Principal Systems Engineer (RF)

TL;DR

Principal Systems Engineer (RF): Designing end-to-end technical architecture for RF capabilities from antenna to cloud with an accent on edge processing and distributed sensor networks. Focus on decomposing complex requirements into hardware/software specifications and ensuring timing accuracy and synchronization across distributed systems.

Location: On-site in Arlington, VA; Boston, MA; or San Francisco, CA. Active Secret clearance required.

Company

Leveraging AI and robotics to enhance maritime domain awareness through distributed open-ocean systems.

What you will do

• Own end-to-end system architecture from antenna and analog components to SDR, edge computing, and cloud interfaces.
• Develop and maintain system design documentation, including requirements specifications, ICDs, and architecture descriptions.
• Align RF, embedded systems, and cloud development efforts to meet key design and performance objectives.
• Define technical requirements by evaluating tradeoffs between COTS and custom developments.
• Manage requirements traceability and lead technical risk identification and mitigation at the system level.
• Oversee and define the test and evaluation architecture to maximize system durability and lifespan.

Requirements

• 15+ years in systems engineering, RF-centric payload design, or distributed sensor system architecture.
• Demonstrated design leadership and ownership with fielded RF sensing systems.
• Experience with distributed sensor network architectures, including edge compute and cloud-based pipelines.
• Expertise in high precision systems, specifically time and frequency bias characterization and calibration.
• Strong systems engineering discipline in requirements decomposition and PDR/CDR ownership.
• Experience with SDR and FPGA hardware integration for wideband acquisition and digitization.
• Active Secret clearance, or demonstrated ability to obtain one.

Nice to have

• Experience with systems deployed to harsh operational or cluttered spectral environments.
• Experience technically managing hardware subcontractors and vendors producing customized solutions.