Senior Staff Systems Engineer

Elbit Systems of America, LLC; Fort Worth (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Elbit Systems of America, LLC seeks a Senior Staff Systems Engineer – Seeker SME to serve as the technical authority for SAL, imaging, and RF seeker technologies. You will lead architecture, development, and integration across optical, RF, electronic, mechanical, and GNC domains, coordinating with cross‑functional teams and customers.

The role emphasizes algorithm development, validation, and performance modeling, with wide exposure to ground, captive‑carry, and flight testing.

Qualifications

• BS + 12 years of relevant experience; MS + 9 years of relevant experience; PhD + 7 years of relevant experience
• Advanced expertise in seeker technologies including AESA and phased‑array radars
• Experience with optical phenomena relevant to SAL and Imaging seekers
• Proficiency with MATLAB/Simulink, Python-based analysis environments, RF target simulators, optical simulation tools, and seeker end‑to‑end performance modeling frameworks
• Hands‑on experience with HWIL/SWIL test environments, RF target emulators, laser test benches, IR collimators, motion platforms, optical alignment tools, and automated calibration/verification equipment
• Familiarity with MBSE, SysML/Cameo for system architecture, requirements modeling, diagrams, interfaces and verification planning
• Knowledge of weapon‑system environmental qualification (ESS, vibe, thermal cycling, EMI/EMC)
• Experience supporting ground, captive‑carry, and flight test campaigns (planning, instrumentation, troubleshooting, data analysis)
• Background in countermeasure environments (ECM/ECCM, clutter suppression, false‑target discrimination)
• Strong understanding of embedded software/firmware integration and high‑rate data path design
• Customer‑facing engineering experience and collaboration with business development on roadmaps

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary technical authority for SAL, Imaging (EO/IR), and RF seeker technologies
• Lead seeker architecture definition, requirements decomposition, and technical trade studies across domains
• Lead design, development, integration, testing, verification, and validation for SAL and Imaging seekers; RF seeker analysis added
• Develop seeker performance simulation models for SAL, Imaging, and RF domains
• Guide development of algorithms for target detection, tracking, angle estimation, filtering, and terminal guidance performance
• Support customer field test events with guidance on test planning and execution
• Conduct seeker calibration and verification using laser tables, IR collimators, optical benches, and RF target simulators
• Generate test scripts to automate calibration and verification workflows
• Partner with optical, electrical, software, mechanical, RF, and GNC teams to drive robust seeker designs
• Shape seeker roadmaps with business development to align with customer needs

Skills

Seeker technologies (AESA)

Modeling & simulation

MBSE SysML/Cameo

HWIL/SWIL testing

Embedded software/firmware integration

RF/Seeker knowledge

Algorithm development

Customer‑facing engineering

Ground/captive-flight testing

Target detection & tracking algorithms

Education

BS + 12 years relevant experience

MS + 9 years relevant experience

PhD + 7 years relevant experience

Tools

RF target simulators

Optical simulation tools

Job description

Job Summary:

Senior Staff Systems Engineer – Seeker SME serves as the technical authority for the design, development, integration, testing, verification, and validation of Semi‑Active Laser (SAL), Imaging (EO/IR), and RF seekers for precision‑guided weapon systems. This role leads the development of seeker algorithms, performance‑simulation models, and end‑to‑end terminal guidance behaviors for all‑up rounds. The Seeker SME partners closely with cross‑functional teams - optical, software, electrical, mechanical, GNC, and production - to transition designs into production‑ready seekers.

As the primary subject‑matter expert, this position requires regular customer interaction and close collaboration with business development to shape technical roadmaps aligned with emerging needs. The ideal candidate has deep experience in laser‑seeker physics, RF radar/seeker architectures, signal processing, algorithm development, and full weapon‑system integration and test, including ground, captive‑carry, and flight testing.

Responsibilities and Tasks:

• Technical Leadership & SME Responsibilities
  • Serve as the primary technical authority for SAL, Imaging (EO/IR), and RF seeker technologies internally and with customers.
  • Lead seeker architecture definition, requirements decomposition, and technical trade studies across optical, RF, electronic, mechanical, software, and GNC domains.
• Design, Development & Integration
  • Lead design, development, integration, testing, verification, and validation activities for SAL and Imaging seekers, with added responsibility for RF seeker system analysis and architecture.
  • Develop seeker performance simulation models for SAL, Imaging, and RF domains.
  • Guide development of algorithms for target detection, tracking, angle estimation, filtering, countermeasure rejection, and terminal guidance performance.
• Hands On Test, Calibration & Verification
  • Support customer field test events and provide expert guidance on test planning and execution.
  • Conduct seeker calibration and verification using laser tables, IR collimators, optical benches, and RF target simulators.
  • Generate test scripts to automate calibration and verification workflows.
• Cross Functional Engineering Collaboration
  • Partner with optical, electrical, software, mechanical, RF, and GNC engineering teams to drive robust, integrated seeker designs.
  • Recommend and document seeker design updates to improve performance, robustness, manufacturability, and resilience in contested environments.
• Customer Interaction & Roadmap Development
  • Communicate technical concepts, risks, and decisions clearly to customers and senior leadership.
  • Work closely with business development to shape seeker technical roadmaps aligned to customer needs, future mission profiles, and competitive landscape.
• Continuous Improvement & Industry Awareness
  • Maintain awareness of industry trends, threat evolution, seeker technology advancements, and emerging algorithmic/processing techniques in SAL, RF, and Imaging domains.

Education, Experience, License, or Certification:

• BS + 12 years of relevant experience; MS + 9 years of relevant experience; PhD + 7 years of relevant experience
• Advanced technical expertise in seeker technologies, including AESA and phased‑array radars, monopulse angle‑tracking techniques, millimeter‑wave (MMW) seekers, multimode RF/SAL/Imaging seekers, and hybrid guidance architectures.
• Experience with optical phenomena relevant to SAL and Imaging seekers, including radome effects, optical/IR propagation, laser energy degradation through atmospherics, boresight alignment, optical distortion, and backscatter impacts.
• Proficiency with advanced modeling and simulation tools, including MATLAB/Simulink, Python‑based analysis environments, RF target simulators, optical simulation tools, and seeker end‑to‑end performance modeling frameworks.
• Hands‑on experience with HWIL/SWIL test environments, RF target emulators, laser test benches, IR collimators, motion platforms, optical alignment tools, and automated calibration/verification equipment.
• Familiarity with Model‑Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), including SysML/Cameo for system architecture, requirements modeling, behavioral diagrams, interface definition, and verification planning.
• Knowledge of weapon‑system environmental qualification, including ESS, vibe, thermal cycling, shock, EMI/EMC, and real‑world seeker survivability considerations.
• Experience supporting ground, captive‑carry, and flight test campaigns, including test planning, instrumentation, on‑range troubleshooting, and quick‑look analysis of seeker telemetry data.
• Background in countermeasure environments, including ECM/ECCM, SAL countermeasure rejection techniques, clutter‑suppression filtering, false‑target discrimination, target reacquisition logic, and terminal‑engagement robustness.
• Strong understanding of embedded software/firmware integration, digital signal processing chains, FPGA‑based seeker implementations, and high‑rate data‑path design.
• Prior customer‑facing engineering experience, proposal support, technical roadmap development, and collaboration with business development on future seeker architectures.

Travel/Physical Requirements:

• 25-50% travel to be expected based on production needs.