Electrical Engineer- Principal Staff Member

Riverside Overview

Riverside Research is an independent National Security Nonprofit dedicated to research and development in the national interest. We provide high-end technical services, research and development, and prototype solutions to some of the country’s most challenging technical problems.    All Riverside Research opportunities require U.S. Citizenship.  

Position Overview

We are seeking a highly skilled Senior RADAR Systems Engineer to provide Advisory & Assistance Services (A&AS) in direct support of a U.S. Government Program Office managing the COBRA KING Radar Systems. This role is responsible for supporting both modernization planning and execution oversight, as well as sustaining engineering for legacy radar capabilities critical to national security.

The selected candidate will serve as a trusted technical advisor, working alongside government personnel to drive modernization strategy, manage radar lifecycle sustainment, and evaluate technical solutions across the hardware, software, and RF domains. This role requires strong radar systems expertise, the ability to guide long-term engineering activities, and experience interfacing with OEMs, contractors, and internal government stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead and advise on modernization planning, including identification of obsolescence risks, capability gaps, and the strategic integration of emerging technologies to improve system performance  
• Support the Government in the execution and oversight of modernization projects, ensuring alignment with system requirements, mission needs, and acquisition processes
• Provide sustaining engineering support to maintain operational radar performance, resolve technical issues, and ensure system readiness
• Conduct root cause analysis, system diagnostics, and performance assessments using operational data and test results
• Assist with development, review, and updates of system requirements, interface control documents (ICDs), specifications, and configuration baselines
• Support engineering change proposals (ECPs), modifications, and integration of new system components
• Participate in technical working groups, configuration control boards, and program management reviews, advising on engineering and lifecycle decisions
• Evaluate radar system modifications and software updates for technical feasibility and performance impact
• Assist in the development of acquisition artifacts such as SOWs, PWSs, LCSPs, and source selection documentation
• Support logistics, maintenance planning, and test & evaluation activities across the sustainment and modernization lifecycle

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Applicants must possess and maintain an active U.S. Government TS security clearance.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or a related RF Engineering discipline, A minimum of 15 years of related experience with a bachelor’s degree, 12 years with a master’s degree
• Extensive radar systems engineering experience, with emphasis on both modernization and sustaining engineering
• Strong technical understanding of radar principles, system architecture, RF systems, and performance metrics
• Demonstrated experience supporting Government Program Offices or Systems Program Offices (SPOs) in an A&AS capacity
• Experience managing engineering change processes, resolving system issues, and guiding lifecycle sustainment activities
• Familiarity with DoD acquisition lifecycle, T&E, logistics, and configuration management
• Proficiency in MATLAB for radar data analysis, performance modeling, and visualization
• Working knowledge of Windows, Linux, and AIX operating systems
• Excellent communication skills for producing briefings, technical reports, and recommendations for both technical and non-technical audiences

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience with radar hardware design, digital signal processing, RF/Microwave subsystems, and antenna systems
• Understanding of electromagnetic theory, communications systems, and signal processing algorithms
• Experience with AI/ML integration for system health monitoring, diagnostics, or predictive maintenance
• Familiarity with USAF acquisition documentation (SEP, LCSP, PESHE, O