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About the job

Overview

SRI is seeking a Research Engineer III with a strong background in RF and Systems Engineering to contribute to the development, integration, and evaluation of advanced radar, communications, and sensing systems. This role emphasizes RF system architecture, requirements development, system-level design and analysis, hardware/software integration, and hands-on prototype development and testing. This role is onsite in Boulder, CO.

You will work within multidisciplinary teams to develop advanced systems spanning RF hardware, antennas, digital signal processing, embedded computing, software, and firmware. Applications include radar, communications, electronic warfare, remote sensing, quantum sensing, and photonics. The ideal candidate combines strong RF fundamentals with a systems-level perspective and enjoys taking complex technologies from initial concept and requirements through prototype development, field demonstration, and transition.

This role is part of SRI’s Advanced Technology and Systems Division (ATSD), which develops innovative, high-performance technologies across domains including radar and electronic warfare, imaging systems, robotics, quantum sensing, and applied optics

Responsibilities

Design, develop, integrate, and test advanced RF, radar, communications, and sensing systems and subsystems

Contribute to system architectures, subsystem requirements, interface definitions, performance budgets, and verification approaches

Perform RF system analysis, including link budgets, radar performance, noise figure, dynamic range, sensitivity, and interference assessments

Design and evaluate RF architectures involving antennas, RF front ends, transmit/receive chains, data converters, and embedded processing hardware

Perform engineering trade studies involving performance, size, weight, power (SWaP), cost, reliability, and technical risk

Support hardware/software/firmware integration and troubleshoot interactions across system components

Conduct hands-on RF hardware development, prototype assembly, laboratory testing, and performance characterization using RF test instrumentation

Develop and execute test procedures, analyze results against requirements, and identify opportunities for system improvement

Independently manage technical assignments and occasionally lead small engineering teams or defined technical tasks

Document designs, analyses, test results, and technical accomplishments through reports and presentations

Participate in technical discussions with customers and support occasional field testing and demonstrations

Contribute to technical proposals, white papers, and new research concepts as opportunities arise

Qualifications

Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, or a related field

B.S. + 5 years, M.S. + 3 years, or Ph.D. + 0-1 year of relevant experience

U.S. Citizenship with the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. government security clearance

Technical Expertise

Strong foundation in RF and microwave engineering, including RF architectures, signal chains, antennas, and transmit/receive systems

Demonstrated experience with radar, RF communications, electronic warfare, or related sensing systems

Experience developing system architectures and translating system-level requirements into subsystem requirements and interfaces

Understanding of radar and communications performance analysis, including SNR, noise figure, dynamic range, propagation, and waveform considerations

Familiarity with digital signal processing and hands-on experience with RF laboratory instrumentation

Applied Experience

Experience developing complex RF systems from concept through integration, test, and demonstration

Ability to troubleshoot interactions across RF hardware, digital hardware, firmware, software, and algorithms

Familiarity with real-time processing platforms such as SDRs, FPGAs, GPUs, and SoCs

Experience performing system-level testing, verification, and performance characterization

Additional Skills

Proficiency in MATLAB, Python, C/C++, or similar engineering/programming environments

Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and system-level problem-solving skills

Ability to communicate complex technical concepts to engineering teams, program leadership, and customers

Experience with technical documentation, design reviews, proposals, and customer presentations

Willingness to travel occasionally for testing, demonstrations, and customer engagement

Preferred Qualifications

Active Top Secret (TS) clearance; SCI and/or recent SAP experience preferred

Experience with RF/EM simulation tools such as ADS, HFSS, or CST

Experience with maritime, airborne, or other operational sensing environments

Experience leading multidisciplinary technical efforts and mentoring junior engineers

What We Offer

Opportunity to work on cutting-edge technologies with real-world impact

Collaborative, mission-driven research environment

Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits

Opportunities for technical leadership, innovation, and career growth

The salary range is: $104,139-$154,903. Salary ranges will vary and are based on several factors, including geographic location, market competitiveness and equity amongst internal employees in similar roles. Positions may also qualify for SRI's Pay for Outstanding Performance program or the annual Performance Based Compensation program. SRI also has a competitive benefits package, to view details please go to https://www.sri.com/resources/benefits/. SRI will accept applications until the position is filled.

SRI is an independent nonprofit research institute headquartered in Menlo Park, Calif., with a rich history of supporting government and industry. We create and deliver world-changing solutions for a safer, healthier, and more sustainable future. For almost 80 years, we have collaborated across technical and scientific disciplines to discover and develop groundbreaking products and technologies and bring innovations and ideas to the marketplace.