Principal Radar Systems Engineer

STR is focused on delivering National Defense capabilities by driving mission-focused strategies to develop advanced technology systems enabling enduring products and solutions focused on achieving the customer vision. Our programs deliver sustainable, reliable, and cost-efficient capabilities focused on end-customer needs that function in operationally relevant environments and timeframes. We consider the entire lifecycle of the solution, from conceptualization and architecting, through development to deployment, while leveraging novel technologies to deliver first-of-a-kind systems.

The Systems Development Division (SDD) within STR delivers technology advantage into users’ hands. We are is seeking a Principal Radar Systems Engineer to lead Systems Engineering activities related to radar systems development: working with customers to understand and decompose their requirements, defining expected external system interactions and integration requirements, deriving and allocating system requirements to software and hardware components, and to lead development teams through the implementation of a solution that will meet customer requirements. You will work as part of a multi-disciplinary team of engineers and lead them through the Systems Engineering process. As part of complete radar system development, you will help to guide development teams and mentor junior engineers in the design of different radar modes, including Electronic Warfare (EW) applications. Modes of interest include airborne SAR, AMTI, and GMTI. 

As a Systems Engineer, you will apply a broad perspective and understanding of the elements that comprise a complete, functioning radar system to architect solutions. You will work closely with development teams to understand and guide their implementation and help with the evaluation of results, with direct involvement across software, hardware, and integration and test teams. You should have experience with mapping from high level mission needs to radar and EW system requirements and the flow-down to requirements for sub-systems such as the active electronically scanned antenna (AESA), digital receiver/exciter (DREX), inertial navigation system (INS), as well as the processor, power, and cooling subsystems. You should have experience working with, testing, and troubleshooting physical systems and working with lab and flight captured IQ data. You should have experience working across the Systems Engineering Lifecycle, with familiarity in Digital Engineering and Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) approaches.

Strong interpersonal, communication, technical, and peer-leadership skills are required. Applicants are expected to be self-motivated, detail oriented and have a demonstrated ability to effectively communicate with all levels of management and individual contributors on the program team through strong written and verbal communication skills. You will contribute to proposal writing with Radar Systems Engineering technical approaches. You will be joining a dynamic team working across multiple disciplines with opportunities to further expand your knowledge and grow your career.

What you will do:

• Research, understand, and lead new RF sensing implementations for advanced radar solutions. Identify new technical approaches and work with program and technical leadership to implement these approaches.
• Decompose complex customer needs and develop system concepts and solutions.
• Effectively use tools to create, evaluate, and document system architectures and clearly communicate the solution to the team, STR management, and customers, which may include generating system models in Cameo.
• Design, direct, and evaluate system performance when integrating new technology in multi-function radar systems.
• Conduct performance analysis through simulations and real-world testing to validate and optimize radar performance.
• Ensure appropriate level of rigor is applied to achieve systems that meet customer needs.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define system requirements, specifications and architectures for radars, and ensure seamless integration and interoperability of the system.
• Help develop and specify simulation tools to facilitate test and verification of radar software and hardware components.

Who you are:

• This position requires an Active Secret security clearance, and ability to obtain a Top Secret (TS) clearance with eligibility to support special access programs (SAP), for which U.S. citizenship is needed by U.S. Government.
• Expert understanding of and experience with entire radar systems and their principles of design, development, requirements verification, test planning, test execution, data analysis, and operations support.
• Experience in mapping from high-level mission needs to radar and EW system specifications related to parameters such as sensitivity, linearity, phase noise, inertial navigation system errors, instantaneous bandwidth, system latency, etc.
• Understanding of radar mode design including SAR, GMTI, AMTI and associated transmit and receive waveforms and signal processing chains.
• Proficiency in radar simulation tools and MATLAB.
• Experience in preparing and delivering high-level briefings to customers and senior management. Interacting with decision-makers and customers to translate mission needs into an end-to-end solution.
• Experience writing proposals.
• Familiarity with the execution of technical reviews (SRRs, PDRs, CDRs, TIMs).
• Demonstrated experience in leadership and delivery of advanced development projects.
• Background should include a Bachelor’s degree and at least 10 years of applicable experience directly related to development and deployment of radar systems; Master’s degree and at least 8 years of applicable experience; or PhD and at least 5 years of applicable experience. Equivalent experience will be considered.

Even Better:

• 5+ years experience working with SysML models in Cameo (or similar tool).
• Experience working with software-intensive systems and open architectures relevant to radar systems, such as COARPS and AMS-GRA
• Familiarity with programming languages (e.g. C, C++, Python).

Pay Information
Full-Time Salary Range: $204,000 - $284,000

The salary range listed is based on external market data. Offers are based on factors, such as but not limited to, the candidate’s experience, education, training, key skills/critical skills, security clearances, and prevailing market and business conditions.

STR is a growing technology company with locations near Boston, MA, Arlington, VA, near Dayton, OH, Melbourne, FL, Carlsbad, CA, Atlanta, GA, and Denver, CO. We specialize in advanced research and development for defense, intelligence, and national security in: cyber; next generation sensors, radar, sonar, communications, and electronic warfare; and artificial intelligence algorithms and analytics to make sense of the complexity that is exploding around us.

STR is committed to creating a collaborative learning environment that supports deep technical understanding and recognizes the contributions and achievements of all team members. Our work is challenging, and we go home at night knowing that we pushed the envelope of technology and made the world safer.

STR is not just any company. Our people, culture, and attitude along with their unique set of skills, experiences, and perspectives put us on a trajectory to change the world. We can't do it alone, though - we need fellow trailblazers. If you are one, join our team and help to keep our society safe! Visit us at for more info.

STR is an equal opportunity employer. We are fully dedicated to hiring the most qualified candidate regardless of race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

If you need a reasonable accommodation for any portion of the employment process, email us at  View email address on job-boards.greenhouse.io and provide your contact info.

Pursuant to applicable federal law and regulations, positions at STR require employees to obtain national security clearances and satisfy the requirements for compliance with export control and other applicable laws.