Lead Systems Engineer - LO Emission Control & RF Interoperability

Lead Systems Engineer - LO Emission Control & RF Interoperability

Helsing

Munich, Germany

The role

As the Lead Engineer for Low Observability & RF Interoperability, you will spearhead the effort to minimise the system's electromagnetic signature whilst ensuring all RF systems co-exist without degradation. Your core responsibilities involve developing low-signature operational concepts, managing RF deconfliction, and leading system-level integration and verification. This role is pivotal in guaranteeing mission-critical performance and resilience, particularly within contested electronic warfare environments.

The day-to-day

• Design and own emission control (deconfliction and LPD) for overall system (airborne platform and ground components);
• Own day-to-day RF interoperability across airborne payloads (radar/AESA, RWR/ESM, datalinks, SATCOM/LOS radios, GNSS, IFF, telemetry), ensuring co-existence without mutual degradation;
• Plan and execute EMC/EMI co-site assessments: interference mapping, blocker/intermod analysis, desense risk, harmonic/spur management, and mitigation recommendations;
• Define and manage frequency plans, channelization, guard bands, time-sharing concepts, and emission control (EMCON) profiles for mission phases;
• Own LO/signature-aware EW design for active and passive sensors;
• Establish LPI/LPD and signature-aware operation concepts: passive-first tactics, emitter reporting policies, and mission-level sensor management to reduce detectability;
• Drive interface control between sensors and comms;
• Develop integration concepts for antenna placement, isolation, polarization, and cable routing to meet performance while respecting platform constraints;
• Run system-level trade studies;
• Create integration and verification test plans;
• Ensure comms and sensing operate under contested EW conditions: resilience analysis (jamming, spoofing, interference), fallback modes, and graceful degradation behavior;
• Coordinate with LO/structures teams to ensure RF designs support low observability: antenna/aperture treatments, radome effects, edge treatments, cavity resonance controls, and RCS impact trade-offs;
• Assess and reduce unintentional emissions (spurs, leakage, clock radiation) that could compromise LO signatures; drive mitigation via layout, shielding, filtering, and software controls;
• Define requirements for signature-aware operation: LPI/LPD waveform constraints (where applicable), transmit power management, directional comms usage, and mission-dependent RF profiles;
• Perform requirements traceability from platform-level performance goals (range, sensitivity, datalink margin, LO constraints) to subsystem specs and verification evidence;
• Lead cross-functional issue resolution: root-cause RF anomalies, coordinate vendor actions, track corrective actions, and close with verified test results;
• Manage supplier/customer technical exchanges on RF topics: review test reports, negotiate margins, and ensure compliance with platform constraints and standards.

You should apply if you

• Hold a relevant degree in Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related field;
• Have have experience in delivering RF/EMC co-site interoperability on airborne platforms;
• Have hands-on experience with multi-sensor RF integration (AESA radar, ESM/RWR, datalinks/SATCOM/LOS radios, GNSS, IFF);
• Can run interference/desense/intermod analyses and turn results into practical mitigations (filters, blanking, isolation, shielding, power/time management);
• Have built and executed EMC/EMI and OTA test campaigns (lab/chamber/range/flight) and can correlate models to data;
• Understand antenna placement/coupling trade-offs and can drive designs with airframe/structures (routing, grounding, radomes, apertures);
• Have demonstrated low-observability/signature-management mindset: unintended emissions control, EMCON, LPI/LPD concepts;
• Are fluent in requirements → ICDs → verification (traceability, test plans, acceptance criteria) in a regulated aerospace environment;
• Can lead cross-functional technical closure with suppliers: review data, challenge assumptions, drive corrective actions to verified outcomes.