Air to Ground Systems Engineer

Apolis; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 100,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Apolis is seeking a Systems Engineer in Baltimore, MD for a long-term onsite contract. You will lead radar system architectures for air-to-ground missions, define system-level requirements, and drive verification, tests, and cross-functional collaboration.

The role requires experience with radar modeling, signal processing, and a DoD security clearance; strong leadership and problem-solving across hardware and software are essential.

Qualifications

• Experience leading systems engineering for radar or advanced RF sensor systems.
• Strong knowledge of air-to-ground radar modes and performance.
• Experience with modeling and simulation, requirements, architecture, integration and test.
• Experience leading complex technical efforts across hardware and software boundaries.
• Ability to lead cross-functional engineering teams.
• Must be willing to obtain a DoD Secret clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead radar system architectures for air-to-ground missions.
• Define and partition system-level requirements, performance budgets, and interfaces.
• Direct trade studies on waveforms, antenna design, processing architectures, and mission scenarios.
• Lead radar performance modeling and simulation, including link budgets and clutter analysis.
• Guide the development of Air-to-Ground concepts and algorithms from a systems perspective.
• Define verification strategies and test architectures from lab through flight test.
• Oversee integration and test campaigns, planning, execution, data analysis, and discrepancy resolution.
• Drive root cause investigations and corrective actions for complex system-level issues.
• Represent the radar system engineering team in technical reviews and risk/issue boards.
• Interface with customers to present technical approaches, performance results, and roadmaps.
• Support business development, capture strategy, concept development, and proposal technical volumes.
• Mentor engineers in radar systems engineering best practices.

Skills

Requirements development

System architecture

Modeling and simulation

Integration and Test

Verification and Validation

Cross-functional leadership

Troubleshooting system-level issues

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM

Master's degree in STEM

Ph.D. in STEM

Tools

MATLAB

Python

C/C++

Shell scripting

Job description

Systems Engineer

Location: Baltimore, Maryland (Onsite)

Duration: Long Term contract

Clearance: Must be eligible to obtain & maintain DOD Secret / or TS Clearance

Experience leading systems engineering efforts for radar or RF sensor systems.

Understanding of Air-to-Ground radar modes and radar performance.

Experience with:

• Requirements development and decomposition
• System architecture
• Modeling and simulation
• Integration and Test (I&T)
• Verification and Validation (V&V)
• Experience leading cross-functional engineering teams.
• Ability to troubleshoot and resolve system-level issues spanning hardware and software.

Preferred Experience

• Airborne radar programs.
• Lead Systems Engineer or IPT Lead experience.
• MBSE (Model Based Systems Engineering).
• Cameo / MagicDraw / DOORS.
• Radar modernization programs.
• Technology roadmap development.
• R&D programs involving RF sensors.
• Military aircraft, ISR, targeting, surveillance, or strike platforms.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development of radar system architectures for air-to-ground missions, ensuring alignment with platform and mission needs.
• Define and partition system-level requirements, performance budgets, and interfaces across RF, processing, software, and platform teams.
• Direct and review trade studies on waveforms, antenna design, processing architectures, and mission scenarios.
• Lead radar performance modeling and simulation, including link budgets, coverage, detection/tracking performance, and clutter analysis.
• Guide the development and evaluation of Air-to-Ground concepts and algorithms from a systems perspective.
• Define verification strategies and test architectures from lab through flight test for new radar capabilities.
• Oversee integration and test campaigns, including planning, execution oversight, data analysis, and discrepancy resolution.
• Drive root cause investigations and corrective actions for complex system-level issues.
• Represent the radar system engineering team in technical reviews and risk/issue boards.
• Interface with customers to present technical approaches, performance results, and roadmaps.
• Support business development, including capture strategy, concept development, and proposal technical volumes.
• Mentor early and mid-career engineers in radar systems engineering best practices.

Required Qualifications

Must be willing and able to obtain a DOD Secret clearance and Special Access Program (SAP) Access before starting program work.

Education

A Bachelor's degree with 12 years of experience, a Master's degree with 10 years of experience, or a Ph.D. with 8 years of experience in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM). An additional 4 years of experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.

Experience

Experience leading systems engineering for radar or advanced RF sensor systems, including requirements, architecture, modeling, and integration/test. A comprehensive understanding of air-to-ground radar modes and performance is required. Candidates must have experience leading complex technical efforts and resolving system-level issues across hardware and software boundaries.

Technical Skills

Experience with radar modeling and analysis tools such as MATLAB or Python. Proficiency in programming languages like C/C++ or shell scripting (Bash, C shell) is necessary. Experience in simulations of RF or related systems and working with digital signal processing is also required. Strong communication and leadership skills are essential.

Preferred Qualifications

• An Active DOD Secret Clearance is highly preferred
• An advanced degree (MS or PhD) in a relevant STEM field with an emphasis on radar, RF systems, or signal processing.
• Experience as a lead systems engineer or IPT lead on an airborne radar development or major upgrade program.
• Familiarity with MBSE approaches and tools to manage complex architectures and requirements.
• Experience shaping technology roadmaps and R&D efforts in radar or advanced sensors.