As R&D Manager for the Signal Monitoring / Signal Intelligence (SigMon/SigInt) segment, you lead and grow the engineering team responsible for developing Keysight's SigMon/SigInt portfolio - including RF/microwave instrumentation, electronic warfare, and SIGINT/ELINT sensors and analyzers. You partner closely with the Business Development Manager for the segment to translate market strategy, customer needs, and mission trends into an executable R&D roadmap, and you lead your team through the technical execution of that roadmap.
This role is a people-leadership and technical-direction position. You build and develop a team of engineers and technical leads, set technical priorities and delivery plans, and ensure R&D output is tightly aligned to the segment's business objectives, customer needs, and emerging market direction. You serve as the primary R&D counterpart to the Business Development Manager, funneling customer and market insight into the development lifecycle and representing engineering feasibility, timelines, and trade-offs back into segment strategy. This position reports to a Vice President.
ResponsibilitiesPeople & Team Leadership- Build, lead, and grow a team of R&D engineers and technical leads across hardware, software, and systems disciplines supporting the SigMon/SigInt segment
- Set individual and team objectives, coach for performance, and build bench strength through hiring, mentoring, and career development planning
- Drive talent acquisition and retention strategies for the segment's engineering team, partnering with HR on org design and succession planning
- Manage team workload, staffing, and resource allocation across concurrent development programs and customer-driven initiatives
- Own team budget, tooling, and capacity planning in coordination with R&D and business leadership
- Foster a collaborative, innovative engineering culture that supports rapid iteration, technical rigor, and close coordination with business development, product management, and marketing
R&D Strategy & Execution- Translate segment strategy and business development priorities into an executable R&D roadmap, technical plans, and delivery commitments
- Direct the team's technical execution across the SigMon/SigInt portfolio, including RF/microwave instrumentation, electronic warfare, and SIGINT/ELINT sensors and analyzers
- Frame and lead the team's response to emerging market trends, including the shift toward software-defined, simulation-based validation and cognitive and AI-enabled SigMon/SigInt capabilities
- Prioritize and sequence development initiatives based on customer needs, competitive dynamics, and business impact
- Establish technical review processes, quality standards, and delivery cadences across the R&D team
- Identify technical risks, resourcing gaps, and trade-offs, and communicate them clearly to business and program leadership
Business Partnership & Cross-Functional Integration- Serve as the primary R&D counterpart to the Signal Monitoring Business Development Manager, ensuring tight alignment between market strategy, customer commitments, and engineering execution
- Funnel customer and market perspectives gathered by business development, field sales, and marketing into the R&D development lifecycle
- Partner with product/solution marketing to shape technical input into solution narratives that connect the SigMon/SigInt portfolio to evolving customer mission needs
- Translate customer workflows, ecosystems, and technology roadmaps into high-level technical requirements the R&D team can address in current and future development cycles
- Collaborate with product line management, solutions engineering, and program management to align technical roadmap, pricing, and delivery timelines with segment demand
- Represent engineering capacity, feasibility, and timelines in business planning and forecasting discussions
- Support customer-facing engagements as a technical resource when deep R&D input or credibility is needed, including thought leadership contexts
Compliance & Customer Trust- Ensure all R&D engagements, designs, and deliverables comply with export-control, ITAR, and CMMC/CUI handling requirements inherent to defense customer relationships
- Maintain awareness of program access and security requirements affecting team staffing and customer engagement
QualificationsRequired- Bachelor's or Master's degree (or equivalent) in engineering, computer science, or a related technical field
- 8+ years of relevant industry experience in aerospace and defense or related technical domains; typically 3+ years in a first-level engineering management or technical leadership role
- Demonstrated experience leading and developing engineering teams, including hiring, performance management, and career development
- Working knowledge of SigMon/SigInt, RF/microwave, or electromagnetic-spectrum systems and the aerospace/defense customer landscape (primes, defense contractors, government laboratories)
- Proven ability to translate business strategy and customer needs into an executable technical roadmap and delivery plan
- Strong cross-functional collaboration skills, with experience partnering closely with business development, product management, or sales counterparts
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to represent technical trade-offs to non-technical business stakeholders
- U.S. Person status or ability to meet export-control and program-access requirements for defense engagements, as applicable
Preferred- Experience with software-defined systems, simulation-based validation, or cognitive/AI-enabled signal processing approaches
- Familiarity with electronic warfare (EW) or SIGINT/ELINT sensor and analyzer technologies
- Experience managing multiple concurrent development programs or workgroups
- Track record of contributing to or supporting sales/BD funnel discussions, order forecasting, or win-strategy development
- Prior experience presenting at industry or thought-leadership events
- Active security clearance, or ability to obtain one, a plus
This position requires access to technology and/or technical data that is subject to U.S. export controls. You must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Government.
The level of role and salary will be based on applicable experience, education and skills; Most offers will be between the minimum and the midpoint of the Salary Range listed below.
California Pay Range: MIN $192,360 - MAX $320,600
Note: For other locations, pay ranges will vary by region.
US Employees may be eligible for the following benefits:
- Medical, dental and vision
- Health Savings Account
- Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
- Life, Accident, Disability insurance
- Business Travel Accident and Business Travel Health
- 401(k) Plan
- Flexible Time Off, Paid Holidays
- Paid Family Leave
- Discounts, Perks
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Adoption Assistance
- ESPP (Employee Stock Purchase Plan)
