Title:  Scientist, Space Systems - Antenna Engineer

Job Title: Scientist, Space Systems – Antenna Engineer

Job Code:  24694

Job Location: Palm Bay, FL
 

Job Description:

The L3Harris Space and Airborne Systems segment is seeking an exceptional Antenna Design Engineer to lead sophisticated design activities, leveraging extensive expertise in antenna systems architecture and antenna design to fulfill our customers’ complex missions. This pivotal role involves optimizing antenna and RF performance through research, design, development, and verification, while leading customer programs, advancing IRAD projects, conducting technical trade studies, authoring detailed proposals, and providing mentorship throughout the engineering organization. Success will be achieved through the utilization of a diverse array of advanced antenna simulation tools, anechoic ranges and laboratory equipment to create innovative hardware solutions while ensuring our commitment to design excellence.

The ideal candidate should be a subject matter expert in antenna systems with an entrepreneurial background, capable of collaborating with engineering technical experts, business development, and senior management. They will address customer and mission needs through technical analysis, presentations, white papers, proposals, and strategic guidance, while demonstrating strong communication and interpersonal skills within a large engineering enterprise and with external partners. Additionally, they will assess technical risks, the political climate, budget, and schedule limitations to build trust in the Space Systems sector and L3Harris.

Essential Functions: 

• Lead complex antenna development activities, including research, architecture, design, analysis, and verification, to advance the performance of antenna system architecture and design.
• Drive multi-discipline technical teams through all phases of program milestones (pursuit, proposals, SRR, SDR, PDR, CDR, etc.).
• Research industry trends to develop roadmaps utilizing the latest technologies to increase antenna system hardware capabilities while simultaneously reducing size, weight, power and cost.
• Lead Internal Research and Design (IRAD) initiatives and conduct technical trade studies to drive tactical and strategic decisions for program leadership.
• Generate white papers, proposals, and Basis of Estimates (BOEs), to ensure success in terms of technical performance, cost and schedule.
• Collaborate with customers and program leadership to align Antenna performance requirements with internal stakeholders.
• Provide mentorship, guidance, and leadership to other engineers.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree and a minimum of 12 years of prior relevant experience (Accredited course of study in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or another relevant STEM field.). Graduate Degree and a minimum of 10 years of prior related experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 16 years of prior related experience. Experience with best practices for project engineering and program execution
• 12+ years of experience with antenna systems, architecture, design and complex mission solutions including:
  • Antenna performance (gain, bandwidth, polarization, directivity, efficiency, etc.), RF Link Budgets and cascade analysis (gain, noise figure, linearity, noise power, etc.), S-parameters, matching networks, filtering (bandwidth, types, implementations, etc.).
  • Antenna reflector surface shaping, thermal performance characterization, G/T analysis, Passive Intermodulation, and susceptibility analysis of a multi-antenna systems.
  • Antenna element design including horns, dipoles, patch, PIFAs, loop, slot, helical, fractal, Vivaldi, Biconical, Log-periodic, Yagi, etc.
  • Waveguide structures and high-performance filters.
  • Antenna simulation and analysis tools including HFSS, CST, GRASP, SystemVue, MATLAB, and other ECAD design tools.
  • Antenna design experience for electromagnetics in the RF spectrum, including VHF, UHF, and microwave applications in the L, S, C, X, Ku, Ka, and V bands.
  • Antenna and RF lab equipment including Network Analyzers, Signal/Spectrum Analyzers, Oscilloscopes, Signal Generators, RF Power Sensors, etc.
  • Troubleshooting antenna systems down to the element level.
  • MATLAB or Python experience for data analysis.
     

Preferred Additional Skills:

• Subject matter expert in multiple technical domains with an entrepreneurial background.
• TS/SCI Security Clearance preferred.
• Space-qualified antenna design for Space Vehicles preferred.
• Anechoic Range control software, such as NSI-MI MI-3000.
• Antenna Range measurement techniques utilizing Planar Near Field Scanners, Spherical Near Field Scanners, Compact Ranges, Far Field Ranges, etc.
• Experience presenting to program leadership and external customers for design reviews, IRADs, trade studies, data analysis, etc.
• Team leader experience, guiding a team of antenna engineers across diverse projects to advance their career expertise. 
• Experience in an Engineering leadership role, such as Integrated Product Team (IPT) Lead or Chief Systems Engineer.

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