Radar Optimization Engineer - Field Deployment & FAA NAS

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

Job summary

Leidos is seeking a qualified Radar Optimization Engineer to support the RSR program for the BNATCS initiative at busy airports. You will lead radar configuration, testing, calibration, troubleshooting, and optimization activities as part of the RS R program office, ensuring high reliability and performance.

Travel is expected 50-75% of the time, requiring hands-on field work and collaboration with FAA personnel, vendors, and engineers to maintain robust radar systems in the NAS environment.

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 NAS or comparable operational environment.
• In‑depth knowledge of 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.

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, 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.

Skills

Radar systems

Field troubleshooting

RF knowledge

Calibration

Hardware testing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

Spectrum Analyzers

Oscilloscopes

Power Meters

Radar Diagnostic Software

Job description

Leidos is seeking a qualified Radar Optimization Engineer to support the RSR program for the BNATCS initiative at busy airports. You will lead radar configuration, testing, calibration, troubleshooting, and optimization activities as part of the RS R program office, ensuring high reliability and performance.

Travel is expected 50-75% of the time, requiring hands-on field work and collaboration with FAA personnel, vendors, and engineers to maintain robust radar systems in the NAS environment.