Payload SAR Systems Engineer

Actalent; United States; Remote; USD 96,000 - 156,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

Life Insurance

Short/long-term disability

HSA

Transportation benefits

PTO

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Payload SAR Systems Engineer to advance innovative radar payloads for an international space company. You will architect antenna arrays, design radar electronics, and develop beam forming and signal processing algorithms to meet performance targets.

The role emphasizes end-to-end systems engineering for space hardware, with a remote-first setup and quarterly travel to Montreal. Houston, TX is the base for this contract-to-hire opportunity.

Qualifications

• Expertise in RF and antenna systems.
• Strong signal processing knowledge for radar payloads.
• Experience in electronics and systems engineering for space hardware.
• Experience in spacecraft, satellite, or aerospace environments.

Responsibilities

• Architect antenna arrays and radar electronics.
• Develop beam forming and raw data signal processing algorithms.
• Model and verify performance and payload specifications.

Skills

RF expertise

Antenna systems

Signal processing

Electronics experience

Aerospace engineering

Job description

Job Title: Payload SAR Systems Engineer

Job Description

We are seeking a Payload SAR Systems Engineer to join our team in developing innovative solutions for an international space company. This role involves architecting antenna arrays and radar electronics, developing beam forming and raw data signal processing algorithms, and modeling and verifying performance and payload specifications.

Responsibilities

• Architect antenna arrays and radar electronics.
• Develop beam forming and raw data signal processing algorithms.
• Model and verify performance and payload specifications.

Essential Skills

• Expertise in RF (Radio Frequency).
• Strong knowledge of antenna systems.
• Proficiency in signal processing.
• Experience in electronics and systems engineering.
• Experience in spacecraft, satellite, or aerospace engineering.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in systems engineering throughout the full lifecycle.
• Understanding of SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) theory.

Work Environment

This position offers a remote work setup with the requirement of quarterly travel to Montreal. The role is an exciting opportunity to contribute to a leading international space company.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Houston, TX.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $70.00 - $113.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment.

Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully remote position.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Oct 13, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.