Lead Systems Engineer - Passive RF Sensing
Helsing
Who we are
Helsing is a defence AI company. Our mission is to protect our democracies. We aim to achieve technological leadership, so that open societies can continue to make sovereign decisions and control their ethical standards.
As democracies, we believe we have a special responsibility to be thoughtful about the development and deployment of powerful technologies like AI. We take this responsibility seriously.
We are an ambitious and committed team of engineers, AI specialists and customer-facing programme managers. We are looking for mission-driven people to join our European teams – and apply their skills to solve the most complex and impactful problems. We embrace an open and transparent culture that welcomes healthy debates on the use of technology in defence, its benefits, and its ethical implications.
The role
As the Lead Engineer for Passive RF Sensing, you will own the end-to-end integration and performance of the aircraft's electronic surveillance systems, such as the Radar Warning Receiver (RWR/ESM), from requirements through to flight test. Your primary focus will be on translating mission threats into sensor requirements, defining the antenna architecture for optimal direction-finding, and managing the emitter library data. A critical aspect of your role is leading the co-site coordination to protect the sensitive receivers from onboard transmitters and driving the verification campaign to deliver a fully qualified sensor system.
The day-to-day
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Own day-to-day integration and performance of passive RF sensors (ESM/ELS/RWR functions as applicable) from requirements through flight test.
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Translate mission threat scenarios into sensor requirements.
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Define antenna/array architecture, placement and baseline geometry for DF, and RF distribution.
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Lead DF performance work.
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Specify and validate sensor performance.
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Own library and classification support (as required): emitter parameter sets, mode/PRI/PW/frequency agility handling, confidence metrics, and update process.
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Drive co-site/EMC coordination with onboard transmitters (radar, datalinks, IFF): desense protection, blanking/inhibit timing, filtering/limiting, and test validation.
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Plan and execute verification & test with a special focus on installed senor performance.
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Coordinate with software/avionics teams on data interfaces.
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Manage supplier technical control: review specs, acceptance tests, algorithm releases, and change requests; track issues to closure with objective evidence.
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Define and maintain interfaces/ICDs to avionics and mission systems.
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Produce program artifacts: requirements, verification matrices, test plans, performance reports, and flight readiness inputs.
You should apply if you
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Hold a relevant degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering, or a related field.
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Have experience in working on passive RF sensors (ESM/ELS/RWR) for airborne or similarly complex platforms.
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Understand threat radar phenomenology (PRI/PW/Frequency agility, scanning, modes) and can convert scenarios into measurable sensor requirements.
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Have hands-on experience with DF architectures (phase/amplitude interferometry, correlative DF, multi-channel arrays) and DF error budgeting/calibration.
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Can specify and validate receiver performance (sensitivity/NF, dynamic range, IP3/compression, spurious response) and interpret lab/flight data.
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Have delivered co-site/EMC mitigation on platforms with strong transmitters (radar, datalinks, IFF): desense protection, blanking/inhibit, filtering/limiting.
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Have experience with emitter libraries / classification workflows (parameter sets, confidence scoring, update/version control) or can ramp quickly.
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Can own interfaces/ICDs to mission computer/avionics (timing/time sync, message formats, health/BIT, recorder/telemetry).
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Have led verification & test (stimulus/injection, chamber/range, flight test support) and can drive issues to objective closure with suppliers.
Note: We operate in an industry where women, as well as other minority groups, are systematically under-represented. We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet all the listed qualifications; ability and impact cannot be summarised in a few bullet points.
Join Helsing and work with world-leading experts in their fields
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Helsing’s work is important. You’ll be directly contributing to the protection of democratic countries while balancing both ethical and geopolitical concerns
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The work is unique. We operate in a domain that has highly unusual technical requirements and constraints, and where robustness, safety, and ethical considerations are vital. You will face unique Engineering and AI challenges that make a meaningful impact in the world
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Our work frequently takes us right up to the state of the art in technical innovation, be it reinforcement learning, distributed systems, generative AI, or deployment infrastructure. The defence industry is entering the most exciting phase of the technological development curve. Advances in our field of world are not incremental: Helsing is part of, and often leading, historic leaps forward
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In our domain, success is a matter of order-of-magnitude improvements and novel capabilities. This means we take bets, aim high, and focus on big opportunities. Despite being a relatively young company, Helsing has already been selected for multiple significant government contracts
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We actively encourage healthy, proactive, and diverse debate internally about what we do and how we choose to do it. Teams and individual engineers are trusted (and encouraged) to practise responsible autonomy and critical thinking, and to focus on outcomes, not conformity. At Helsing you will have a say in how we (and you!) work, the opportunity to engage on what does and doesn’t work, and to take ownership of aspects of our culture that you care deeply about
What we offer
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A focus on outcomes, not time-tracking
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Competitive compensation and stock options
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Relocation support
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Social and education allowances
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Regular company events and all-hands to bring together employees as one team across Europe
Helsing is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability or gender identity. Please do not submit personal data revealing racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, trade union membership, data concerning your health, or data concerning your sexual orientation.