Position Introduction:

The Advanced Radar Research Center (ARRC) is seeking a motivated Mixed-Signal Hardware Engineer to join our growing engineering team. ARRC Hardware Engineers support the design, development, integration, testing, and deployment of advanced radar systems. Working across the hardware lifecycle, you will contribute to circuit design, system integration, laboratory troubleshooting, and validation while learning from senior technical leaders to develop next-generation radar technologies. ARRC teammates work within multidisciplinary teams of hardware, software, signal processing, and systems engineers to develop innovative radar solutions for research and operational applications. This role offers an exceptional opportunity to gain hands-on engineering experience across all phases of development.

Note: This position is primarily on-site due to the heavy emphasis on laboratory integration and hardware testing.

Position Focus

The Hardware Engineer supports the design, development, integration, and testing of advanced radar systems and associated sensing technologies. In this role, you will assist with the development of mixed-signal hardware solutions spanning RF front-ends through digitized baseband processing systems. The successful candidate will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, evaluate hardware performance in a lab setting, and assist with field deployments in operational environments.

This role offers an excellent entry-point to work on cutting-edge radar technologies, learn complex system architectures, and see your designs progress from schematic capture through lab implementation and field validation.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist with Design: Support the analysis, design, development, and integration of advanced radar systems and mixed-signal subsystems.
• Circuit & PCB Support: Perform schematic capture, assist with PCB layout reviews, and participate in board bring-up under the guidance of senior engineers.
• Simulation & Analysis: Conduct basic mixed-signal circuit simulations, analysis, and component-level evaluations to verify radar performance requirements.
• Hardware Verification: Execute established hardware verification, validation, and acceptance test plans, procedures, and test scenarios.
• Lab Troubleshooting: Participate in real-time system integration, debugging, and performance characterization in laboratory environments using standard test equipment.
• System Integration: Assist in integrating hardware components with firmware, software, and signal processing elements into operational radar platforms.
• Documentation: Document hardware test results, interface specifications, implementation steps, and technical designs for radar systems.
• Collaboration & Learning: Actively participate in design reviews, prepare basic technical summaries for project stakeholders, and absorb mentorship from senior engineering staff.
• Field Support: Assist with field testing, data collection, system deployment, and operational troubleshooting as needed.

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Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree.
• 36 months of analog and digital design experience.

Equivalency/Substitution:  Will accept 48 months of related experience in lieu of the Bachelor's degree for a total of 84 months' related experience.

Department Preferences:

• Clearance Eligibility: Ability to obtain and maintain a federal security clearance (Employment is contingent upon successful completion of the applicable background investigation).
• Experience Level: 1 to 3 years of hands-on experience in electrical engineering, mixed-signal hardware, or an equivalent combination of academic project work and internships.
• Academic/Project Exposure: Foundational knowledge of radar, RF, microwave, or remote sensing concepts.
• Mixed-Signal Familiarity: Basic understanding of mixed-signal circuit workflows including analog, digital, or RF subsystems.
• CAD Tools: Familiarity with PCB design tools (e.g., Altium, Allegro, KiCad) and general hardware development workflows.
• Lab Skills: Hands-on experience using basic laboratory test equipment such as oscilloscopes, digital multimeters, spectrum analyzers, or signal generators.
• Interfaces & Embedded Systems: Introductory exposure to data acquisition systems, high-speed digital interfaces, microcontrollers, or FPGA-based hardware architectures.
• Team Oriented: Strong desire to learn, collaborate across disciplines, and translate academic engineering principles into practical hardware solutions.