RF Architect

Job Description

This position is for an experienced engineer, scientist or physicist to provide engineering leadership for RF payload development programs and new business pursuits in support of Military and National Space programs. The Payload Architect ensures continuity and balance between the scientific or warfighter mission needs, the acquisition community, and the BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems (SMS). technical solution. This position will report to the Payload Engineering – Payload Architects department manager. The responsibilities of this position include architecture design, detailed design, analysis, modeling, and performance verification of systems and payloads in their mission context.

The Engineering, Science and Analysis (ESA) Strategic Capabilities Unit (SCU) comprises the technical talent and organizational leadership that enables the successful delivery of high-impact discriminating technologies for our customers’ missions. Our collaborative, cross-functional teams are committed to innovation, integrity, continual learning and strong execution.

What You’ll Do:

• Support and/or lead RF payload architecture development, system designs, peer reviews, and/or audits.
• Technical development, understanding, analysis and assessment of concepts and designs for RF payloads; including performance predictions and risk assessments.
• RF payload concept analysis, modeling, or simulation for assessment of radiometric, image quality, detection, background discrimination, item identification, and item tracking performance for terrestrial and space missions.
• Payload concept’s impact and/or benefit on ground and/or space concept of operations (CONOPs) and collections as well as ground and bus architecture and/or design.
• Assessment and communication to customers of RF Payload’s solution ability to meet mission needs.
• Assessment of impact and/or ability to integrate RF Payload solution into customer’s existing or planned infrastructure.
• Identify strategic architectures, capabilities and technologies for space payloads and contribute to new IRAD/technology development concepts and roadmaps.
• Support Strategic Business Unit (SBU) marketing and proposal development by providing payload concepts and architecture solutions to customer missions and provide winning discriminators for BAE Systems SMS.
• Provide Engineering and SBU insight into industry capability and industry and/or government technology development to guide technology roadmap, engineering resource planning, program capture and proposal development.
• Support and/or lead program(s) execution with a focus on early identification of issues and their mitigation, to include leadership and/or participation in the following:
  • Independent Review Team (IRT) and Anomaly Review Team (ART)
  • Milestone Gate Reviews - Documentation, briefings, and participation
  • Program Health and Risk Assessment
  • Development through assembly, integration and test
  • Functional and Physical Configuration Audits (FCA/PCA)
  • Technical Performance Assessment
  • Assessment for Ready to Ship Review
  • Application of best practices and lessons learned
• Support new and ongoing program resource planning (people, equipment, and infrastructure).
• Foster knowledge database for common architectural approaches, design reuse, shared efficiencies, product development/reuse/evolution, incorporation of lessons learned, design to cost, and supplier continuity.
• Provide leadership and functional/career direction by exhibiting behaviors aligned with the tenants of BAE Systems SMS leadership model. These behaviors would include providing a unifying vision, understanding the needs of others to meet business challenges and acting with humility and a collaborative spirit.
• Guide and mentor engineering staff from all levels to maintain and grow internal technical development skillsets.

On-Site Work Environment: This position requires regular in-person engagement by working on-site five days each normally scheduled week in the primary work location. Travel and local commute between company campuses and other possible non-company locations may be required.

Working Conditions:

• Work is performed in an office, laboratory, production floor, or cleanroom, outdoors or remote research environment.
• May occasionally work in production work centers where use of protective equipment and gear is required.
• May access other facilities in various weather conditions.

Short Term Incentive: Subject to business performance and recommendations of management, this role may be eligible to participate in an incentive compensation plan.

Required Education, Experience, & Skills

• BS degree or higher in Engineering or a related technical field is required plus 12 or more years related experience.
• Each higher-level degree, i.e., Master’s Degree or Ph.D., may substitute for two years of experience. Related technical experience may be considered in lieu of education. Degree must be from a university, college, or school which is accredited by an agency recognized by the US Secretary of Education, US Department of Education.
• A current, active Top Secret security clearance is required with ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI.
• Expertise in RF payloads to include sub-systems (aperture, front-end, software define radios, processing, basic exploitation, etc.) and phenomenologies (radar, SAR, communications, radiometry, imaging, sounding, altimetry, scatterometry, radio occultation, etc.); knowledge should include solution’s concept and requirements that impact Payload's cost/schedule, development, operation, and performance.
• Knowledge and demonstrated experience in defining payload RF payload solutions for systems and architectures as well as assessing, developing and documenting their requirements (specifications, interfaces, CONOPs, environment, constraints, functions, information, etc.); architecture should include assessment of focused and distributed mission architectures.
• A capability to communicate using nominal systems and architecture languages and diagrams is required.
• Knowledge of, and experience in a program’s gated lifecycle and system engineering cycle with experience in program’s risk assessment and mitigation by planning embedded tasks, participation and/or leadership in milestone audits/reviews, and participation and/or Leadership in anomaly/failure reviews.
• New business development experience, including successful customer interaction; briefing and whitepaper development; direct discussions or briefings; and exceptional proposal writing.
• Knowledge of, and the ability to estimate program component, box, and subsystem level cost and schedule with a goal to support new proposals, basis of estimate (BOE) development, program make/buy decisions, and improve engineering estimating tools and/or capabilities.
• Knowledge of Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) to support definition and design of architectures, systems, and remote sensing payload is desired, as well as the use of DoW and/or Industry standard architecture languages, formats, and frameworks.

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Preferred Education, Experience, & Skills

• Top Secret SCI w/ polygraph security clearance.

Pay Information
Full-Time Salary Range: $153377 - $260743

Please note: This range is based on our market pay structures. However, individual salaries are determined by a variety of factors including, but not limited to: business considerations, local market conditions, and internal equity, as well as candidate qualifications, such as skills, education, and experience.

Employee Benefits: At BAE Systems, we support our employees in all aspects of their life, including their health and financial well-being. Regular employees scheduled to work 20+ hours per week are offered: health, dental, and vision insurance; health savings accounts; a 401(k) savings plan; disability coverage; and life and accident insurance. We also have an employee assistance program, a legal plan, and other perks including discounts on things like home, auto, and pet insurance. Our leave programs include paid time off, paid holidays, as well as other types of leave, including paid parental, military, bereavement, and any applicable federal and state sick leave. Employees may participate in the company recognition program to receive monetary or non-monetary recognition awards. Other incentives may be available based on position level and/or job specifics.

About BAE Systems, Inc.
BAE Systems, Inc. is a defense, aerospace, and security company headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, with more than 40,000 employees worldwide. We serve, supply, and protect those who protect us. As one of the most geographically diverse international defense companies, we deliver a full range of products and services spanning air, land, maritime, space, and cyber, including advanced electronics, intelligence solutions, and dedicated customer support.

Our culture is performance-driven and values-led, built on curiosity, creativity, and collaboration. Purpose isn't a tagline here. It's what drives us. We're developing breakthrough technologies that defend national security and make a lasting impact on our communities and our planet. When you join BAE Systems, you're not just building a career. You're contributing to a mission that truly matters.

This position will be posted for at least 5 calendar days. The posting will remain active until the position is filled, or a qualified pool of candidates is identified.