Radar Systems Engineer

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) seeks a Radar Systems Engineer to design, analyze, and prototype advanced radar systems for Defense & Aerospace missions. In the Engineering & Design Department, you'll model sensor performance, develop algorithms, and support lab and field testing for national security applications. Collaborate with multidisciplinary experts in a mission-driven, inclusive culture that values curiosity, ethics, and impact. APL offers robust support for research, innovation, and professional growth, including advanced degrees and opportunities to see your work influence real-world missions.

Responsibilities

• Design and analyze advanced radar system architectures, including waveform design, antenna concepts, and signal processing chains.
• Develop and validate modeling and simulation tools to predict end-to-end radar performance in realistic operational environments.
• Perform system-level trade studies, requirements analysis, and allocation for radar subsystems and components.
• Implement and evaluate detection, tracking, and estimation algorithms using MATLAB, Python, or similar tools.
• Support integration, test, and evaluation of radar hardware and software in laboratory, hardware-in-the-loop, and field environments.
• Analyze radar test and field data to assess system performance, identify anomalies, and recommend design improvements.
• Prepare technical reports, documentation, and briefings for internal teams, sponsors, and external partners.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including hardware, software, algorithms, and mission analysis engineers, to deliver end-to-end radar solutions.
• Stay current with emerging radar, RF, and sensor technologies and propose innovative concepts and approaches for future systems.
• Support the preparation of proposals and technical input for new projects in national security and space-related radar missions.

Required Skills

• Radar system design
• RF engineering
• Signal processing (MATLAB/Python)
• Radar waveform design
• Antenna and array design
• Modeling and simulation (e.g., MATLAB, Simulink, STK)
• Digital signal processing algorithms
• Detection, tracking, and estimation theory
• Systems engineering and requirements analysis
• System architecture and trade studies
• Integration and test of radar systems
• Hardware-in-the-loop testing
• Data analysis and performance evaluation
• Familiarity with military radar standards and CONOPSC/C++ or embedded software experience
• Python scripting and automation
• Version control (e.g., Git)
• Technical documentation and reporting
• Presentation and briefing skills
• Cross-functional collaboration