RF Communications Engineer

Looking for an opportunity to make an impact

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Leidos Defense provides a diverse portfolio of systems solutions and services covering land sea air space and cyberspace for customers worldwide. Solutions for Defense include enterprise and mission IT large-scale intelligence systems command and control geospatial and data analytics cybersecurity logistics training and intelligence analysis and operations support. Our team is solving the worlds toughest security challenges for customers with cant fail missions.

Following NASAs award of the High Achievability Lunar Terrain Vehicle (HALTV) program contract to Lunar Outpost Leidos as a key partner is seeking RF Communications Engineer to support HALTV and other programs as part of a diverse team that develops lunar mobility systems cislunar spacecraft and a wide range of critical technologies for civil military and commercial space programs.

Primary Responsibilities

The RF Communications Engineer will support the Leidos Space Platforms Portfolio in the development of a lunar terrain vehicle system and support equipment primarily responsible for subsystem integration qualification and testing of RF communications hardware into a seamless operational system. This position requires expertise in RF simulation analysis subsystem-level testing electromagnetic compatibility testing and end-to-end system verification. The role also requires the ability to translate high-level product development strategies into system requirement specifications and to work with multi-discipline engineering teams to develop lower-level detailed requirements. Candidates will work in a team environment to support design through product implementation and should be able to contribute to engineering design dispositions and support resolution of documentation discrepancies in coordination with Lunar Outpost and other team members.

Candidate may be required to travel as necessary (10-20%).

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering Computer Engineering or equivalent degree from an ABET-accredited institution with 5 years of prior relevant experience or Masters degree with 3 years of prior relevant experience. Candidates with PhD degrees are encouraged to apply with degree level substitution for direct industry work experience.

• Must have experiencewith roles as detailed in this description with an engineering company or system integrator where design integration testing and/or modification of human-rated aerospace systems communications hardware was involved.

• Must have demonstrated experience developing RF link budgets along with hardware experience with space-based transceivers antennas and amplifiers.

• Must have hands-on experience with RF simulation and analysis tools such as HFSS CST Studio Suite ADS or equivalent electromagnetic simulation software.

• Must have experience conducting subsystem-level testing electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing and end-to-end communications system verification.

• Must have excellent oral and written communication skills.

• Must have demonstrated experience effectively communicating within a team environment.

• Candidate must be a resident of the North Alabama area or willing to relocate to the Huntsville - North Alabama AL area.

• US Citizenship is required with ability to obtain and maintain security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred candidates may have experience and/or working knowledge of the following:

Space Communications Systems

• Demonstrated the ability to architect and implement complex space-based RF communication links/systems from concept through flight operations.

• Proficiency with CCSDS (Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems) standards and NASA communication protocols.

• Understanding of communications with regards to navigation and telemetry systems.

• Understanding standards for packet data formats coding and synchronization modulation schemes (BPSK QPSK OQPSK APSK SOQPSK GMSK) and forward error correction algorithms.

• Experience with lunar surface communications systems and rover-to-orbiter relay architectures.

• Cislunar or deep space communications heritage.

• Experience with NASA Deep Space Network (DSN) or Near Space Network (NSN) operations.

Wi-Fi and Commercial Wireless Systems

• Experience with Wi-Fi standards including IEEE 802.11n 802.11ac and 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) protocols and implementations.

• Hands-on experience with integration and testing of Wi-Fi subsystems in aerospace or ruggedized environments.

• Knowledge of Wi-Fi performance tests including throughput latency packet error rate and range testing.

• Experience with Wi-Fi coexistence analysis and mitigation in multi-radio environments.

• Familiarity with Wi-Fi security protocols (WPA2 WPA3) and network configuration for mission-critical applications.

• Experience conducting Wi-Fi subsystem qualification testing including environmental testing (thermal vibration vacuum).

• Knowledge of MIMO (Multiple-Input Multiple-Output) antenna systems and beamforming techniques for Wi-Fi applications.

RF Design and Analysis

• Experience with RF PCB design using tools such as Altium Designer or Keysight ADS.

• Proficiency in STK (Systems Tool Kit) integration and scripting for mission analysis and end-to-end system modeling.

• Programming experience in Python C/C MATLAB or similar languages for RF system analysis and automation.

• Coordinating and planning frequency spectrum with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Interagency Operations Advisory Group (IOAG) National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Space Frequency Coordination Group (SFCG) and International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

• Obtaining space-based communication permits and licenses.

• Knowledgeable with electromagnetic interference (EMI) analysis and testing passive intermodulation (PIM) and harmonic effects.

• Experience with cosite analysis and antenna pattern analysis using computational electromagnetic software such as STK HFSS E3Expert GEMACS and/or MATLAB/Simulink.

• Familiarity with mobile platform antenna systems phased array antennas and vehicular RF integration challenges.

• Experience across multiple frequency bands including S-Band X-Band Ka-Band C-Band L-Band and ISM band (2.4 GHz 5 GHz) RF design.

• Knowledge of RF filter design (microstrip and waveguide).

• Experience with test bench equipment including VNA VSG oscilloscopes spectrum analyzers and Wi-Fi test equipment.

If youre looking for comfort keep scrolling. At Leidos we outthink outbuild and outpace the status quo because the mission demands it. Were not hiring followers. Were recruiting the ones who disrupt provoke and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. Were already at step 30 and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting:

Pay Range:

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline onlyand not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job education experience knowledge skills and abilities as well as internal equity alignment with market data applicable bargaining agreement (if any) or other law.