Senior Systems Engineer ESM / ELS

The role

You will lead the technical definition, design, and integration of an airborne Emitter Location System. The role focuses on the complete direction-finding chain including antenna-array architecture, signal processing, and system-level co-design.

What you will do

• Define the architecture and system-level requirements of an airborne Emitter Location System.
• Translate operational emitter-detection and geolocation needs into technical requirements.
• Develop and assess antenna-array concepts for airborne direction finding.
• Define antenna element number, type, geometry, orientation, and placement on the aircraft.
• Analyse array performance across the required frequency range.
• Develop calibration concepts for antenna, RF-channel, and installation-related errors.
• Define requirements for coherent multichannel RF reception and synchronization.
• Develop and evaluate algorithms for direction finding and beamforming.
• Develop emitter geolocation methods using Direction-of-Arrival measurements and platform motion.
• Define interfaces between the Emitter Location System and other mission-system components.

Required qualifications

• Degree in electrical engineering, communications engineering, physics, aerospace engineering, mathematics, or a related technical discipline.
• Several years of professional experience in one or more of: Direction finding, Emitter location, Radar Warning Receivers, Electronic Support Measures, Radar signal processing, Phased arrays or antenna
• Strong understanding of antenna-array theory, array manifolds, phase differences, amplitude patterns, beamforming, grating lobes, and angular ambiguity.
• Strong understanding of Direction-of-Arrival estimation algorithms and their practical limitations.
• Understanding of radar and Electronic Support signal characteristics.
• Experience with Radar Warning Receiver or ESM architectures.
• Understanding of the trade-offs between RWR warning performance and precision emitter-location performance.
• Familiarity with geolocation, state estimation, sensor fusion, and navigation-error propagation.
• Experience defining requirements and interfaces for complex airborne mission systems.
• Strong analytical, communication, and technical-documentation skills.
• Ability to work across antenna, RF, signal-processing, software, navigation, and aircraft-integration disciplines.

Nice to have

• Experience with airborne antenna placement and platform-installation effects
• Familiarity with high-resolution subspace methods such as MUSIC or ESPRIT
• Experience with electromagnetic simulation tools such as CST, HFSS, FEKO, or comparable tools
• Experience with real-time embedded signal-processing systems, FPGA-based processing, or heterogeneous compute platforms

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• VSOP options
• Relocation support: up to €2,500 and 4 weeks temporary accommodation
• Learning: €500/£450 yearly allowance
• Gym membership
• Mental health support (Nilo.health)
• Regular company events
• Monthly social allowances
• Enhanced parental leave: 22 weeks fully paid for primary caregivers & 6 weeks for secondary caregivers
• 5 days of paid family emergency leave
• 100% remote work option during pregnancy and phased return to work
• Hands-on onboarding program

About the company

Helsing is a defence AI company. Their mission is to protect democracies through technological leadership.