Research Engineer Senior Principal - RF (Part-Time)

Job Description
BAE Systems Aerospace & Mission Systems (AMS) is seeking a highly experienced RF engineer, ideally an academic researcher or professor, to support the technical growth and long-term development of our expanding engineering team. This part-time expert will play a critical role in mentoring junior engineers, developing and delivering targeted RF educational content, and contributing to advanced antenna and electromagnetic concept development supporting BAE Systems AMS.
With a rapidly growing staff and limited senior engineering bandwidth, this role will serve as a dedicated technical mentor and subject-matter expert, helping ensure our engineers gain robust foundations in electromagnetics, RF design, microwave systems, metamaterials, and related technologies critical to BAE Systems AMS programs.
This position is designed to elevate the technical strength of BAE Systems AMS engineering workforce through hands-on mentorship and infusion of cutting-edge RF/electromagnetics expertise. By supporting both staff development and novel concept exploration, this role helps accelerate design cycles, improve technical rigor, and support innovation at AMS.
The Engineering, Science and Analysis (ESA) Strategic Capabilities Unit comprises the technical talent and organizational leadership that enables the successful delivery of high-impact discriminating technologies for our customers' missions. Our collaborative, cross-functional teams are committed to innovation, integrity, continual learning and solid execution.
What You'll Do:

• Technical Mentorship & Staff Development:
  • Provide structured and ad hoc mentorship to junior and mid- level engineers across electromagnetics, RF engineering, microwave design, and antenna theory.
  • Develop and deliver training modules, short courses, or workshops rooted in modern EM analysis techniques.
  • Guide engineers through complex design and analysis challenges, helping them adopt methods appropriate to BAE Systems customer needs.
  • Support establishment of internal best practices and knowledge sharing frameworks.
• Research & Novel Concept Development:
  • Contribute to ideation, analysis, and modeling of novel RF and antenna concepts relevant to next generation sensing, meta surfaces, and nonlinear or space time modulated electromagnetic structures.
  • Collaborate with BAE Systems senior engineers to advance research threads aligned with SMS technology roadmaps.
  • Advise on advanced EM structures, reconfigurable surfaces, and high dimensional EM optimization approaches.
• Technical Consultation:
  • Provide expert insight into challenging EM problems, offering rigorous approaches grounded in modern analysis and computational EM techniques.
  • Review and advise on electromagnetic modeling, antenna concepts, radar signal propagation, nonlinear transmission lines, or other relevant technologies.
• Maintain a regular and predictable work schedule.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships within the department, the Strategic Business Units, Strategic Capabilities Units and the Company. Interact appropriately with others in order to maintain a positive and productive work environment.
• Perform other duties as necessary.

On-Site Work Environment: This position requires regular in-person engagement by working on-site three or more days each normally scheduled week in the primary work location. Travel and local commute between company campuses and other possible non-company locations may be required.
Working Conditions:

• Work is performed in an office, laboratory, production floor, or cleanroom, outdoors or remote research environment.
• May occasionally work in production work centers where use of protective equipment and gear is required.
• May access other facilities in various weather conditions.

Expected Time Commitment: This is a part-time role with flexible scheduling, expected to align with academic calendars if the candidate is a current faculty member. Typical availability patterns may include:

• Summer (May-August): ~8 hours/week.
• Academic Year (September-April): 1-2 hours/week baseline, with weekly variation up to 4-8 hours depending on teaching load and project needs. Exact commitment will be tailored to the candidate's availability and BAE Systems project schedules.

Required Education, Experience, & Skills

• BS degree or higher in Engineering or a related technical field is required plus 8 or more years related experience.
• Each higher-level degree, i.e., Master's Degree or Ph.D., may substitute for two years of experience. Related technical experience may be considered in lieu of education. Degree must be from a university, college, or school which is accredited by an agency recognized by the US Secretary of Education, US Department of Education.
• Demonstrated expertise in space-time modulated structures, advanced EM analysis, periodic structures, or nonlinear RF systems.
• Excellent record of teaching or mentorship, ideally at the university level, with experience delivering advanced EM coursework (fields/waves, metamaterials, computational EM, microwave measurements, etc.).
• Proven ability to guide teams in solving high-complexity EM challenges.

#LI- MF1
A security clearance or access with Polygraph is not required to be eligible for this position. However, the applicant must be willing and eligible for submission, depending on program requirements, after an offer is accepted and must be able to maintain the applicable clearance/access.
Preferred Education, Experience, & Skills

• Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering or closely related field with emphasis in electromagnetics, RF engineering, microwave systems, or metamaterials.
• Experience working with or advising industry partners on complex EM or RF product development.
• Background in antenna design, meta surface synthesis, radar-related EM analysis, or remote sensing.
• Recognized contributions to the EM research community (awards, publications, funded programs).

Pay Information
Full-Time Salary Range: $132962 - $226035
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, Inc.
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.
Headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, Space & Mission Systems is a leading provider of national defense and civil space applications, advanced remote sensing, scientific and tactical systems for government and commercial customers. We continually pioneer ways to innovate spacecraft, mission payloads, optical systems, and other defense and civil capabilities. Powered by endlessly curious people with an unwavering mission focus, we continually discover ways to enable our customers to perform beyond expectation and protect what matters most.
This position will be posted for at least 5 calendar days. The posting will remain active until the position is filled, or a qualified pool of candidates is identified.
Multiple positions may be available on this opening.