Description
We are seeking a qualified Radar Optimization Engineer to support the FAA's Brand-New Air Traffic Control System (BNATCS) initiative, specifically the Radar Surveillance Replacement (RSR) Program Office (AJM-41).
The successful candidate will be responsible for radar configuration, testing, calibration, troubleshooting, and optimization activities at some of the nation's busiest and most critical airports.
Primary Responsibilities
- Represent the RSR Program Office at various sites, adhering to an aggressive multi-site schedule.
- Serve as a subject matter expert (SME) to the RSR program office's project, optimization, and engineering leads.
- Support integration, configuration, testing, calibration, troubleshooting, and optimization of radar and associated electronic systems.
- Configure radar tracking parameters, target-classification software, network interfaces, and integration middleware as required.
- Perform advanced field troubleshooting and root-cause analysis to isolate signal interference, hardware faults, communications failures, and data-packet loss.
- Support antenna alignment and mechanical tilt and azimuth verification, as well as evaluation of equipment mounting, environmental enclosures, and thermal-management considerations affecting radar performance.
- Utilize spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes, power meters, and specialized radar diagnostic software to tune system gain, filter clutter, establish detection thresholds, and verify system performance.
- Evaluate system interfaces, including Ethernet, serial, Controller Area Network (CAN), fiber-optic communications, power distribution, grounding, bonding, and surge-protection systems.
- Analyze radar performance data and make necessary system adjustments to achieve required detection, tracking, accuracy, and reliability standards.
- Document test results, system configurations, identified deficiencies, corrective actions, and final optimization settings.
- Coordinate with FAA personnel, system engineers, vendors, and other technical stakeholders to resolve system-performance issues.
- Ensure field activities comply with applicable FAA requirements and site-specific safety procedures.
Travel Expectations
- Travel is expected to be high, approximately 50% to 75% of the time.
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree with 12 years of relevant experience, or additional years of relevant experience that may be considered or accepted in lieu of a degree.
- Degree, formal certification, or equivalent technical training in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Technology, Military Radar Systems, or a closely related discipline.
- Experience with research, design, development, integration, maintenance, testing, calibration, or optimization of electrical and electronic equipment and systems.
- Completion of formal radar training at the FAA Academy, a military technical school, or another recognized radar training program.
- Prior radar certification authority at one or more airports or operational radar facilities.
- Several years of hands-on field experience with one or more radar systems in the active National Airspace System (NAS) or a comparable operational environment.
- In-depth knowledge of radio-frequency (RF) propagation, microwave transceivers, signal processing, antenna alignment, and waveguide systems.
- Demonstrated knowledge of system-integration interfaces, including Ethernet, serial, CAN, and fiber-optic communications; network protocols; power distribution; grounding and bonding; and surge protection.
- Proficiency using spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes, power meters, and specialized radar diagnostic software.
- Ability to perform radar testing, calibration, and optimization activities, including adjusting gain, filtering clutter, establishing detection thresholds, and verifying system performance.
- Understanding of mechanical tilt and azimuth alignment, environmental enclosures, equipment mounting, and thermal-management requirements as they relate to radar performance.
- Ability to configure radar tracking parameters, target-classification software, network interfaces, and integration middleware.
- Advanced troubleshooting and root-cause-analysis skills for isolating RF interference, hardware faults, communications failures, and data-packet loss.
- Ability to analyze radar performance data, document test results, and recommend or perform corrective adjustments.
- Comprehensive understanding of FAA operational risk-management practices.
- Ability to perform at a high level independently and as part of a small team while meeting an aggressive radar optimization schedule.
- Demonstrated commitment to high-quality radar maintenance, testing, calibration, and optimization practices.
- Professionalism when representing Leidos to FAA customers, consistent with delivering "best of the best" support.
- Demonstrated knowledge of applicable FAA technical, safety, and radar-system requirements.
- Ability to obtain and maintain an FAA Public Trust clearance.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with FAA surveillance radar systems and associated communications.
- Experience supporting radar modernization, integration, commissioning, operational testing, acceptance, calibration, troubleshooting, or optimization activities.
- Experience analyzing radar plots, system-performance data, target reports, coverage, clutter, interference, and tracking anomalies.
- Familiarity with FAA safety requirements, grounding and bonding requirements, radar-performance standards, and site-specific work procedures.
Pay Range: $131,300.00 - $237,350.00