Lead RF and Spectrum Engineer

The MITRE Corporation

$156K — $234K *
Telecommunications & Hardware
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Minimum 8 years' experience in RF systems or spectrum management, or 6 years with a Master's degree.
  • Bachelor's, Master's, or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering or related field.
  • Hands-on experience with wireless testing and RF/sensor systems engineering.
  • Deep technical expertise across military and commercial wireless systems.
  • Proficient in MATLAB or Python for test methodologies and data analysis.
  • Strong communication skills to convey technical concepts to diverse audiences.
  • Must be eligible for a Secret U.S. Government security clearance.

Responsibilities

  • Serve as NOAA's principal technical representative in band studies.
  • Provide strategic guidance for government engineering initiatives.
  • Analyze spectrum requirements and advise on system integration.
  • Develop models and analyze signal processing data using MATLAB or Python.
  • Design and execute formal test methodologies and data collections.
  • Mentor junior staff to enhance technical and professional skills.
  • Maintain industry relationships to track telecom technology advancements.

Benefits

  • Collaborative engineering environment with opportunities for mentorship.
  • Direct involvement in critical public sector projects.
  • Engagement with cutting-edge spectrum-dependent technologies.
  • Diverse interdisciplinary team dynamics.
Full Job Description
MITRE is seeking a strong Spectrum/RF engineer who can function as a technical lead for spectrum-related research and test activities supporting the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The ideal candidate possesses deep expertise in RF systems, antennas, communications, radar, waveforms, and spectrum-dependent technologies, combined with a strong background in test and evaluation.

In this position, you will directly support NOAA on upcoming spectrum band studies, assessing the ability of systems like the NEXRAD radars to operate in various study scenarios as directed by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and the NTIA band study plans. In this role, you will be part of a multi-disciplinary team working in the public interest to expand access to spectrum for industry while protecting critical government missions.

Roles & Responsibilities:
  • NOAA Representation: Serve as a primary technical representative for NOAA, interfacing directly with stakeholders executing the band studies.
  • Strategic Technical Leadership: Provide strategic direction across the Commerce work program on the band studies to help the government move fast with engineering rigor.
  • Deep Technical Consulting: Analyze complex electromagnetic spectrum requirements and research emerging wireless technologies to advise sponsors on system integration and strategic impacts.
  • Hands-on Modeling & Prototyping: Utilize programming environments such as MATLAB or Python to develop system-level engineering models, prototype sensor algorithms, and analyze complex signal processing data.
  • Test Design & Execution: Architect formal test methodologies, participate in physical data collections, conduct lab experiments, and guide advanced test facility operations.
  • Mentorship & Collaboration: Foster collaborative engineering environments and quickly develop the technical and professional skills of junior staff through dedicated mentoring.
  • Industry Liaison: Liaise with industry to maintain understanding of technical developments in telecom that will shape the future of spectrum coexistence.


Basic Qualifications:
  • Typically requires a minimum of 8 years experience in AI with a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field; or 6 years and a Master's degree.
  • Bachelor's degree, Master's Degree or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Communications Engineering, Physics, or a highly related technical discipline.
  • Experience heavily rooted in hands-on wireless testing, spectrum management, or RF/sensor systems engineering.
  • Demonstrated deep technical expertise across military and commercial spectrum-dependent wireless systems, including radio systems, waveforms, MILSATCOM, cellular, and radar systems.
  • Proven proficiency planning and conducting formal test methodologies, including hands-on data analysis using MATLAB or Python.
  • Exceptional written, verbal, and briefing skills with a verified ability to communicate granular technical concepts simply and concisely to both engineering teams and non-technical project leadership.
  • Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a Secret U.S Government issued Security Clearance. Per the U.S. Government's eligibility requirements, you must be a U.S Citizen to be considered for a security clearance.
  • This position requires a minimum of 3 days a week on site.


Preferred Qualifications:
  • Master's degree or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Communications Engineering, Physics, or a highly related technical discipline.
  • Active Secret security clearance.


This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):
None

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):
Secret

Salary compensation range and midpoint:
$156,400 - $195,500 - $234,600 Annual

Work Location Type:
Onsite

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