Radome Testing Lead

Company: General Dynamics Mission Systems, Inc
Location: Marion
Posted on: November 24, 2022

Job Description:

Basic Qualifications :Requires a Bachelor's degree in Engineering, or a related Science or Mathematics field. Also requires 5+ years of job-related experience, or a Master's degree plus 3 years of job-related experience.CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTS: Department of Defense Secret security clearance is required at time of hire. Applicants selected will be subject to a U.S. Government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information. Due to the nature of work performed within our facilities, U.S. citizenship is required.Responsibilities for this Position:REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES AND TASKS:Workflow:Assign test execution to range personnel.Monitor / track personnel performance.Monitor / track operational status of all production test ranges.Monitor / track status of all units in-flow (by s/n).Disseminate production part and test range status information on a regular basis, and as driven by events.Customer Interface.Support customer communications and bring in engineering and program management to address testing issues arising on programs.Support action planning to trouble-shoot and correct issues arising during production testing.Support Test System Maintenance:Assign technicians to troubleshoot problems as they occur.Participate in trouble shooting when necessary.Maintain summary configuration information for all production test systems (basic system diagram, key equipment list, etc.).Monitor / track calibration status for all test instrumentation relevant to production testing.Monitor / track FCC licensing status for all outdoor test ranges.Create documentation as needed to support FCC licensing.Forecast / report developing near-term and long-term maintenance and performance issues.Support Test System Development, Including Upgrades to Existing Ranges and Creation of New Test Ranges:Work with engineering team to develop and evaluate candidate test system configurations.Research/identify candidate equipment and components/suppliers relevant to candidate test system configurations.Plan / support planning for test and evaluation of candidate test system configurations.Create and/or support creation of test procedures for production testing and test range validation.Train technicians on the use of new test systems.Train new-hire technicians on the use of existing test systems.Production Test Evaluation:Perform evaluation of test data and create test reports on specific production programs that are not covered by production personnel.Maintain a list of key test parameters that have been identified as drivers for each production program (e.g., image lobe level on program "X").Monitor / track the key test parameters and identify trends to support prevention and diagnosis of production issues.KNOLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:Electromagnetics - Familiarity and/or Ability to Develop Capability in the Following:Maxwell's equationsFrequency-domain vs. time-domain description of field quantities; Fourier analysisBasic concepts and applications - polarization, duality, source representation, etc.Reflection and transmission at a material interface (e.g., metal, radome wall, absorber)Antennas and Propagation:Antenna types and principles of operation, slot, patch, waveguide, reflector (dish), MSA, ESA, AESAPropagation - plane waves, spherical waves, attenuation, ground bounce and other reflectionsNearfield vs. farfield - parallax, reactive coupling, phase front curvatureRadar:RCS - radar basic concepts; radar range equation and spectrum of interestRCS reduction conceptsPerformance parameters and how they are affected by the radome - transmission, beam deflection, image lobes, etc.Radar antenna types - sequential lobing, monopulseCommunication Systems:Types of communication systemsPerformance parameters and how they are affected by the radome - transmission, induced cross-pol, beam deflection, dispersion, etc.Radomes:Fundamental principles of operationDesign types - solid wall, sandwich: A, B, C, etc.Materials and their electrical characteristicsPerformance parameters - transmission, reflection, beam deflection, cross-pol, dispersion, etc.Lightning effects and protection techniques and their impact on radome performanceRadome Test Systems:Basic test methodologies and test range configurations - compact range, nearfield range, farfield rangeIndoor vs. outdoor ranges - pros and cons of eachOther RF test systems - XY nearfield scan, imaging radar, etc.Primary failure mechanisms in radome test systems; how to diagnose themRF Components and Instrumentation:Cables and connectors - types of coax/connector combinations, frequency limitationsWaveguide - rectangular, circular, standard sizes, frequency limitations, etc.Passive microwave circuit components - attenuator, phase shifter, combiners, 90-deg hybrid, 180-deg hybrid, magic T, etc.Antennas - small probes, reflectors, ESA, slot, patch, etc.Mechanical and Logistical Aspects of Radome Test Systems and Test Process:Test fixture typesAntenna gimbalsNull seekersElementary servo and control theoryAnechoic chamber designRadome handlingData storageSecurity complianceTechnical Communication:Clear and concise writing skillsPractical skill levels in "Office" tools - "Word", "Excel", "PowerPoSalary Note: This estimate represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors (geographic location, etc.). Actual pay may vary. Combined Salary Range: USD $100,900.00 - USD $111,900.00 /Yr. Company Overview:General Dynamics Mission Systems (GDMS) engineers a diverse portfolio of high technology solutions, products and services that enable customers to successfully execute missions across all domains of operation. With a global team of 12,000+ top professionals, we partner with the best in industry to expand the bounds of innovation in the defense and scientific arenas. Given the nature of our work and who we are, we value trust, honesty, alignment and transparency. We offer highly competitive benefits and pride ourselves in being a great place to work with a shared sense of purpose. You will also enjoy a flexible work environment where contributions are recognized and rewarded. If who we are and what we do resonates with you, we invite you to join our high performance team!General Dynamics is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer that is committed to hiring a diverse and talented workforce. EOE/Disability/Veteran

Keywords: General Dynamics Mission Systems, Inc, Winston-Salem , Radome Testing Lead, Other , Marion, North Carolina