C4ISR Advanced RF (ARF) Chief Engineer

Job Description Within the Electronic Systems sector of BAE Systems, Inc., the Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) business area develops the critical systems that sense, control, exploit, and disseminate actionable information to the warfighter.

The Advanced RF (ARF) product line is seeking an experienced and energetic Chief Engineer (CE) to support the product area. The portfolio is diverse spanning a highly diverse portfolio of commercial and defense products – from open-architecture hardware and software and emerging RF technologies to signals intelligence, signal exploitation, and weapon data link capabilities. A key element of this role is maturing and transitioning capabilities from Fast Labs and other advanced development organizations through integration, demonstration, testing, certification, production, and ultimately fielded systems.

Responsibilities Include:
- Strategic Technical Leadership: Serve as the primary technical advocate across a diverse portfolio; translate complex customer mission needs into scalable solutions that drive strategic business growth.
- Architecture & Optimization: Lead system architecture design and optimization, overseeing trades and analyses to ensure technical rigor, interoperability, and maximum mission effectiveness.
- Technical Execution: Guarantee that system design and implementation align with technical requirements and customer needs while remaining within allocated engineering cost and schedule constraints.
- Executive Interface: Act as the primary technical liaison to the Customer, PMO, and executive leadership, converting emerging threats and evolving requirements into actionable technical strategies and product roadmaps.
- Technical Leverage & Reuse: Drive the adoption of common architectures and shared processing capabilities to maximize reuse across products, improving overall affordability and execution speed.
- Operational Excellence: Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on engineering process maturity, design standardization, and cross-product collaboration to accelerate the transition from development to production.
- Mentoring & Talent Development: Partner with functional disciplines to mentor IV&V engineers, Software Architects, and Hardware SEMs, strengthening the technical pipeline and expanding organizational capability.
Required Education, Experience, & Skills
- Active Secret DoD clearance with the ability to obtain Top Secret and SAP/SAR.
- Demonstrated experience taking emerging or advanced technologies from early maturation through integration, demonstration, qualification, operational testing, and production.
- Proven technical leadership experience managing a significant-size team (Chief Engineer, Project Engineering Manager, or equivalent).
- Demonstrated ability to apply performance models to evaluate system performance and guide design decisions.
Preferred Education, Experience, & Skills
- Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) experience with tools such as MagicDraw.
- Experience leveraging signal-processing capabilities and integrating software within established frameworks.

Pay Information
Full-Time Salary Range: $153377 - $260743

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 a defense, aerospace, and security company headquartered in Falls Church, Virginia, with more than 40,000 employees worldwide. We serve, supply, and protect those who protect us. As one of the most geographically diverse international defense companies, we deliver a full range of products and services spanning air, land, maritime, space, and cyber, including advanced electronics, intelligence solutions, and dedicated customer support.

Our culture is performance-driven and values-led, built on curiosity, creativity, and collaboration. Purpose isn't a tagline here. It's what drives us. We're developing breakthrough technologies that defend national security and make a lasting impact on our communities and our planet. When you join BAE Systems, you're not just building a career. You're contributing to a mission that truly matters.

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.