Principal RF Systems Integration Engineer
About The Position
About the Team: The Sensors Division at STR focuses on technology development for advanced sensor systems and platforms in support of national security requirements. Our particular focus areas include airborne/spaceborne/surface-based radar, electronic warfare, underwater acoustics, hyperspectral imaging, and EO/IR sensing. To support these missions, the Division’s efforts span multiple technical areas, including RF analog/digital hardware, acoustic hardware, signal processing algorithms, machine learning algorithms, systems analysis, and real-time embedded processor implementation. The Algorithms, Processing and Experimentation (APEX) Group specializes in development of RF/radar modes, skills and applications, with particular emphasis on advanced signal processing chains and associated algorithm research. We mature these technologies with the objective of implementation, integration, and eventual utility in RF-based systems, typically tailoring our work for highly specific Defense (e.g., Air Force, Space Force, Navy, DARPA, etc.) and Intelligence Community needs. About the Role: We are seeking a Principal RF Systems Integration Engineer to lead RF test, measurement, and system integration activities in support of integrating a new operational mode onto an externally developed radar system. This role requires deep hands-on expertise in RF and radar systems, combined with the ability to understand, influence, and integrate with a complex radar platform owned and developed by another organization. You will serve as the technical authority for RF systems integration owning the end-to-end understanding of the radar, defining integration requirements, leading RF characterization and testing, and designing the technical approach required to successfully implement and validate our mode on the partner radar system.
Requirements
- Active Security Clearance, with eligibility to support special access programs, for which US Citizenship is required by the US government
- PhD, MS, or BS in Electrical Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Physics, or related technical discipline with 8–10+ years of relevant experience depending on degree
- Relevant experience designing, integrating and testing RF sensor and/or communication systems
- Familiarity with RF component technology and performance characteristics
- Strong scientific programming skills including Matlab, Python, Simulink and/or C/C++
- Ability to translate customer requirements to determine research focus
- Strong communication skills and the ability to describe complex technical concepts to fellow researchers as well as to non-technical people
- Deep expertise in RF systems, radar systems, and RF test & measurement
- Strong understanding of radar architectures, waveforms, modes, and RF signal chains
Nice To Haves
- Current TS/SSBI with SCI and ability to gain and hold SCI/SAP accreditations
- Prior experience as a senior technical leader (e.g., Principal Investigator) for advanced development efforts in DoD programs
- Prior experience integrating new functionality or modes into existing or third-party radar systems
- Broad experience across multiple defense-related RF domain programs (e.g., Communications, Electronic Warfare, Radar, etc.)
Responsibilities
- Lead RF testing, measurement, and characterization efforts across lab, integration, and system-level environments
- Develop a deep technical understanding of a third-party radar system, including RF architecture, signal chains, modes, interfaces, and operational constraints
- Define and own the RF systems integration approach for implementing a new mode on an externally developed radar
- Translate system-level objectives into clear RF, interface, and integration requirements
- Design and validate integration strategies, including RF interfaces, timing, control, and signal processing impacts
- Collaborate closely with the external radar developer to resolve RF, system, and integration challenges
- Lead integration test planning, execution, and analysis, including defining success criteria and validation methods
- Identify risks and tradeoffs related to RF performance, integration complexity, and system compatibility
- Serve as the technical lead and escalation point for RF systems integration issues
- Communicate findings and recommendations to internal leadership and cross-organizational stakeholders
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Principal
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
