Radar Optimization Engineer

Leidos; United States; On-site; USD 108,000 - 195,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos is seeking a qualified RSR Radar Optimization Engineer to support the FAA's BNATCS initiative under the RS R program office. You will help configure, test, calibrate, troubleshoot, and optimize radar and related electronic systems at major airports. Travel is heavy (50–75%).

The role emphasizes field diagnostics, RF analysis, and system integration with Ethernet/CAN interfaces. A Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Electronics engineering or related discipline and hands-on radar experience

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree with 4–8 years of relevant experience, or additional years of relevant experience that may be considered or accepted in lieu of a degree.
• A degree, formal certification, or equivalent technical training in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Technology, Military Radar Systems, or a closely related discipline.
• Experience with research, design, development, integration, maintenance, testing, calibration, or optimization of electrical and electronic equipment and systems.
• Completion of formal radar training at the FAA Academy, a military technical school, or another recognized radar training program.

Responsibilities

• Represent the PO at RSR sites, executing to a multi-site schedule.
• Serve as an SME to the program office’s project, optimization, and engineering leads.
• Support integration, configuration, testing, calibration, troubleshooting, and optimization of radar and related systems.
• Configure radar tracking parameters, target-classification software, network interfaces, and integration middleware as required.
• Perform advanced field troubleshooting and root-cause analysis to isolate RF interference, hardware faults, and data-packet loss.
• Support antenna alignment, mechanical tilt/azimuth verification, and assessment of mounting environments and thermal management.
• Use spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes, power meters, and radar diagnostic software to tune system gain, clutter filters, and detection thresholds.
• Evaluate system interfaces (Ethernet, CAN, fiber, etc.) and document test results, deficiencies, and corrective actions.

Skills

Radar systems

RF propagation

Field troubleshooting

Root-cause analysis

System integration

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering or related

Tools

Spectrum analyzers

Oscilloscopes

Power meters

Radar diagnostic software

Job description

As one of Leidos’ oldest and largest programs supporting the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the NAS Integration Support Contract (NISC) Program is seeking a qualified professional to support the FAA’s Brand-New Air Traffic Control System (BNATCS) initiative—specifically the Radar Surveillance Replacement (RSR) Program Office (AJM-41)—by serving as an RSR Radar Optimization Engineer. The selected candidate will support radar configuration, testing, calibration, troubleshooting, and optimization activities for the RSR PO at some of the nation’s busiest and most critical airports.

Primary Responsibilities

Represent the PO at RSR sites, executing to an aggressive multi-site schedule. Serve as an RSR subject matter expert (SME) to the RSR program office’s project, optimization, and engineering leads. Support the integration, configuration, testing, calibration, troubleshooting, and optimization of radar and associated electronic systems. Configure radar tracking parameters, target‑classification software, network interfaces, and integration middleware as required. Perform advanced field troubleshooting and root‑cause analysis to isolate signal interference, hardware faults, communications failures, and data‑packet loss. Support antenna alignment and mechanical tilt and azimuth verification, as well as the evaluation of equipment mounting, environmental enclosures, and thermal‑management considerations affecting radar performance. Use spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes, power meters, and specialized radar diagnostic software to tune system gain, filter clutter, establish detection thresholds, and verify system performance. Evaluate system interfaces, including Ethernet, serial, Controller Area Network (CAN), fiber‑optic communications, power distribution, grounding, bonding, and surge‑protection systems. Analyze radar performance data and make necessary system adjustments to achieve required detection, tracking, accuracy, and reliability standards. Document test results, system configurations, identified deficiencies, corrective actions, and final optimization settings. Coordinate with FAA personnel, system engineers, vendors, and other technical stakeholders to resolve system‑performance issues. Ensure field activities comply with applicable FAA requirements, and site‑specific safety procedures.

Travel Expectations

Travel is expected to be high—50% to 75% of the time.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree with 4–8 years of relevant experience, or additional years of relevant experience that may be considered or accepted in lieu of a degree.
• A degree, formal certification, or equivalent technical training in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Technology, Military Radar Systems, or a closely related discipline.
• Experience with research, design, development, integration, maintenance, testing, calibration, or optimization of electrical and electronic equipment and systems.
• Completion of formal radar training at the FAA Academy, a military technical school, or another recognized radar training program.
• Prior radar certification authority at one or more airports or operational radar facilities.
• Several years of hands‑on field experience with one or more radar systems in the active National Airspace System (NAS) or a comparable operational environment.
• In‑depth knowledge of radio‑frequency (RF) propagation, microwave transceivers, signal processing, antenna alignment, and waveguide systems.
• Demonstrated knowledge of system‑integration interfaces, including Ethernet, serial, CAN, and fiber‑optic communications; network protocols; power distribution; grounding and bonding; and surge protection.
• Proficiency using spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes, power meters, and specialized radar diagnostic software.
• Ability to perform radar testing, calibration, and optimization activities, including adjusting gain, filtering clutter, establishing detection thresholds, and verifying system performance.
• Understanding of mechanical tilt and azimuth alignment, environmental enclosures, equipment mounting, and thermal‑management requirements as they relate to radar performance.
• Ability to configure radar tracking parameters, target‑classification software, network interfaces, and integration middleware.
• Advanced troubleshooting and root‑cause‑analysis skills for isolating RF interference, hardware faults, communications failures, and data‑packet loss.
• Ability to analyze radar performance data, document test results, and recommend or perform corrective adjustments.
• Comprehensive understanding of FAA operational risk‑management practices.
• Ability to perform at a high level independently and as part of a small team while meeting an aggressive radar optimization schedule.
• Demonstrated commitment to high‑quality radar maintenance, testing, calibration, and optimization practices.
• Professionalism when representing Leidos to FAA customers, consistent with delivering “best of the best” support.
• Demonstrated knowledge of applicable FAA technical, safety, and radar‑system requirements.
• Ability to obtain and maintain an FAA Public Trust clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• The ideal candidate is a former FAA radar specialist, engineer, or technician with multi‑year responsibility for radar systems in the operational NAS.
• Experience with FAA surveillance radar systems and associated communications.
• Experience supporting radar modernization, integration, commissioning, operational testing, acceptance, calibration, troubleshooting, or optimization activities.
• Experience analyzing radar plots, system‑performance data, target reports, coverage, clutter, interference, and tracking anomalies.
• Familiarity with FAA safety requirements, grounding and bonding requirements, radar‑performance standards, and site‑specific work procedures.

Pay Range

Pay Range $107,900.00 - $195,050.00 The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

Pay and Benefits

• Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement.

Securing Your Data

Leidos will never ask you to provide payment‑related information at any part of the employment application process. And Leidos will communicate with you only through emails that are sent from a Leidos.com email address. If you receive an email purporting to be from Leidos that asks for payment‑related information or any other personal information, please report the email to [e-mail].

Commitment and Diversity

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.

Company & Culture

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.