and execute investigative plans to monitor licensed private remote sensing space systems across their full operational architecture — including satellite command and control networks, ground terminals, mission control centres, and data dissemination systems. This includes conducting on-site inspections of ground infrastructure, evaluating compliance with federal licences and cybersecurity requirements, and authoring formal investigation and inspection reports documenting any non-compliance. The role requires expert-level knowledge of satellite operations, remote sensing phenomenologies, and the regulatory frameworks governing commercial Earth observation — and offers direct engagement with the companies, systems, and data architectures shaping the global commercial space sector. A Top Secret security clearance is required. Open to current or former federal employees and eligible veterans; the announcement runs on a rolling basis through January 2027.

US citizenship required One year of specialised experience at GS-12/ZA-3 level encompassing: compliance evaluation of command and control systems and mission payloads; monitoring of remote sensing data collection, handling, dissemination, and cybersecurity; and authoring investigations or inspection reports on remote system components Expert knowledge of satellite operations and remote sensing phenomenologies Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret (Special Sensitive) security clearance Valid state driver's licence required for site visits and inspections Resume must not exceed 2 pages Open to current/former federal employees with competitive status, eligible veterans, and certain special appointing authority categories