Radar Systems Engineer - Severe Weather Research

Overview

PodRad is a new breed of radar — low-power, low-cost, vertically pointing FM-CW systems designed to capture first-of-their-kind measurements of vertical velocities inside tornadoes, supercells, and other hazardous storms. As FWI's PodRad Developer supporting NSSL, you'll provide the hardware and software expertise that gets these systems from the workbench to the field: assembling radar sub-systems, calibrating RF equipment, writing and modifying MATLAB/Python code to produce standard radar products, and refining the design based on real-world field testing. If you like radar fundamentals, hands-on hardware work, and seeing your code turn raw signal into a Doppler velocity spectrum, this role was built for you.

Work Schedule and Location:

Hybrid: This full-time hybrid position will work Monday through Friday, 8 AM CST to 5 PM CST, with 90% at National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL), National Weather Center, Norman, Oklahoma, or designated field deployment locations.

FWI is expanding rapidly and has been recognized as a 2024, 2025 and 2026 Top Workplace, offering excellent growth opportunities in a collaborative environment.

Responsibilities

• Hardware Assembly & Integration: Assemble radar sub-systems and components, cabling, and structural housing
• Calibration & Testing: Perform standardized test procedures on RF equipment to verify equipment performance baselines
• Refinement: Use experimental results in collaboration with NSSL scientists to refine the design
• Software Development: Modify existing MATLAB or Python-based code, or write new code, to produce standard radar products (e.g., Doppler velocity spectra plots)
• Product generation: Develop basic quality control methods for collected data, and investigate incorporation of additional radar products in collaboration with NSSL scientists to support data workflow and analysis
• Optimization and Field Testing: Perform field testing to evaluate equipment performance in real-world conditions and implement design improvements based on feedback from testing
• Validation: Collaborate with NSSL scientists, engineers, and external partners to validate against other operational and/or experimental observations. Assist NSSL staff in deploying other research systems, as appropriate.
• Documentation: Update technical schematics, maintain troubleshooting and testing logs, maintain code repositories, and draft test reports for work conducted
• Reporting: Prepare quarterly reports of status
• Dissimination: Write a brief report following AMS guidelines and prepare a conference-style presentation; present to project stakeholders and at a national or international conference if possible

Qualifications

Required:

• BA/BS in Electrical or Computer Engineering, or a related field
• 6+ years of full-time engineering experience

Desired:

• Demonstrated experience in electromechanical assembly and RF hardware testing
• Familiarity with lab test equipment (multi-meter, oscilloscope, spectrum analyzer, network analyzer)
• Must be able to kneel, bend, and lift of up to 60 lbs
• Proficiency with MATLAB, Python, and/or C++
• Strong analytical skills to evaluate test results and apply them through hardware and software improvements
• Familiarity or proficiency with FM-CW radar concepts strongly preferred

Work Setting and Environment:

• Primary location: National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL), National Weather Center, Norman, Oklahoma, or designated field deployment locations
• Normal work hours are Monday through Friday, 8 hours per day / 40 hours per week, excluding federal holidays; field data-collection activities may require irregular hours during active severe weather events
• Remote work arrangements must be reviewed and approved in advance by the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR); on-site presence may be required based on mission, field operations, collaboration, or security needs
• Local and non-local travel may be required, not anticipated to exceed 5% annually; all unplanned travel must be approved in writing by the COR at least 10 calendar days in advance
• Must complete an online IT security awareness course within one week of starting work
• Foreign national candidates are subject to export control review and require CO/COR approval prior to consideration
• Government-furnished equipment provided, including access to HPC resources, specialized mobile observation platforms, laboratory test equipment, computers, and office workspace, as applicable

FWI is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/vets.

Why Join Our Team

At FWI, we place the highest importance on creating an exceptional employee experience. You'll have opportunities to achieve your career aspirations through internal promotions, professional development, and other recognition and rewards programs. Join our team and take advantage of the many benefits we offer, including:

• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Long-term and Short-term Disability Insurance
• Life Insurance
• 401(k) Plan
• Holiday Pay
• Paid Time Off

Pay Range

$70,000.00 to $74,000.00 depending on experience, education, and clearance level.