Engineer Senior Principal III - RF Architect

Posted Yesterday
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Broomfield, CO, USA
Hybrid
153K-261K Annually
Senior level
Aerospace • Hardware • Information Technology • Security • Software • Cybersecurity • Defense
Where purpose connects.
The Role
Leads architecture, design, analysis, modeling, verification, and technical execution for RF remote sensing payloads supporting civil, military, and national space missions. Assesses mission performance, requirements, risks, integration, cost, and schedules; supports program reviews, proposals, technology roadmaps, and new business development. Provides engineering leadership, resource planning, customer briefings, and mentorship while guiding payload development through integration, testing, audits, and delivery.
Summary Generated by Built In
Job Description
This position is for an experienced engineer, scientist or physicist to provide engineering leadership for remote sensing payload development programs and new business pursuits in support of Civil, Military, and National Space programs. The Payload Architect ensures continuity and balance between the scientific or warfighter mission needs, the acquisition community, and the BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems (SMS). technical solution. This position will report to the Payload Engineering - Payload Architects department manager. The responsibilities of this position include architecture design, detailed design, analysis, modeling, and performance verification of systems and payloads in their mission context.
The Engineering, Science and Analysis (ESA) Strategic Capabilities Unit (SCU) comprises the technical talent and organizational leadership that enables the successful delivery of high-impact discriminating technologies for our customers' missions. Our collaborative, cross-functional teams are committed to innovation, integrity, continual learning and strong execution.
What You'll Do:
  • Support and/or lead Remote Sensing architecture development, system designs, peer reviews, and/or audits.
  • Technical development, understanding, analysis and assessment of concepts and designs for remote sensing payloads; including performance predictions and risk assessments.
  • Remote sensing concept analysis, modeling, or simulation for assessment of radiometric, image quality, detection, background discrimination, item identification, and item tracking performance for terrestrial and space missions.
  • Remote sensing concept's impact and/or benefit on ground and/or space concept of operations (CONOPs) and collections as well as ground and bus architecture and/or design.
  • Assessment and communication to customers of Remote Sensing Payload's solution ability to meet mission needs.
  • Assessment of impact and/or ability to integrate Remote Sensing Payload solution into customer's existing or planned infrastructure.
  • Identify strategic architectures, capabilities and technologies for space payloads and contribute to new IRAD/technology development concepts and roadmaps.
  • Support Strategic Business Unit (SBU) marketing and proposal development by providing Remote Sensing concepts and architecture solutions to customer missions and provide winning discriminators for BAE Systems SMS.
  • Provide Engineering and SBU insight into industry capability and industry and/or government technology development to guide technology roadmap, engineering resource planning, program capture and proposal development.
  • Support and/or lead program(s) execution with a focus on early identification of issues and their mitigation, to include leadership and/or participation in the following:
    • Independent Review Team (IRT)
    • Anomaly Review Team (ART)
    • Milestone Gate Reviews - Documentation, briefings, and participation
    • Program Health and Risk Assessment
    • Development through assembly, integration and test
    • Functional and Physical Configuration Audits (FCA/PCA)
    • Technical Performance Assessment
    • Assessment for Ready to Ship Review
    • Application of best practices and lessons learned
  • Support new and ongoing program resource planning (people, equipment, and infrastructure).
  • Foster knowledge database for common architectural approaches, design reuse, shared efficiencies, product development/reuse/evolution, incorporation of lessons learned, design to cost, and supplier continuity.
  • Provide leadership and functional/career direction by exhibiting behaviors aligned with the tenants of BAE Systems SMS leadership model. These behaviors would include providing a unifying vision, understanding the needs of others to meet business challenges and acting with humility and a collaborative spirit.
  • Guide and mentor engineering staff from all levels to maintain and grow internal technical development skillsets.
  • Maintain a regular and predictable work schedule.
  • Establish and maintain effective working relationships within the department, the Strategic Business Units, Strategic Capabilities Units and the Company. Interact appropriately with others in order to maintain a positive and productive work environment.
  • Perform other duties as necessary.

On-Site Work Environment: This position requires regular in-person engagement by working on-site three or more days each normally scheduled week in the primary work location. Travel and local commute between company campuses and other possible non-company locations may be required.
Working Conditions:
  • Work is performed in an office, laboratory, production floor, or cleanroom, outdoors or remote research environment.
  • May occasionally work in production work centers where use of protective equipment and gear is required.
  • May access other facilities in various weather conditions.

Short Term Incentive: Subject to business performance and recommendations of management, this role may be eligible to participate in an incentive compensation plan.
Required Education, Experience, & Skills
  • BS degree or higher in Engineering or a related technical field is required plus 12 or more years related experience.
  • Each higher-level degree, i.e., Master's Degree or Ph.D., may substitute for two years of experience. Related technical experience may be considered in lieu of education. Degree must be from a university, college, or school which is accredited by an agency recognized by the US Secretary of Education, US Department of Education.
  • Expertise in RF payloads to include sub-systems (aperture, front-end, software define radios, processing, basic exploitation, etc.) and phenomenologies (radiometry, imaging, sounding, altimetry, scatterometry, radio occultation, SAR, etc.); knowledge should include Remote Sensing solution's concept and requirements that impact Payload's cost/schedule, development, operation, and performance.
  • Knowledge and demonstrated experience in defining payload Remote Sensing solutions for systems and architectures as well as assessing, developing and documenting their requirements (specifications, interfaces, CONOPs, environment, constraints, functions, information, etc.); architecture should include assessment of focused and distributed remote sensing architectures.
  • A capability to communicate using nominal systems and architecture languages and diagrams is required.
  • Knowledge of, and experience in a program's gated lifecycle and system engineering cycle with experience in program's risk assessment and mitigation by planning embedded tasks, participation and/or leadership in milestone audits/reviews, and participation and/or Leadership in anomaly/failure reviews.
  • New business development experience, including successful customer interaction; briefing and whitepaper development; direct discussions or briefings; and exceptional proposal writing.
  • Knowledge of, and the ability to estimate program component, box, and subsystem level cost and schedule with a goal to support new proposals, basis of estimate (BOE) development, program make/buy decisions, and improve engineering estimating tools and/or capabilities.
  • Knowledge of Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) to support definition and design of architectures, systems, and remote sensing payload is desired, as well as the use of DoW and/or Industry standard architecture languages, formats, and frameworks.

#LI-GJ1
A security clearance or access with Polygraph is not required to be eligible for this position. However, the applicant must be willing and eligible for submission, depending on program requirements, after an offer is accepted and must be able to maintain the applicable clearance/access.
Pay Information
Full-Time Salary Range: $153377 - $260743
Please note: This range is based on our market pay structures. However, individual salaries are determined by a variety of factors including, but not limited to: business considerations, local market conditions, and internal equity, as well as candidate qualifications, such as skills, education, and experience.
Employee Benefits: At BAE Systems, we support our employees in all aspects of their life, including their health and financial well-being. Regular employees scheduled to work 20+ hours per week are offered: health, dental, and vision insurance; health savings accounts; a 401(k) savings plan; disability coverage; and life and accident insurance. We also have an employee assistance program, a legal plan, and other perks including discounts on things like home, auto, and pet insurance. Our leave programs include paid time off, paid holidays, as well as other types of leave, including paid parental, military, bereavement, and any applicable federal and state sick leave. Employees may participate in the company recognition program to receive monetary or non-monetary recognition awards. Other incentives may be available based on position level and/or job specifics.
About BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems
BAE Systems, Inc. is a defense, aerospace, and security company headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, with more than 40,000 employees worldwide. We serve, supply, and protect those who protect us. As one of the most geographically diverse international defense companies, we deliver a full range of products and services spanning air, land, maritime, space, and cyber, including advanced electronics, intelligence solutions, and dedicated customer support.
Our culture is performance-driven and values-led, built on curiosity, creativity, and collaboration. Purpose isn't a tagline here. It's what drives us. We're developing breakthrough technologies that defend national security and make a lasting impact on our communities and our planet. When you join BAE Systems, you're not just building a career. You're contributing to a mission that truly matters.
This position will be posted for at least 5 calendar days. The posting will remain active until the position is filled, or a qualified pool of candidates is identified.

Skills Required

  • Bachelor’s degree or higher in engineering or a related technical field, from an accredited institution
  • 12 or more years of related engineering experience; higher-level degrees may substitute for two years of experience per degree
  • Expertise in RF payload subsystems, including apertures, front ends, software-defined radios, processing, and basic exploitation
  • Knowledge of remote sensing phenomenologies including radiometry, imaging, sounding, altimetry, scatterometry, radio occultation, and SAR
  • Demonstrated experience defining, assessing, developing, and documenting remote sensing payload solutions, architectures, and requirements
  • Ability to communicate using systems and architecture languages and diagrams
  • Experience with gated program lifecycles, systems engineering cycles, risk assessment and mitigation, milestone reviews, and anomaly or failure reviews
  • New business development experience, including customer interaction, briefings, whitepapers, proposal writing, and customer presentations
  • Ability to estimate component, box, and subsystem-level costs and schedules for proposals, basis of estimate development, and make-or-buy decisions
  • Knowledge of Model-Based Systems Engineering and Department of War or industry-standard architecture languages, formats, and frameworks
  • Willingness and eligibility to undergo submission for applicable clearance or access requirements after receiving an offer

What the Team is Saying

BAE Systems, Inc. Compensation & Benefits Highlights

  • Healthcare Strength Medical, dental, and vision coverage is presented as comprehensive, paired with an EAP, fertility and transgender care options, and HSA‑compatible plans that can include employer contributions with coverage starting on day one in some cases. These resources are reinforced by wellness tools and immediate eligibility noted on official benefits materials.
  • Retirement Support A 401(k) savings plan is broadly available, with employer matching and other contributions that vary by business unit, and some U.S. employee groups retain pension arrangements. Company‑paid basic life insurance equal to 2x base salary (up to $1M) further strengthens financial security.
  • Parental & Family Support Paid parental leave (e.g., 160 hours for full‑time employees) sits alongside adoption and surrogacy reimbursement and Bright Horizons backup child and elder care. These benefits help reduce care gaps and complement PTO and applicable state programs.

BAE Systems, Inc. Insights

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The Company
HQ: Falls Church, VA
40,000 Employees
Year Founded: 1999

What We Do

Improving the future and protecting lives is an ambitious mission, but it’s what we do. As a leading aerospace, defense, and security company, we work together to deliver a full range of products and services for air, land, space, and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. How we work is rooted in purpose – a purpose to protect those who protect us, to unite our community of colleagues and customers, and to drive forward the growth and development of our exceptional team members. It's where purpose connects.

Why Work With Us

We believe your career should be filled with innovation and discovery. And that's exactly what you'll find at BAE Systems. As you work to develop the latest technology and defend national security, you will continually hone your skills and expand knowledge. On a sharp and collaborative team, you will be challenged – and supported – at every turn.

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Hybrid Workspace

Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.

As the work place continues to evolve, so do we. Remote and hybrid opportunities are available at BAE Systems depending on the nature of the role. Check your job requisition to learn more.

Typical time on-site: Not Specified
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