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Radar Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

... radar approach control (TRACON) facilities, in air route traffic control centers (ARTCC), and ... Fire Protection Engineer Basic Qualifications: * Relevant Bachelors' Degree and 4+ years relevant ...

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Radar Engineer information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$79.3K

$82.9K

$85.5K

How much do radar engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average yearly pay for radar engineer in Chicago, IL is $82,926.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $81,400.00 and $84,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a radar engineer do?

A radar engineer works to design, enhance, or test the accuracy of radar systems. In this career, your duties vary depending on the industry. You may develop radar for weather forecast or tracking purposes, or you could work for the military or a private company in the defense industry. Regardless of your employer, your responsibilities as a radar engineer focus on the technical aspects of a radar system, such as testing of sensor instrument devices or the creation of an algorithm to continuously ensure accuracy and give users control of how they view the system’s data.

What does a radar engineer do?

A Radar Engineer designs, develops, tests, and maintains radar systems used for detecting and tracking objects such as aircraft, ships, or weather formations. They work with both hardware and software components to ensure radar systems function accurately and reliably. Their responsibilities often include signal processing, system integration, and troubleshooting technical issues. Radar Engineers are employed in industries such as defense, aerospace, meteorology, and automotive safety systems.

What are some typical challenges radar engineers face when working on new radar system designs?

Radar Engineers often encounter challenges such as balancing performance requirements with size, weight, and power constraints, especially when designing systems for aerospace or defense applications. Integrating the latest signal processing techniques while ensuring system reliability and meeting strict regulatory standards can also be complex. Additionally, Radar Engineers regularly collaborate with multidisciplinary teams—including software developers, hardware engineers, and project managers—to troubleshoot issues and implement innovative solutions throughout the development cycle.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a radar engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Radar Engineer, you need a solid background in electrical engineering, signal processing, and electromagnetics, usually supported by a relevant engineering degree. Familiarity with simulation software (like MATLAB or CST), hardware testing tools, and industry-specific certifications such as those from IEEE are commonly required. Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving, and effective teamwork distinguish top performers in this role. These skills are crucial for designing, optimizing, and troubleshooting radar systems that meet stringent performance and safety standards.

What is the difference between Radar Engineer vs RF Engineer?

AspectRadar EngineerRF Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or higher in Electrical Engineering, specialized training in radar systemsBachelor's or higher in Electrical or Electronics Engineering, RF design certifications
Work EnvironmentDefense, aerospace, military, or research labsTelecommunications, wireless, consumer electronics industries
Industry UsageDesign and development of radar systems and sensorsDesign and testing of radio frequency components and systems

Radar Engineers focus on designing and developing radar systems used in defense, aerospace, and research. RF Engineers work on radio frequency components for wireless and communication devices. While both roles require knowledge of RF principles, Radar Engineers specialize in radar-specific technologies, whereas RF Engineers have a broader focus on RF systems across various industries.

How much would a radar engineer make?

Radar engineers typically earn a median annual salary of around $100,000 to $130,000, depending on experience, education, and location. Senior roles or those with specialized skills in signal processing or systems integration can earn higher salaries, often exceeding $150,000 annually.

What are the most commonly searched types of Radar Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL?

The most popular types of Radar Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL are:

What are popular job titles related to Radar Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL?

For Radar Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Radar Engineer job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 91% Full Time, 5% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 6% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $82,926 per year, or $39.9 per hour.

$133K - $170K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 28 days ago


Job description

Thales Defense & Security, Inc. (TDSI) Headquartered in Clarksburg, MD, is a U.S. company that has been serving domestic and international defense Air, Land and Sea domains for 60+ years. With over 1000 employees, TDSI and its four subsidiaries (Advanced Acoustic Concepts, Digital Receiver Technologies, Tampa Microwave, and Trusted Cyber Technologies), supports U.S. Joint Services, special operations forces and multi-national partners with a variety of communication, visualization, signal intelligence/electronic warfare, and sensor/sonar capabilities. TDSI's key technologies include tactical handheld radios, expeditionary satellite terminals, helmet-mounted displays, optics and target recognition capability, advanced radars, undersea sensing and missile systems. Lives depend on what we do!

Top Benefits (Subject to terms of applicable policies/plans)

  • Competitive Salary
  • Yearly Incentive Compensation Plan
  • Medical insurance for self and eligible family members
  • Generous 401(k) program- up to 7% company contribution and 100% immediate vesting
  • Tuition Reimbursement
  • Paid wellness, vacation, and holiday leave
  • Paid maternity, paternity, and parental leave
  • 9/80 Work Schedule (every other Friday off)
  • Hybrid Working Environment

We currently have an opening in our Aurora, IL office for a Principal Systems Engineer. This position reports to the Mechanical/ Systems Engineering Manager.  The Principal Systems Engineer provides Technical Leadership on Helmet Mounted Display (HMD) design activities including bids, requirements decomposition and flow down, verification, testing and troubleshooting. The candidate will work as a member of a design team that includes Systems, Software, Electrical, Mechanical and Field Service. The candidate must be comfortable working directly with customers and potential customers, and will work with and support Business Development in the early phases of business capture. The candidate will need to possess extensive knowledge of head and helmet-mounted display systems.

Responsibilities:

  • Support Business Development with customer meetings, requirements elicitation, architecture development, and systems implementation.
  • Provide subject matter expertise as a project design authority of Helmet Mounted Display (HMD) systems.
  • Support product development teams with use case analysis, requirements capture and allocation, architectural analysis and design, unit level testing, integration, verification and validation efforts, and transition to manufacturing.
  • Collaborate with our European divisions in the development of new products and product roadmaps capturing unique requirements for the U.S. market.
  • Develop technical proposals and support cost estimations.
  • Evaluate competing product and solution offerings.
  • Represent Thales at relevant industry forums.
  • Serve as a customer liaison, supporting design reviews and other technical interchanges.
  • Support field installation, testing, evaluation, and troubleshooting of equipment.
  • Provide technical consultation for solving design issues in HMD, Crash and Ejection safety analysis and tests.
  • Provide technical consultation on emerging and adjacent markets.
  • Provide technical counsel to engineering management.
  • Travel up to 25% of the time.

Qualifications:

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

  • U.S. Citizenship required. - Applicants selected may be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.
  • Bachelor's Degree in Aerospace Engineering, Systems Engineering or related discipline.
  • 8+ years as a Systems Engineer in Aerospace (Military or Commercial) or related industry.
  • Strong knowledge of Avionics products and related technology is required, Helmet Mounted Display (HMD) technology a large plus.
  • Must have working knowledge of relevant industry standards (DO-254, DO-160, DO-178, MIL-STD-461 and MIL-STD-810).
  • Experience integrating subsystems onto aircraft or helicopters.
  • Experience working within AS9100D or similar process environments.
  • Ability to take ownership of assigned work.
  • Must have experience in troubleshooting and resolution of technical problems.
  • Experience in requirements definition, bidding and execution.
  • Must be capable of working independently or as part of a team on assigned tasks.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills. - Fluent in English
  • Ability to comply with all Company guidelines, policies, procedures and embrace Company Core Values.

The annualized pay range for this role is $133,410- 170,469 USD along with a target incentive compensation plan (ICP) of 5%. The pay range provided is a good faith estimate representative of the experience level for the role described above.  TDSI considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role, function and associated responsibilities, a candidate's work experience, location, education/training, and key skills.

For specific questions about this job posting, candidates may contact talent acquisition at careers@thalesdsi.com.

Thales Defense & Security, Inc. is committed to non-discrimination as applicable under federal, state and local laws. We are an E-Verify Employer.

If you need an accommodation or assistance in order to apply for a position with Thales, please call Human Resources at 202-961-1016.

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