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Salary: USD 220,000 - 300,000 / annual
CHAOS Industries is seeking a Chief Engineer to own the technical direction of an electronic warfare (EW) payload program from concept and architecture through qualification, platform integration, field test, and production transition. You will serve as the senior technical authority across RF hardware, digital signal processing, firmware and software, and systems integration, leading a multidisciplinary team in a build-and-field environment where real hardware operates in realistic conditions.
Key Responsibilities:
- Serve as the senior technical authority for EW payload architecture, requirements, and design decisions
- Lead system-level trade studies, technical risk management, and design reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR)
- Direct integration of antenna, RF front-end, digital processing, power, thermal, and mechanical subsystems into host platforms
- Own system verification and validation, including test planning, anechoic chamber and range testing, and field test readiness
- Provide technical leadership across RF, hardware, firmware, software, and systems teams, and mentor senior engineers
- Partner with program management, manufacturing, and customers to translate mission needs into executable technical plans
- Drive configuration control and the transition from prototype to production and fielding, including software and waveform updates
About CHAOS:
CHAOS Industries was founded in 2022 and has raised $1 billion in funding from leading investors including 8VC, Accel, and Valor Equity Partners. The company redefines modern defense with a multi-product portfolio powered by Coherent Distributed Networks (CDN™), empowering warfighters, commercial air operators, and border protection teams. Headquartered in Los Angeles with offices in Washington D.C., San Francisco, San Diego, and London, the company has 500+ employees across 5 global offices.
Compensation & Benefits:
Competitive base salary, generous pre-IPO stock option grants, relocation assistance, and annual bonuses (coming soon). Medical, dental, and vision benefits 100% paid by the company. 401k with 50% company match up to 6% of pay, FSA, HSA, life insurance. Free daily lunch onsite, fully-stocked kitchen, unlimited PTO, casual dress code.
Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in Aerospace, Mechanical, Systems, or Electrical Engineering, or related field
- 15+ years of experience developing EW, radar, or RF sensing and signal processing systems, including technical leadership of a program or major subsystem
- Detailed understanding of EMSO, adversary system operation, EM countermeasure and CCM techniques and their implementation
- Hands-on experience with EW technique verification, validation, field and operational testing
- Demonstrated experience taking a high TRL RF system through full lifecycle development, including field or flight test
- Strong command of RF systems engineering, digital signal processing, and DoD standards for safety, environments, and test
- Current or recent DoD SECRET clearance
Preferred Qualifications:
- Master's degree or higher
- Current or recent DoD TOP SECRET security clearance; eligibility for SAP and/or SCI indoc
- Prior role as Chief Engineer, Lead Systems Engineer, or Technical Director on a fielded EW or radar program
- Experience with SDR, FPGA-based signal processing, and RF/digital co-design
- Experience with airborne small form-factor EW subsystem development for tactical aircraft and/or missile application
- Experience with a prime integrator or in a fast-moving defense startup
