Sr. C2 Terminal RF & Antenna System Engineer

The Aerospace Corporation is the trusted partner to the nations space programs solving the hardest problems and providing unmatched technical expertise. As the operator of a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) we are broadly engaged across all aspects of space delivering innovative solutions that span satellite launch ground and cyber systems for defense civil and commercial customers. When you join our team youll be part of a special collection of problem solvers thought leaders and innovators. Join us and take your place in space.

The Defense Systems Group (DSG) provides analysis-based decision support to senior leaders on space architectures policy and strategy technology development warfighter capability enablers systems integration defense industrial base and threat reduction to help shape existing and future space missions across the national security space (NSS) enterprise. DSG is unique at Aerospace as it not only directly supports major customers including the U.S. Space Force U.S. Space Command Air Force Material Command and senior leadership at the Pentagon but also provides a broad range of technical support across the national space enterprise maintaining vertical responsibilities with customers portfolios as well as horizontal matrixed responsibilities across the corporation. Additionally DSG provides deep technical expertise to the Space Force Space Systems Command (SSC) in the conception design acquisition launch and operations of satellite launch vehicle ground control and range systems.

Aerospace is the trusted technical and programmatic advisor to the Evolved Strategic SATCOM (ESS) Program Office responsible for system development integration and transition to operations on an aggressive national timeline. ESS is the recapitalization of the strategic satellite communications architecture that underwrites nuclear command control and communications the system that has to work on its worst day.

The Command & Control (C2) Terminal is where that system meets the operator. It is the link that has to close under jamming under stress and under conditions no commercial terminal is ever asked to survive. If the terminal doesnt work nothing else in the architecture matters.

This is an RF Engineers job at the center of a national mission. The Sr. C2 Terminal RF & Antenna System Engineer will evaluate competing terminal architectures assess real prototypes from multiple vendors and lead the integration and test work that determines which design the government buys. You will be hands-on with antennas phased arrays software-defined radios and signal processing and your technical findings will directly shape a multi-billion-dollar acquisition. Few RF Engineers get to do deep technical work and have it drive a procurement decision. That is this role.

Aerospace exists to give the government the technical answer which means your assessment of a vendors link budget or array performance is not filtered through anyones business development interests. For engineers who have spent years defending a product line this is the difference that matters.

One important note before you read further: this position requires an active Secret clearance with eligibility to obtain TS/SCI not TS/SCI in hand. If you hold a current Secret and assumed strategic mission work was closed to you it is not. Apply.

The selected candidate will be required to work full-time on-site at our facility at Los Angeles Air Force Base CA.

What Youll Be Doing

• Serving as the programs subject matter expert in C2 RF system antennas phased arrays and software-defined radio (SDR) communication subsystems
• Solving hard MILSATCOM problems end to end: link performance signal processing waveform behavior interference and anti-jam performance under realistic operational conditions
• Evaluating competing C2 terminal architectures and prototypes and leading the integration and test activity that separates vendor claims from measured performance
• Leading project teams and engaging the customer directly on the problems that actually matter with real influence over what gets built
• Translating technical findings into decisions briefing senior government and Aerospace leadership with clarity and brevity writing assessments that withstand scrutiny and building consensus across contractors and organizations that do not report to you so the right technical answer gets adopted rather than merely documented
• Using your technical judgment to keep ongoing development programs executing successfully while shaping future mission capability
• Operating strategically in support of our NC3 customers and stakeholder community
• Developing and managing Aerospace Engineering and Technology Group (ETG) support to the program ensuring the team has access to the specialized expertise it needs when it needs it

What You Need to be Successful
Minimum Requirements for Sr. Project Engineer Communications Systems and Payload Systems Engineering RF:

• Bachelors degree from an accredited program in Electrical Engineering or a related technical discipline
• Twelve or more years of related experience in antenna/RF system design analysis and test or comparable depth in SDR waveform signal processing or satellite terminal engineering
• Experience supporting DoD or IC space system programs
• Strong communication skills and a demonstrated ability to brief technical material to senior audiences with clarity and brevity write assessments that withstand scrutiny and move stakeholders who outrank you or dont work for you toward a sound technical position
• Willingness to travel domestically up to 10% of the time
• An active Secret security clearance with eligibility to obtain a TS/SCI clearance issued by the U.S. government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.

How You Can Stand Out
It would be impressive if you have one or more of these:

• An advanced degree in a relevant technical area
• Proficiency in phased array design modeling and performance measurement
• Proven ability to architect and implement antenna and RF system solutions against real-world performance requirements
• Hands-on experience with SATCOM terminal development integration or test airborne ground-mobile or fixed
• Experience developing or operating ground stations
• Experience with protected SATCOM anti-jam or anti-spoof techniques and their measured performance
• Experience with RF test and measurement anechoic chamber or range testing and anomaly resolution on real hardware
• Experience evaluating competing vendor designs supporting source selection or assessing contractor technical performance
• Experience working in a program office with a government customer
• A track record of leading development projects and mentoring junior engineers
• An existing TS/SCI clearance

We offer a competitive compensation package where youll be rewarded based on your performance and recognized for the value you bring to our business. The grade-based pay range for this job is listed below. Individual salaries within that range are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education experience knowledge and skills.

(Min - Max)

Leadership Competencies

Our leadership philosophy is simple: every employee regardless of level and role can demonstrate leadership. At Aerospace our commitment is our people. To cultivate our talent and ensure that we have a strong pipeline of future leaders we want individuals who:

• Operate Strategically
• Lead Change
• Engage with Impact
• Foster Innovation
• Deliver Results

Ways We Reward Our Employees

During your interview process our team will provide details of our industry-leading benefits.

Benefits vary and are applicable based on Job Type. A few highlights include:

• Comprehensive health care and wellness plans

• Paid holidays sick time and vacation

• Standard and alternate work schedules including telework options

• 401(k) Plan Employees receive a total company-paid benefit of 8% 10% or 12% of eligible compensation based on years of service and matching contributions; employees are immediately eligible and vested in the plan upon hire

• Flexible spending accounts

• Variable pay program for exceptional contributions

• Relocation assistance

• Professional growth and development programs to help advance your career

• Education assistance programs

• An inclusive work environment built on teamwork flexibility and respect

We are all unique from various backgrounds and all walks of life yet one thing bonds all of us to each otherthe belief that we can make a difference. This core belief empowers us to do our best work at The Aerospace Corporation.

Equal Opportunity Commitment

The Aerospace Corporation is an equalopportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race age sex (including pregnancy childbirth and related medical conditions) sexual orientation gender gender identity or expression colorreligiongeneticinformation marital status ancestry national origin protected veteran status physical disability medical condition mental disability or disability status and any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. If youre an individual with a disability or a disabled veteran who needs assistance using our online job search and application tools or need reasonable accommodation to complete the job application process please contact us by phone at 310.336.5432 or by emailat .You can also reviewKnow Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal.