Advanced Lead Engineer - RF Microsystems - GE Aerospace Research

Employer description

Job Description SummaryThe Microsystems team at GE Aerospace Research is looking for candidates who are interested in the research and development of RF Microsystems and their integration into aerospace products. As an Advanced Lead Engineer - RF Microsystems you will be working closely with a multidisciplinary team to develop world leading technology for our customers. The primary focus of this position will be the design and testing of RF Microsystem solutions to support harsh environment RF sensing. Other areas include mmWave communications and THz spectroscopy.

Job Description
Roles and Responsibilities

As an Advanced Lead Engineer - RF Microsystems you will:

Work with a multidisciplinary team of Scientists, Engineers, and Technicians pushing the state of the art in Microsystems enabling low Size Weight and Power (SWaP) solutionsCommunicate status updates with key stakeholders within and outside GE Aerospace ResearchDesign and Test RF Microsystems using state of the art simulation software along with wafer level and module level test capabilityCollaborate with industrial, DoD, and academic partners on system level solutionsWork directly with customers to understand their needs and identify future opportunitiesBuild RF Microsystem solutions specific to our customer needs
Required Qualifications

PhD degree in a relevant Engineering discipline with a minimum of 3 years of related experience or MS degree in a relevant Engineering discipline with a minimum of 5 years of related experienceDemonstrated experience designing and testing active and passive RF electronic structures and devicesDemonstrated ability to design, simulate, fabricate, and test RF circuitsDemonstrated experience with RF simulation tools like Ansys HFSS, CST Studio Suite, ADS, Sonnet, and MomentumMust be willing to work out of an office located in Niskayuna, NY.Due to the nature of the duties of this position, this role requires the individual to have the ability to obtain and maintain US Government Security Clearance; prerequisite for a security clearance is U.S. citizenship. 
Desired Characteristics

Expertise in the design and characterization of RF systems utilizing both connectorized and free space interfacesDemonstrated experience evaluating RF sensors for performance versus simulationExposure to precision analog circuits such as amplifiers, ADC/DAC interfaces, or sensor front ends.Exposure to precision analog circuits such as amplifiers, ADC/DAC interfaces, or sensor front ends.Exposure to embedded system design including FGPA, DSP and microcontrollers will be a plus.Demonstrated ability to work as part of an interdisciplinary teamProficiency with statistical tools and statistical analysisExperience using AI tools for productivity enhancementExcellent presentation, speaking, organizational, and problem-solving skills, with attention to detailFamiliarization with RF circuit fabrication and integration techniquesAbility to adapt to change and willingness to be flexible in a global team environment
Ensure the safety of all people engaged in the technical scope of their work - including safety of humans working alongside robotic and autonomous systems - as fundamental to how we operate, above all else.Continuously scan and interpret the external landscape - academia, national labs, startups, competitors, and adjacent industries - and translate that view into a clear point of view on the long-range robotics and autonomy threats and opportunities most consequential to GE Aerospace, including areas well beyond today’s product technology roadmap and in adjacent or emerging markets.Discover, curate, and drive revolutionary technological advancements in robotics, autonomy, and human-machine teaming that translate into high-impact business outcomes for GE Aerospace on a long (typically 10-15+ year, in some cases further) horizon.Shape and own program outcomes: define the technical thesis in terms of the business advantage it creates, retire key technical and adoption risks early, set aggressive but meaningful milestones, and drive operation, quality, and delivery to impact.Drive multi-disciplinary efforts that reach beyond the individual’s own technical area of expertise - actively convening and integrating capabilities from other disciplines across GE Aerospace Research and beyond (for example, materials, manufacturing, aero-thermal, controls, systems, digital and AI, human factors, and others as needed) - recognizing that the highest-impact opportunities are usually cross-cutting rather than contained within a single discipline.Actively identify new opportunity areas where robotics and autonomy can create advantage for GE Aerospace - across manufacturing, maintenance and services, product, and emerging domains - rather than working within a fixed technical scope.Leverage technology strategy - roadmaps, technology scouting, and portfolio choices - as a means to secure competitive advantage and business outcomes, not as an end in itself.Make transparent go / no-go / pivot decisions at stage gates with clear logic and lessons learned; retire work that no longer meets the business-value hypothesis.Shape and steer strategic partnerships with robot platform companies, academia, and national labs so GE Aerospace influences the capabilities being built rather than only consuming what the market offers.Shape and win externally funded programs (DARPA, DoD, NSF, ARM Institute, DoE, industry consortia) that materially advance GE Aerospace business priorities; coach principal investigators on technical framing, program capture, and review defense.Use IRAD as strategic seed capital: place concentrated bets on high-upside concepts, generate early proof points, retire risk, and position GE Aerospace to win larger external programs and business commitments.Build trusted engagement with GE Aerospace product, engineering, manufacturing, MRO, and services leaders to develop a deep understanding of the business - its priorities, constraints, and future needs - and where advanced research could create meaningful advantage. Advanced research is exploratory by nature; much of the value comes from insight, options, and early evidence that shape business strategy - not only from technologies that ultimately reach a product or service.Recruit, mentor, and grow technical talent across the robotics and autonomy community at GE Aerospace Research; nurture Technical Fellows, senior scientists, and early-career researchers into increasingly consequential roles.Represent GE Aerospace externally through keynotes, university engagements, workshops, and strategic partnerships; project the ambition and energy that attracts top talent to the center.Help shape and drive the ARO operating model and lead continuous improvement of how the ARO selects, executes, and transitions advanced research..Required Qualifications

Ph.D. in Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a closely related discipline.Minimum 15 years of progressive research and technical leadership experience across autonomous systems, robotics, machine learning, and / or human-machine teaming, with applied work translating research into demonstrated business or operational impact.Demonstrated record of shaping and owning outcomes on a portfolio of R&D efforts - including framing the business thesis, technical execution, team formation, capital / lab investment planning, and stage-gated decision making.Track record of moving robotics or autonomy technology from research into demonstration or deployment in a real operational setting (manufacturing, MRO, defense operations, or comparable) where it created measurable value.Demonstrated success securing external research funding from public or private sources (NSF, DARPA, DoD, ARM Institute, industry consortia, EU framework programs, or equivalent).Strong technical depth in two or more of: collaborative autonomy and human-robot collaboration, machine learning (including modern deep learning, RL, and LLM-based agents), cognitive and intelligent systems, computer vision and multimodal perception, task and motion planning, or assurance / safety for autonomous systems.Legal authorization to work in the U.S. is required. We will not sponsor individuals for employment visas, now or in the future, for this job opening.Ability to attain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance; must meet U.S. Person status for access to export-controlled information.Must be willing to work out of an office located in Niskayuna, NY.Critical Behavioral Attributes (Non-Negotiable)

These are the attributes we will evaluate as rigorously as technical qualifications. They are what separate a good scientist from a Senior Technical Fellow at GE Aerospace Research.

Ownership. Takes full ownership of outcomes and the steps required to drive them. Does not abdicate responsibility or accept roadblocks; works actively to secure the support needed while keeping the outcome squarely on their shoulders - even through perceived obstacles.Strong communicator. A clear thinker who conveys ideas cleanly, and equally strong at receiving input and making sense of it in context. When something is unclear, they seek clarity with curiosity - not with a predetermined conclusion in mind.Strong collaborator. Actively works across technical domains, business units, and external partners. Creates conditions where teams move faster together than any one contributor could alone.Thrives through ambiguity. Comfortable operating without a fully defined path while keeping the target business outcomes in mind; converts uncertainty into structured hypotheses, decisions, and progress.Grows others in their strengths. Actively identifies talent, coaches individuals into consequential roles, and builds a bench of future technical leaders. Deploys coaching and mentoring deliberately and distinctly: applies structured coaching to build others’ independent problem-solving and decision-making capability and mentoring to transfer hard-won technical and organizational judgment.Willing to grow themselves. Actively curious; models the learning behavior expected and welcomes challenge to their own thinking.Desired Characteristics

Recognized thought leader in robotics, autonomy, or applied AI, with sustained external visibility (invited keynotes, editorial positions, workshop / conference chairing, consortium leadership, or equivalent).Strong publication and patent record in robotics, autonomy, or AI; contributions recognized by peer-reviewed journals and top-tier robotics / AI conferences (ICRA, IROS, HUMANOIDS, NeurIPS, ICML, RSS, or equivalent).Experience leading a research lab or discipline (autonomy, AI, robotics) inside a corporate research center or comparable environment, including staffing, capital investment planning, and roadmap ownership at the corporate level.Experience leading, or serving as PI on, an ARM Institute, NSF I/UCRC, DARPA, or equivalent consortium-style program.Established relationships across the robotics ecosystem: academia, national labs, humanoid and industrial robot platform companies, and startups.Working knowledge of GE Aerospace manufacturing and MRO operations (or comparable high-consequence industrial operations) and the constraints that govern deployment of robotics and autonomy into those environments.Experience placing IRAD-style seed capital and defending stop / pivot / scale decisions on high-visibility programs.
The base pay range for this position is $112,000 - $186,000 USD USD Annually. The specific pay offered may be influenced by a variety of factors, including the candidate’s experience, education, and skill set. This position is also eligible for an annual discretionary bonus based on a percentage of your base salary/ commission based on the plan. This posting is expected to close on December 30th, 2026.

GE Aerospace offers comprehensive benefits and programs to support your health and, along with programs like HealthAhead, your physical, emotional, financial and social wellbeing. Healthcare benefits include medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage; access to a Health Coach from GE Aerospace; and the Employee Assistance Program, which provides 24/7 confidential assessment, counseling and referral services. Retirement benefits include the GE Aerospace Retirement Savings Plan, a 401(k) savings plan with company matching contributions and company retirement contributions, as well as access to Fidelity resources and planning consultants. Other benefits include tuition assistance, adoption assistance, paid parental leave, disability insurance, life insurance, and paid time-off for vacation or illness. ​

GE Aerospace (General Electric Company or the Company) and its affiliates each sponsor certain employee benefit plans or programs (i.e., is a “Sponsor”). Each Sponsor reserves the right to terminate, amend, suspend, replace or modify its benefit plans and programs at any time and for any reason, in its sole discretion. No individual has a vested right to any benefit under a Sponsor’s welfare benefit plan or program. This document does not create a contract of employment with any individual.

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This role requires access to U.S. export-controlled information. Therefore, employment will be contingent upon the ability to prove that you meet the status of a U.S. Person as one of the following: U.S. lawful permanent resident, U.S. Citizen, have been granted asylee or refugee status (i.e., a protected individual under the Immigration and Naturalization Act, 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)).

Additional InformationGE Aerospace offers a great work environment, professional development, challenging careers, and competitive compensation. GE Aerospace is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.

GE Aerospace will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States for this opening. Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen (as applicable). Employees may also be subject to random and reasonable-suspicion drug and alcohol testing.

Relocation Assistance Provided: Yes