FAST Labs - RF/EW Chief Scientist I (Hybrid)

Job Description Looking to make a difference developing disruptive technologies? BAE Systems FAST Labs™ leads the way with opportunities for tackling the Defense and Intelligence Communities’ hardest problems with innovative software and hardware solutions. FAST Labs, the research arm of BAE Systems’ Electronic Systems, is seeking a Chief Scientist to join a dynamic team driving new research and development in advanced Electronic Warfare (EW), Cyber Operation systems, and associated signal processing in software-defined, hardware-enabled architectures. This role will support our RF Exploitation Architectures (REXAS) and Converged Solutions (CS) technical areas within the RF/Cyber: Attack, Defend, Support (R3) Product Line. The Chief Scientist works in a team of other scientists, engineers, and business development leads to coordinate proposal and research and development activities within CS and REXAS, across other FAST Labs product lines, and BAE Systems business areas. As a Chief Scientist you will be expected to work across the organization leveraging your deep technical expertise and extensive professional network to create advanced technology solutions, develop new business opportunities, and support technology transition to the war fighter.

A Chief Scientist supporting the CS and REXAS areas is expected to bring a significant research background in several relevant topic areas such as electronic warfare and countermeasures, radar, advanced sensor development, communications, or space systems including small sat payloads. The candidate is expected to have a strong RF and RF systems background as well as experience with rapid prototyping of payload/sensor hardware, firmware, and software. Candidates are desired to come with demonstrated capabilities in areas that could include: radar signal processing, EW technique development, advanced comms/radar systems and waveforms, AI/ML, autonomy, exquisite algorithm development, modeling & simulation, etc. They also have demonstrated experience working with S&T customers to build up R&D programs that align with broader technical capabilities and thrusts, and the future needs of advanced RF and EW systems.

BAE Systems’ Chief Scientists are world-class experts whose technical expertise is sought out by our customers and collaborators. A Chief Scientist in this role will work with other chief scientists to develop strategic technical plans and guide transition of disruptive technologies into BAE System’s Business Areas’ products and services. They provide technical leadership of research and development projects by defining, capturing, and executing contract 6.1, 6.2, and 6.3 research and development programs that provide novel, state-of-the-art algorithms, hardware, and advanced scientific solutions to complex technical problems that span multiple technical fields. The role of the Chief Scientist is dynamic, multifaceted, and tailorable but includes expectations including:

• Own a technical portion of a FAST Labs product line strategic technical plan
• Execute on one or more programs as the project Principal Investigator
• Be well-known in their technical community and actively engaged with the customer and research community outside of BAE Systems
• Use their position, reputation, and technical expertise to create, shape, and lead research programs that advance technology for purposes of providing discriminating capabilities for BAE Systems.
• Have significant, quantitative new business capture objectives, combining new business pursuits and the capture of follow-up work to the technical efforts they lead
• Have significant customer interaction, initiating customer contact to create new business opportunities and developing customer relationships through successful program execution
• Be collaborative and entrepreneurial in the creation, shaping, capture, and promotion of CRAD for groundbreaking technologies for current and future BAE Systems products.
• Provide technical reviews and strategic guidance to programs and to portfolios of programs to align technology development, internal investments, and intellectual property capture to business needs
• Collaborate effectively with other chief scientists and mentor junior scientists to support their efforts

The ideal candidate has a senior level research position in industry, academia, or the US Government, with a network of colleagues in the science, technology, and customer communities. This network spans across the DoD, IC, and academia and includes interactions at operational, strategic, and policy levels. Intimate knowledge of DoD and IC missions and their objectives is an essential dimension for this position.

This position will be located in Arlington, VA though it will require collaboration with staff across our business areas and facilities across the US, especially southern New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Because this role involves a combination of collaborative/in-person and independent work, it will take the form of a hybrid work format, with time split between working onsite and remotely.
Required Education, Experience, & Skills

• Bachelor’s Degree with 12+ years of multi-disciplinary professional research experience
• Active Top Secret clearance with ability to obtain SCI accesses

Preferred Education, Experience, & Skills

• Master’s Degree with 10+ years or Doctorate with 8+ years of multi-disciplinary professional research experience
• Active TS/SCI DoD clearance
• Deep technical knowledge in at least one relevant technology area and broad understanding of the RF and EW challenges facing the DoD and IC
• Proficient algorithmic development skills with extensive experience with coding in C++ and MATLAB
• Demonstrated leadership skills as Principal Investigator for RF or EW research and development programs
• Knowledge of various blue/gray and red threat systems and associated platforms
• Significant proposal writing and R&D business capture experience
• Strong technical written and verbal presentation skills
• Demonstrated ability to develop and shape technical strategy and roadmaps for a research group
• Extensive professional network across academia, vendors, DoD, and IC communities
• Proven ability to build strategic partnerships with government agencies, external companies, and other BAE Systems groups and business areas
• Strong communication and collaboration skills
• Ability and desire to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment
• Desire and proven capability to mentor junior scientist

Pay Information
Full-Time Salary Range: $169782 - $297118

Please note: This range is based on our market pay structures. However, individual salaries are determined by a variety of factors including, but not limited to: business considerations, local market conditions, and internal equity, as well as candidate qualifications, such as skills, education, and experience.

Employee Benefits: At BAE Systems, we support our employees in all aspects of their life, including their health and financial well-being. Regular employees scheduled to work 20+ hours per week are offered: health, dental, and vision insurance; health savings accounts; a 401(k) savings plan; disability coverage; and life and accident insurance. We also have an employee assistance program, a legal plan, and other perks including discounts on things like home, auto, and pet insurance. Our leave programs include paid time off, paid holidays, as well as other types of leave, including paid parental, military, bereavement, and any applicable federal and state sick leave. Employees may participate in the company recognition program to receive monetary or non-monetary recognition awards. Other incentives may be available based on position level and/or job specifics.
About BAE Systems Electronic Systems BAE Systems, Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of BAE Systems plc, an international defense, aerospace and security company which delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. Improving the future and protecting lives is an ambitious mission, but it’s what we do at BAE Systems. Working here means using your passion and ingenuity where it counts – defending national security with breakthrough technology, superior products, and intelligence solutions. As you develop the latest technology and defend national security, you will continually hone your skills on a team—making a big impact on a global scale. At BAE Systems, you’ll find a rewarding career that truly makes a difference. Electronic Systems (ES) is the global innovator behind BAE Systems’ game-changing defense and commercial electronics. Exploiting every electron, we push the limits of what is possible, giving our customers the edge and our employees opportunities to change the world. Our products and capabilities can be found everywhere – from the depths of the ocean to the far reaches of space. At our core are more than 14,000 highly talented Electronic Systems employees with the brightest minds in the industry, we make an impact – for our customers and the communities we serve.