Air to Ground Systems Engineer

Apex Systems; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Everforth Apex Systems in Baltimore, MD seeks an Air-to-Ground Systems Engineer to join the SEIT team. You will tackle complex radar system challenges across platforms, solving for performance and interoperability in next-generation airborne missions.

The role requires US citizenship and DoD Secret clearance; you will collaborate across RF, processing, software, and platform teams, mentoring engineers and shaping test strategies from lab to flight.

Qualifications

• U.S. citizens able to obtain DoD clearance.
• 12+ years of STEM experience for a Bachelor’s, 10+ for a Master’s, or 8+ for a PhD.
• Experience leading radar/advanced RF sensor system engineering.
• Proficiency in MATLAB or Python; C/C++ and shell scripting.

Responsibilities

• Lead radar system architectures for air-to-ground missions.
• Define and partition system-level requirements, 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 detection performance.
• Guide 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, data analysis, and discrepancy resolution.
• Drive root cause investigations for complex system-level issues.
• Represent the radar system engineering team in technical reviews and risk boards.
• Interface with customers to present approaches and roadmaps; support proposals.
• Mentor junior engineers in radar systems engineering best practices.

Skills

Radar systems engineering

System-level requirements

Leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM

Master's degree in STEM

Ph.D. in STEM

Tools

MATLAB

Python

C/C++

Shell scripting

Job description

Job#: 3047619

Job Description

Candidates must be U.S. citizens able to obtain and/or maintain a Department of Defense security clearance as a condition and continuation of employment.

Air to Ground Systems Engineer

Location: Baltimore, Maryland (Onsite)

Clearance: DOD Secret Clearance

Role Overview

Our organization is seeking a Systems Engineer with expertise in Air-to-Ground systems. The selected candidate will join the Systems Engineering Integration and Test (SEIT) team to support major development programs. This role involves solving complex problems and developing new solutions for next-generation systems across various platforms and environments.

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.

Benefits

• Everforth Apex offers a range of supplemental benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and other insurance plans that offer an optional layer of financial protection.
• We offer an ESPP (employee stock purchase program) and a 401K program which allows you to contribute typically within 30 days of starting, with a company match after 12 months of tenure.
• Everforth Apex also offers a HSA (Health Savings Account on the HDHP plan), a SupportLinc Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with up to 8 free counseling sessions, a corporate discount savings program and other discounts.
• In terms of professional development, Everforth Apex hosts an on-demand training program, provides access to certification prep and a library of technical and leadership courses/books/seminars once you have 6+ months of tenure, and certification discounts and other perks to associations that include CompTIA and IIBA.
• Everforth Apex has a dedicated customer service team for our Consultants that can address questions around benefits and other resources, as well as a certified Career Coach.
• You can access a full list of our benefits, programs, support teams and resources within our 'Welcome Packet' as well, which an Everforth Apex team member can provide.

Everforth Apex Systems is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate or allow discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, genetic information, registered domestic partner status, marital status, disability, status as a crime victim, protected veteran status, political affiliation, union membership, or any other characteristic protected by law. Everforth Apt will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable law.