Radar Optimization Engineer

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

Job summary

Leidos is seeking a Radar Optimization Engineer to support the RN NAS RS R program. You will perform radar configuration, testing, calibration, and optimization at busy airports, acting as SME to project and engineering leads.

Travel will be high-50% to 75% to remote sites, with strong focus on RF performance and system reliability. The role requires a Bachelor's degree and hands-on radar experience, including field troubleshooting, data analysis, and interface configuration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree with 4–8 years of relevant experience, or equivalent.
• Background in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Technology, Military Radar Systems, or related field.
• Experience with radar systems in NAS or similar operational environment.
• Completion of formal radar training and prior radar certification authority preferred.
• Ability to obtain FAA Public Trust clearance.

Responsibilities

• Represent the Program Office at RSR sites and meet multi-site schedule.
• Serve as SME to program office leads on radar optimization and integration.
• Support radar configuration, testing, calibration, troubleshooting, and optimization.
• Configure tracking parameters, software, network interfaces, and middleware as needed.
• Perform advanced field troubleshooting to isolate RF interference and data loss.
• Coordinate with FAA personnel, vendors, and engineers to resolve issues.
• Document results, configurations, deficiencies, corrective actions, and settings.

Skills

Radar optimization

Root-cause analysis

Field troubleshooting

RF engineering

Configuration management

Public Trust clearance

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Spectrum analyzers

Oscilloscopes

Power meters

Radar diagnostic software

Job description

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‑in‑tegration 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

About Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com .

Pay and Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits .

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

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.