Radar System Architect

Radar Systems Architect

We have developed a first-generation prototype of a counter-UAV radar sensor. Your task is to design the production-grade second generation sensor. You must create the system architecture from the initial requirements. This includes the waveform, the detection strategy, and system-level budgets. You will collaborate with the antenna engineer to design the RF chain and transceiver architecture. You must make sure the design is possible to build. You will also define the direction for the Digital Signal Processing chain.

Primary Responsibilities

Architecture and Design

• Design the radar waveform and the detection strategy.
• Develop the Chirp/FMCW design.
• Calculate the range-Doppler processing detection budgets (SNR, integration, CFAR).
• Calculate angle estimation algorithms to detect small, low-RCS UAV targets at high closing velocities.
• Examine different integration methods. These include cascaded transceiver ICs, an integrated system-on-module, or a discrete RF front-end.
• Work with the antenna engineer to find a solution for channel count, LO/clock distribution, and phase-coherence across the array.

Requirements and Interfaces

• Define and control system-level requirements and budgets. These include detection range, range/Doppler/angular resolution, update rate, power, thermal limits, and physical size.
• Write requirements that the test team can verify.
• Control the interfaces between all subsystems. Maintain the Interface Control Documents (ICDs).
• Make sure the signal chain from the antenna to the detection output operates as one coherent system. This includes:
• Timing and synchronization (frame/trigger).
• Transceiver-to-compute data path (sample rates, formats, latency).
• The RF/antenna boundary.

System Modeling and Execution

• Build and update the MATLAB system model (the digital twin of the sensor).
• Add non-ideal conditions to the model as the system complexity increases. These include phase noise, PA compression, quantization, channel mismatch, and mutual coupling.
• Trace observed system behaviors back to their origin in the model.
• Define the DSP strategy. The DSP engineer will implement your strategy and test the compute load, memory, and timeline.
• Make architectural decisions on schedule using available data. Only change a decision if new measurement data makes a change necessary.

Required Qualifications

• Experience designing and delivering end-to-end radar systems (from waveform generation through the RF chain).
• Technical knowledge of radar detection theory (FMCW/chirp waveforms, range-Doppler processing, CFAR, SNR/integration, and angle estimation).
• Technical knowledge of target-tracking to set system requirements (update rate, track accuracy).
• Experience using MATLAB and the Radar Toolbox for system-level radar modeling.
• Experience calculating link budgets and detection budgets, and the ability to hold the physical design to these limits.
• Experience designing RF chain architectures with multi-channel/MIMO transceivers.
• Knowledge of how to distribute the LO/clock and align phases across a multi-channel array.
• Ability to work as an independent contractor.
• You must pass the company security checks.
• You must speak and write in English.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with counter-UAV or defense radar systems.
• Experience detecting small, maneuvering, low-RCS targets in clutter environments.
• Experience with integrated radar transceiver SoCs and their integration limits.
• Experience using MATLAB Simulink.

Engagement Details

• Position Type: Contract-to-permanent. This starts as a contract engagement. It includes a planned transition to a permanent lead role for the correct candidate.
• Rate: 5k EUR
• Location: Remote or Hybrid.
• Hybrid Travel: We prefer candidates who can travel temporarily to Kyiv, Ukraine, for on-site testing. We pay all travel expenses. During this travel, you will do system tests and field validation against real targets. You will compare the measured field performance against the system model.