Brandes Associates Inc

Systems Engineer

Brandes Associates Inc$145K — $160K *
Aerospace & Defense
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 10+ years of experience in data analysis within defense systems
  • Strong technical communication skills for presenting complex data to stakeholders
  • Ability to independently troubleshoot system anomalies in dynamic conditions
  • Professional experience with flight test, range, or laboratory data analysis
  • Expertise in Python for custom data processing and analysis
  • Experience with Time-Space-Position Information (TSPI) correlation
  • Ability to decode and analyze avionics digital data buses and telemetry logs

Responsibilities

  • Function as a subject matter expert in electronic warfare and sensor performance
  • Process and analyze laboratory and flight test data to support verification of avionics systems
  • Develop automated data extraction and analysis tools using Python libraries
  • Analyze multi-source data, including telemetry and GPS data from ground and flight missions
  • Evaluate system performance against design specifications and operational standards
  • Prepare formal reports and presentations for program managers and stakeholders
  • Brief key findings to influence acquisition decisions and test operations

Benefits

  • Opportunities for career advancement in an employee-focused environment
  • Comprehensive benefits package including health and wellness programs
  • Long-term job stability with a growing defense contractor
  • Supportive culture encouraging innovation and technical excellence
Full Job Description
Overview

BAI, a defense contractor, is seeking a Senior Data Analysis Engineer with 10+ years of experience will be responsible for processing, reducing, analyzing, and evaluating ground laboratory and open-air flight test data for our expanding workforce supporting current and evolving contract, at Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) Naval Air Station (NAS) Point Mugu, CA. Opportunities for career advancement, excellent benefits and long-term stability are some of the advantages of our growing, employee-focused company.

 

 

Salary

The typical annual salary range for this position is $145,000.00 USD to $160,000.00 USD. Salary will be based on current qualifications, directly related experience, geographic location, and possible contractual requirements which could fall outside of this range.

 

Responsibilities
  • Position Objective & Summary
    • Functional and Engineering SME in countermeasures, electronic warfare, software architecture and sensors
    • Serve as a Senior Data Analysis Engineer responsible for processing, reducing, analyzing, and evaluating ground laboratory and open-air flight test data
    • Develops automated Python-based data extraction and analysis pipelines to evaluate complex avionics systems, electronic warfare (EW) suites, and sensor packages.Analysis directly supports formal verification of system performance requirements and Key Performance Parameters (KPPs), culminating in executive-level presentations and decision-quality technical reports for program managers, test directors, and acquisition authorities

     

  • Flight Test & Laboratory Data Reduction and Analysis (40%)
    • Ingests, time-synchronizes, and analyzes complex multi-source data collected from ground laboratories, hardware-in-the-loop (HWIL) facilities, installed system test facilities (ISTF), and live-fly open-air range missions
    • Evaluates Time-Space-Position Information (TSPI) derived from GPS, ground tracking radar, and optical assets, correlating truth data with onboard avionics recordings and telemetry streams
    • Decodes, processes, and analyzes high-throughput avionics digital data buses (e.g., MIL-STD-1553, ARINC 429, Ethernet, Fibre Channel, and IRIG 106 Chapter 10/11 formats)
    • Evaluates sensor performance, RF threat simulation logs, and emitter identification metrics in both simulated laboratory environments and dynamic flight conditions

     

  • Analysis Tool Development & Automation (30%)
    • Architects, scripts, tests, and maintains specialized, automated data analysis tools and data reduction pipelines using Python (NumPy, Pandas, SciPy, Matplotlib, and associated libraries)
    • Builds automated routines for batch-processing raw flight records, identifying data anomalies, performing statistical analysis, and generating standardized verification metrics
    • Implements robust software configuration management practices (e.g., Git) and creates reusable modules to accelerate post-flight analysis across multiple test events

     

  • Performance Verification, Reporting & Decision Support (20%)
    • Compares empirical test results against design specifications, system requirements, and interface control documents (ICDs) to identify deviations, anomalies, and performance trends
    • Formulates definitive, evidence-based recommendations regarding whether system under test satisfies technical specifications and operational readiness standards
    • Authors formal Test & Evaluation (T&E) reports, requirement verification matrices, deficiency reports (DRs), and technical memorandums

     

  • Stakeholder Briefings & Mission Coordination (10%)
    • Translates dense telemetry and statistical findings into clear, executive-level presentations, visual dashboards, and briefing slides
    • Presents analytical findings to Test Directors, Flight Test Engineers (FTEs), Chief Test Pilots, and Program Executive Offices (PEOs) to support Go/No-Go and milestone acquisition decisions
    • Participates in pre-flight test readiness reviews (TRRs) and post-flight debriefs to establish data collection criteria and optimize test point execution

     

    Qualifications
    • Over 10 years of experience performing the duties described in the functional description
    • Excellent technical communication and presentation skills, verbal and written, for briefing Test Directors, Flight Test Engineers, and Program Executive Offices
    • Ability to work independently, identifying root causes of system anomalies under dynamic operational conditions

     

    Specialized Technical Experience

    • Mandatory Requirements:
      • Demonstrated professional experience analyzing flight test, range, or laboratory experimental data
      • Proficiency in developing custom data processing and analysis scripts in Python
      • Direct experience working with and correlating TSPI (Time-Space-Position Information) truth data against system data
      • Demonstrated capability to decode, parse, and analyze digital avionics bus architectures and telemetry logs
      • Experience evaluating system response to threat simulation environments and simulated emitter scenarios
    • Highly Desirable Experience:
      • Direct domain experience conducting performance analysis on Radar Warning Receivers (RWR), Electronic Support Measures (ESM), or Electronic Warfare (EW) suites
      • Direct experience performing performance analysis on RADAR systems (AESA, Pulse Doppler, synthetic aperture radar)
      • Familiarity with IRIG 106 Chapter 10/11 data standards and high-density RF threat generation platforms

     

    Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

  • Avionics & Sensor Systems: Comprehensive knowledge of avionics architectures, radar theory, RF propagation, and signal processing principles to accurately assess sensor detection, tracking, and identification performance
  • Data Science & Programming: Advanced skills in Python scripting and data analysis packages for rapid parsing, transformation, and statistical modeling of large, multi-rate time-series datasets
  • Range & Test Operations: Knowledge of test range instrumentation, TSPI tracking methods, telemetry acquisition, and ground lab simulation environments
  • Analytical Reasoning & Problem Solving: Ability to identify root causes of system anomalies, evaluate signal-to-noise degradations, and isolate hardware/software failure modes under dynamic operational conditions
  • Technical Communication & Presentation: Ability to synthesize complex statistical data into concise, high-impact graphical presentations and brief multi-disciplinary leadership teams to guide high-stakes acquisition decisions
  •  

    Desired Experience

    • Direct domain experience conducting performance analysis on Radar Warning Receivers (RWR), Electronic Support Measures (ESM), or Electronic Warfare (EW) suites
    • Direct experience performing performance analysis on RADAR systems (AESA, Pulse Doppler, synthetic aperture radar)
    • Familiarity with IRIG 106 Chapter 10/11 data standards and high-density RF threat generation platforms

     

    EDUCATION

    Degree: MS or MA degree in Engineering or a relevant technical discipline such as Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics, or a related STEM discipline.

    Allowable Substitution: An additional 4 years of relevant work experience, with a bachelor's degree, may be substituted for a master's degree.

    CLEARANCE

    Condition of Employment:  Applicant must have an active DoD Secret (SSBI-based investigation) Clearance. The applicants selected will be subject to a security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.

     

    CITIZENSHIP

    The applicant must have US citizenship at the time of application.

     

     

    About Brandes Associates Inc

    Brandes Associates Inc is an engineering consulting firm that provides services to clients in the aerospace, defense, and transportation industries. The company was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in McLean, Virginia. Brandes Associates' services include systems engineering, software engineering, and test and evaluation. The company has worked on projects such as the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and the International Space Station.
    Learn more about Brandes Associates Inc
    Size
    50 employees
    Industry
    Net Income
    $1 million
    Founded
    1989
    5 Year Trend
    +20%
    Revenue
    $10 million

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