Radar System Architect

About the Role
We've already proven the concept of a counter-UAV radar sensor with a first-generation prototype. This role owns the redesign that carries those lessons into a production-grade sensor, architected from requirements up, with the systems planning to do it right. You'll also own the system architecture, from the waveform, detection strategy to the system-level requirements and budgets that define it. You'll drive the RF chain and transceiver architecture hand-in-hand with the antenna engineer, converging on what's actually feasible to build while setting the DSP chain direction. Your success is our success - make your mark with Valkyrie Dynamics.

What You’ll Do
Own the radar waveform and detection strategyChirp/FMCW design
Range-Doppler processing detection budgets (SNR, integration, CFAR)
Angle estimation to detect small, low-RCS UAV targets at high closing velocity

Define and maintain the system-level requirements and budgetsDetection range, range/Doppler/angular resolution, update rate, power, thermal, and size
Write verifiable requirements so that meeting them validates the sensor

Evaluate approaches across the integration spectrum, cascaded transceiver ICs, an integrated system-on-module, or a discrete RF front-endCollaborate with the antenna engineer on a viable solution for channel count, LO/clock distribution, and phase-coherence strategy across the array

Own and control the interfaces between subsystemsEnsure end-to-end signal chain from antenna to detection output holds together as one coherent system including:Timing and synchronization (frame/trigger)
Transceiver-to-compute data path (sample rates, formats, latency/throughput)
RF/antenna boundary

Own and continuously evolve the system model — effectively a digital twin of the sensor. During the evolution:Maintain ICDs
Meet and manage performance metrics
Grow model fidelity over time, introducing the non-idealities and non-linearities that matter as complexity increases (phase noise, PA compression, quantization, channel mismatch, mutual coupling), and trace observed behavior back to the origin.

Collaborate with the DSP engineer on the waveform and detection designYou lead the strategy, they own the implementation and pressure-test it for compute load, memory, and timeline — until the architecture is both performant and buildable

Converge the open architecture questions to decisions on a scheduleCommitting with the evidence available, revisiting only when new data (a budget, a measurement) actually changes the answer

Required Qualifications
Radar systems you’ve architected and shipped end-to-end — from waveform and detection through the RF chain
Strong grounding in radar detection theoryFMCW/chirp waveforms, range-Doppler processing, CFAR and SNR/integration, and angle estimation
Target-tracking fluency to set the requirements (update rate, track accuracy)

Hands-on MATLAB for system-level radar modeling (Radar Toolbox) — you’ve built and evolved system models, not just read their output
Track record personally owning and closing the quantitative budgets Link and detection budgets above all — and holding the design to them

RF chain architecture experience with multi-channel/MIMO transceivers and the coherence challenges of scaling channel count, from LO/clock distribution to phase alignment across the array
Able to work independently on a contract basis
Must pass company security procedures
Must communicate effectively in English
Preferred / Bonus
Counter-UAV or defense radar experience specifically — small, low-RCS, maneuvering targets in cluttered environments
Hands-on experience with integrated radar transceiver SoCs including integration tradeoffs they bring
MATLAB Simulink
Engagement Details
Type: Contract-to-permanent positionStarts as a contract engagement with an explicit track to a permanent lead role for the right candidate

Rate: [TBD]
Duration: [TBD]
Location: Remote/Hybrid
Hybrid: Must be able to temporary travel to Kyiv for on-site testing is heavily preferred (all expenses paid) — system bring-up and field validation against real targets, correlating measured performance against the model.

NOTE: We are currently in the process of getting authorized to provide reservation from mobilization