Radar Signal Processing Engineer

About the role

HRL Laboratories, an IBM company, pioneers the next frontiers of physical and information science. Delivering transformative technologies in automotive, aerospace and defense, HRL advances the critical missions of its customers to help them remove limitations and create competitive advantage. HRL then transitions the work back to customers - ready for real-world application.

For more than 70 years, HRL’s rich portfolio of scientific discoveries and engineering innovations continues to build on each other - often in unexpected, profound and far-reaching ways. As a private company owned by IBM, HRL prioritizes purpose over profit, significantly advancing the state of the art.

HRL Laboratories develops radiofrequency, millimeter-wave and electro-optical sensors using state-of-the-art materials and device fabrication processes to deliver agile, mission-ready systems. Our high-performance solutions are highly integrated, architecturally low cost, and optimized for size, weight and power efficiency while leveraging commercial, custom and novel mixed-signal innovations.

Essential Duties

HRL Laboratories, LLC is seeking a Senior Radar Systems Engineer who will contribute deep technical expertise to a focused, multidisciplinary team developing next generation synthetic aperture radar systems and processing capabilities. Responsibilities include designing, implementing, and optimizing SAR algorithms spanning data collection, motion compensation, image formation, autofocus, and advanced exploitation techniques.

The engineer will work closely with scientists and system engineers to develop end to end SAR processing architectures, from waveform design and data acquisition to backend processing flows including ADC, DSP, and image formation pipelines. Additional responsibilities include solving customer technical challenges, preparing technical documentation, writing invention disclosures, publishing research, briefing customers, contributing to proposals, and supporting efforts to showcase HRL expertise.

Required Qualifications

• BS, MS, or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Radar Systems Engineering, Applied Physics, or a related field with a focus on signal processing for radar systems.
• 7-10+ years of experience in radar signal processing, SAR imaging, or related fields (operation, testing, and data analysis).
• Strong expertise in SAR systems, SAR signal processing, radar imaging, and SAR processing algorithms.
• Hands-on experience developing SAR waveforms and processing algorithms using C++, MATLAB and Python.
• Experience analyzing radar datasets and validating algorithm performance.
• Familiarity with designing radar imaging system architectures, including requirements flowdown and interface definitions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Deep knowledge of SAR modalities (stripmap, spotlight, scan SAR, GMTI modes), SAR simulators, and radar imaging principles.
• Expertise with radar imaging algorithms including motion compensation, back projection, Doppler Beam Sharpening, autofocus techniques, CFAR detection, angle estimation, and image quality metrics.
• Ability to implement algorithms in MATLAB, Python, or equivalent languages.
• Experience with module/subsystem operation and integration (front-end to back-end) is a plus.
• Familiarity with GPUs, high-performance computing, or FPGAs for accelerating data processing is a plus.
• Knowledge of advanced radar algorithms such as multi-channel processing, interferometric SAR (InSAR), and polarimetric SAR (PolSAR) is beneficial.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to interact professionally with program managers, colleagues, and customers.
• Capable of performing detailed analysis of radar/SAR systems, algorithms, and system performance.
• Ability to prepare and deliver technical presentations and written reports.
• Ability to work both independently and within a team of highly skilled engineers on complex, fast-paced, deadline-driven projects.
• Willingness to travel for testing, customer engagement, and technical reviews.

Special Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required. Must be able to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance

Compensation and Benefits

• Pay Range: $154,500 - $197,900

• Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location (California).
• The range displayed on each job posting reflects the target range for new hire salaries for the position.
• Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.
• Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range during the hiring process.

• Benefits: HRL offers a generous and very competitive total compensation and benefits package. Our Regular/Full Time benefits include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401K match, gym facilities, PTO, Sick time, upward mobility, and an exciting and challenging work environment.

Non-Discrimination and Equal Employment Opportunities (U.S.)

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single desired qualification. At HRL, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.