Senior Principal Radar RF Systems Engineer

Kyocera International, Inc. (North America)•San Diego, CA

1d•$214,000 - $340,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Principal Radar Systems Engineer, will lead the architecture, design, RFIC specification derivation and validation of advanced phased‑array radar systems enabled by highly integrated RFIC‑based PAAM solutions. Will play a central technical leadership role in developing specifications for next‑generation FMCW and phase‑coded pulsed radar systems for demanding sensing applications, working closely with customers and internal cross‑functional teams. Will collaborate with RFIC designers, antenna and array engineers, modem and signal‑processing architects, firmware/software teams, and system validation teams to translate mission‑level sensing requirements into robust, manufacturable radar solutions. This role requires deep expertise in radar theory, RF impairments, waveform design, array calibration, and end‑to‑end system performance trade‑offs, as well as the ability to operate at both architectural and implementation levels.

Requirements

PhD or MS in Electrical Engineering, or a related field with a strong focus on systems and signal processing.
10+ years of industry experience in advanced radar system design, architecture, or development.
Demonstrated experience owning system‑level performance and architecture, not just component design.
Deep understanding of: FMCW and phase‑coded pulsed radar systems Beamforming and phased‑array antennas Radar detection theory, estimation, and tracking RF system impairments and their impact on sensing performance
Proven experience with end‑to‑end radar simulation and modeling.
Strong hands‑on experience with MATLAB/Simulink; proficiency in Python and/or C/C++.

Nice To Haves

Experience with high‑dynamics or high‑stress operational environments (e.g., high acceleration, vibration, thermal extremes).
Familiarity with distributed, multistatic, or networked sensing systems.
Understanding of array calibration, phase alignment, and long‑term coherency maintenance.
Exposure to radar programs, customers, or regulatory environments.
Familiarity with 5G NR positioning, pre‑6G ISAC, or JCAS concepts.
Demonstrated ability to lead technically, influence architecture decisions, and mentor engineers.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

Lead the analysis of end‑to‑end radar system architecture, including waveforms, RFIC/PAAM partitioning, beamforming strategy, synchronization, and signal‑processing flow.
Design and analyze monostatic and multistatic radar architectures, including distributed and networked sensing configurations.
Perform detailed system trade studies across FMCW, phase‑coded pulsed (e.g., BPSK), OFDM‑based, and hybrid waveforms, optimizing for detection, resolution, false alarm rate, and robustness in cluttered environments.
Define system‑level KPIs (range, velocity, angular resolution, sensitivity, dynamic range, detection probability) and ensure traceability to RFIC and algorithm requirements.
Develop comprehensive radar link budgets using MATLAB, Simulink, Python, C/C++, and spreadsheet‑based analysis.
Model and analyze the impact of RFIC non‑idealities, including: Synthesizer phase noise and spurs Chirp linearity and timing jitter Tx/Rx nonlinearity and compression ADC/DAC quantization, jitter, and bandwidth limits I/Q imbalance, DC offsets, isolation, and leakage
Evaluate system performance under clutter, multipath, interference, mutual coupling, and hostile RF environments, and propose mitigation strategies.
Derive detailed RFIC, synthesizer, PAAM, ADC/DAC, and digital processing specifications from system‑level requirements.
Work closely with IC design teams to ensure feasibility, margin, and scalability across process, voltage, temperature, and operating conditions.
Guide architectural decisions related to calibration loops, phase coherency, TDD reciprocity, array synchronization, and thermal effects.
Define and guide implementation of radar signal‑processing chains, including: Range/Doppler/angle processing Coherent integration and pulse compression Detection and CFAR techniques Target classification and tracking
Collaborate with algorithm and software teams to balance performance, latency, power, and hardware constraints.
Define system‑level verification and validation plans, including lab, chamber, and field testing.
Analyze measurement data, correlate with models, and drive root‑cause analysis for performance gaps.
Support customer demonstrations, trials, and technical reviews.
Serve as a technical authority for radar systems within the organization.
Interface directly with customers to understand requirements, explain system trade‑offs, and support solution definition.
Mentor junior engineers and contribute to best practices, design guidelines, and internal technical documentation.
Track relevant developments in radar, sensing, and integrated sensing‑communications, and influence internal technology roadmaps.