Title:  Sr Scientist, Electrical Engineering (Antenna Engineer)

Job Title: Sr Scientist, Electrical Engineering (Antenna Engineer)

Job Code: 32353

Job Location: Palm Bay, FL

Job Description:

The L3Harris Space Systems Sector is seeking an exceptional Antenna Design Engineer to advance our customers’ complex missions in space. This pivotal role requires extensive expertise in antenna hardware design and antenna systems during the early phases of capture and program execution. The antenna expert will champion Internal Research and Development (IRAD) projects, conduct technical trade studies, author innovative white papers, support business development pursuits, author detailed BOE proposals, lead new customer programs, and provide mentorship throughout the engineering organization. Success will be achieved through the utilization of a diverse array of advanced antenna simulation tools to create innovative hardware solutions and ensure our commitment to design excellence.

The ideal candidate will be a subject matter expert in antenna systems with an entrepreneurial approach, capable of collaborating with technical experts, business development, and senior leadership within a large engineering enterprise. Additionally, they will address customer and mission needs through technical analysis and strategic guidance while assessing technical risks, budget, and schedule commitments to build trust in the Space Systems Sector and L3Harris.

Essential Functions: 

• Lead complex antenna development including research, detailed design, and analysis for exquisite space-qualified antenna systems.
• Drive multi-disciplinary engineering teams through early lifecycle milestones and reviews, including Capture / Pursuits, Technical Baselines (TBR), BOE Proposals, Program Startups, System Requirements (SRR), System Designs (SDR), and Preliminary Design Reviews (PDR).
• Champion Internal Research and Design (IRAD) initiatives and conduct technical trade studies to influence tactical and strategic decisions for senior leadership.
• Research industry trends to develop antenna roadmaps, utilizing the latest innovative technologies to advance antenna system hardware capabilities while simultaneously reducing SWaP-C (size, weight, power and cost).
• Support customer pursuits for antennas with business development and support Basis of Estimates (BOE) Proposals to capture program awards while ensuring success in technical performance, cost, and schedule.
• Collaborate with customers, technical experts, and program leadership to align antenna performance requirements with all stakeholders.
• Provide mentorship, guidance, and leadership to fellow engineers.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree with a minimum of 15 years of prior related experience. Graduate Degree with a minimum of 13 years of prior related experience. In lieu of a degree, minimum of 19 years of prior related experience.
• Experience with design and analysis of 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 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.
• Experience with antenna element design including horns, dipoles, patch, PIFAs, loop, slot, helical, fractal, Vivaldi, Biconical, Log-periodic, Yagi, etc.
• Experience with antenna simulation and analysis tools including HFSS, CST, GRASP, SystemVue, MATLAB, and other ECAD design tools.

• Experience in an engineering leadership role, such as Integrated Product Team Lead (IPTL), Principal Investigator (PI), Chief Systems Engineer or Chief Engineer.
   

Preferred Additional Skills:

• TS/SCI Security Clearance highly preferred.
• Phased array design experience preferred.
• Advanced user of antenna and RF lab equipment including Network Analyzers, Signal/Spectrum Analyzers, Oscilloscopes, Signal Generators, RF Power Sensors, etc.
• Ability to troubleshoot antenna systems down to the component level.
• Understanding of antenna reflector surface shaping, G/T analysis, Passive Intermodulation, Multipaction, and susceptibility analysis of multi-antenna systems.
• Antenna Range measurement techniques utilizing Planar Near Field Scanners, Spherical Near Field Scanners, Compact Ranges, Far Field Ranges, etc.
• Anechoic Range control software, such as NSI-MI MI-3000.
• Team leader experience, guiding a team of antenna engineers across diverse projects to advance their career expertise.
• MATLAB, Python, or similar programming experience for antenna design and data analysis.