Radar Systems Engineer III

JPL/NASA•Pasadena, CA

14h•$143,208 - $180,336

About The Position

The RF Remote Sensing Section at JPL is seeking a Radar Systems Engineer III to support the development, modeling, verification, and testing of advanced radar systems, particularly landing radar and radar altimeter applications for planetary exploration. The role addresses an immediate need for landing radar systems engineering expertise and helps build long-term technical capability within the Section. The successful candidate will develop into a key technical resource for landing radars and altimeters, supporting continuity across current and future planetary landing missions. The role strengthens the Section’s ability to lead radar systems engineering, modeling, verification, and test activities. Work includes supporting NASA Human Landing System activities beginning in FY27 and the Skyfall landing radar qualification effort spanning FY27–FY28. JPL’s Communications and Instruments Division conducts scientific investigations, advanced technology research, engineering developments, and system implementations in space telecommunications, tracking, and active remote sensing. The RF Remote Sensing Systems & Technology Section advances science, technology, and instruments for RF microwave and submillimeter scientific investigations, including concept development, design, implementation, algorithm development, data processing, and operations of spaceborne and suborbital RF instruments.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, computer science, physics, or a related discipline and at least 6 years of related work experience; or a Master’s degree and at least 4 years of related work experience; or a Doctorate degree and at least 2 years of related work experience.
Excellent ability to communicate effectively and present technical information verbally to supervisors, managers, and customers.
Excellent ability to write technical documents that conform to prescribed style and format.
Excellent ability to work well in a team environment.

Nice To Haves

Advanced knowledge in one or more of radar systems, radar algorithms, and simulation methods.
Extensive understanding and wide application of advanced principles, theories, concepts, and techniques in radar systems design and analysis.
Excellent ability to read, analyze, and interpret scientific and technical journals, customer specifications, and other technical documents.
Extensive understanding and wide application of advanced principles, theories, concepts, and techniques related to radar system analysis and microwave radar instrument development.
Extensive knowledge of applicable industry and/or academic practices and standards in one or more disciplines related to designing microwave remote sensing instruments.

Responsibilities

Develop, maintain, modify, and take technical ownership of existing landing radar modeling and simulation tools for current and future planetary landing missions.
Apply radar systems engineering principles to analyze system performance, develop requirements, perform technical trades, and assess radar and altimeter performance.
Support NASA Human Landing System activities, including landing radar modeling and performance analysis beginning in FY27.
Support the Skyfall landing radar qualification effort spanning FY27–FY28, including system-level analysis, modeling, verification, and test planning.
Lead or contribute to verification and validation of landing radar altimeters, including developing test approaches, analyzing test data, and participating in field testing.
Work across hardware, software, signal processing, and systems engineering disciplines to identify and resolve technical issues.
Develop and maintain technical documentation, models, analysis tools, requirements, and verification approaches.
Collaborate with NASA, JPL, industry, and project teams to define technical approaches and deliver radar systems engineering products.
Contribute to developing new radar architectures and technologies for planetary landing and other remote-sensing applications.
Build and maintain technical expertise in landing radar systems, radar altimeters, radar modeling, and system-level test and verification.