Senior Systems Engineer

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.

• 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.

• 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 back scatter impacts.
• Proficiency with advanced modeling and simulation tools, including MATLAB/Simulink, Python‑based analysis environments, RF target simulators, optical…