Radar Systems Engineer

SAIC; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 120,001 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

SAIC is seeking a Radar Systems Engineer to provide onsite systems engineering and advisory support for an SAIC Prime Program at the National Reconnaissance Office in Chantilly, VA. The role requires understanding radar payloads and ground mission systems to translate insights into objective, acquisition-focused guidance for government leadership.

Responsibilities include analyzing radar payload designs, RF architectures, waveform strategies, and sensor performance models; developing

Qualifications

• Active Top Secret/SCI clearance with ability to obtain a Polygraph.
• 9+ years experience with degree, 7+ years with a Master’s, or 4+ years with PhD/JD; relevant experience can substitute.
• Experience with radar systems, RF sensing, SAR,GMTI.
• Prior work with a prime contractor or radar payload developer.
• Familiarity with mission needs and space/ground integration.
• MATLAB, Python, STK or similar tools.
• MBSE/SysML or digital-engineering concepts.

Responsibilities

• Support analysis of radar payload designs, RF architectures, waveform strategies, and sensor performance models for spaceborne GEOINT missions.
• Provide SETA insight into contractor development activities, design reviews, risk posture, and technical trades.
• Develop, refine, and trace system-level and payload-level requirements across space, ground, and mission-processing segments.
• Plan and assess verification strategies, test events, and performance validation for radar payloads, ground systems, and mission-processing algorithms.
• Evaluate end-to-end GEOINT mission architectures, including tasking, collection, downlink, processing, exploitation, and dissemination.
• Apply real-world development experience to assess feasibility, schedule realism, integration complexity, and technical maturity.
• Prepare and deliver technical briefings to government leads, mission partners, and senior decision-makers.

Skills

Radar systems

RF sensing

SAR

GMTI

MATLAB

Python

MBSE/SysML

Modeling

Mission processing

Digital engineering

Education

Bachelor’s degree in STEM

Tools

STK

Job description

Radar Systems Engineer

SAIC is seeking a Radar Systems Engineer to provide onsite systems engineering and technical advisory services in support of an SAIC Prime Program at the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) in Chantilly, VA. The role includes supporting end‑to‑end system development for radar‑enabled space systems, mission processing chains, and GEOINT exploitation capabilities. A candidate must understand how radar payloads and ground mission systems are built and translate that insight into objective, acquisition‑focused technical guidance for government leadership.

Key Responsibilities

• Support analysis of radar payload designs, RF architectures, waveform strategies, and sensor performance models for spaceborne GEOINT missions.
• Provide unbiased SETA insight into contractor development activities, design reviews, risk posture, and technical trades.
• Develop, refine, and trace system‑level and payload‑level requirements across space, ground, and mission‑processing segments.
• Plan and assess verification strategies, test events, and performance validation for radar payloads, ground systems, and mission‑processing algorithms.
• Evaluate end‑to‑end GEOINT mission architectures, including tasking, collection, downlink, processing, exploitation, and dissemination.
• Apply real‑world development experience to assess feasibility, schedule realism, integration complexity, and technical maturity.
• Prepare and deliver technical briefings to government leads, mission partners, and senior decision‑makers.

Qualifications

• Clearance: Active Top Secret/SCI with the ability to obtain a Polygraph.
• Bachelor’s degree in STEM (science, technical, engineering, math) or related discipline and nine (9) years or more experience; Master’s and seven (7) years or more experience; or PhD/JD and four (4) years or more experience. Relevant experience can substitute for degree requirement.
• Knowledge or experience with radar systems, RF sensing, SAR, GMTI, or radar phenomenology (hands‑on or conceptual).
• Prior work with a prime contractor or radar payload developer, ideally supporting space or airborne sensing programs.
• Familiarity with mission needs, acquisition processes, and space/ground integration.
• Experience with MATLAB, Python, STK, or similar modeling/simulation tools.
• Working knowledge of MBSE/SysML or similar digital‑engineering tools/concepts.
• Understanding of mission processing, exploitation algorithms, or radar image formation.

Target salary range: $120,001 - $160,000. The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors.