Communications and RF Payload Systems Engineer
About The Position
The Aerospace Corporation is seeking a Communications and RF Payload Systems Engineer for its Defense Systems Group (DSG). The role serves as the primary Aerospace point of contact advising the customer on acquisition of communications and RF payloads across the branch’s portfolio of space-based space domain awareness systems. Working with Space Systems Command’s Space-Based Surveillance & Reconnaissance Branch, the engineer leads technical teams throughout the program life cycle, from requirements and acquisition strategy through on-orbit operations and anomaly resolution. The position evaluates payload and system requirements and technical specifications, supports program-office systems engineering and acquisition processes, and assesses mission-assurance trades involving risk, schedule, and cost. It also collaborates on communications architectures and provides expertise in communications systems and components, including receive/transmit subsystems, signal-processing components, and antenna subsystems. The engineer applies modeling, simulation, prototyping, and experimental measurement techniques to technically challenging communications and signals-collection problems, while building and maintaining the government customer’s trust and confidence. The position is full-time and requires working on-site at the company’s facility in El Segundo, California. Domestic travel of approximately 10–15% is expected. A current Top Secret/SSBI/SCI clearance is required to interview, with the ability to obtain and maintain additional U.S. government security clearances; U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a clearance.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s or advanced degree in engineering or science from a recognized institution, or a closely related STEM field.
- At least 6 years of relevant RF engineering experience.
- Ability to translate, tailor, and present complex technical concepts, both in writing and orally, to stakeholders with varying levels of knowledge, including non-specialists.
- Willingness to travel domestically approximately 10–15%.
- Current Top Secret/SSBI/SCI clearance required to interview, with the ability to obtain and maintain additional U.S. government security clearances.
- U.S. citizenship required to obtain a security clearance.
- For the Senior Project Engineer level: at least 10 years of experience in roles with progressively increasing responsibility.
- For the Senior Project Engineer level: experience with satellite communication hardware and/or digital or analog waveform processing.
Nice To Haves
- Experience architecting, planning, and leading complex RF and antenna payloads.
- Understanding of RF design principles, signal propagation, and electromagnetic field theory.
- Understanding of optical communications design principles and operations, including free-space optical links, laser terminals, and integration with RF communication architectures.
- Familiarity with wireless communication links, including link-budget analysis, RF cascade analysis, modulation techniques, and frequency allocations.
- Familiarity with spectrum management and certification processes.
- Experience with one or more space-system development program offices.
Responsibilities
- Serve as the primary Aerospace point of contact advising government customers and leadership on acquisition of communications and RF payloads across the branch’s space-based space domain awareness portfolio.
- Lead technical teams, including Engineering and Technology Group subject matter experts, throughout the program life cycle, from requirements and acquisition strategy through on-orbit operations and anomaly resolution.
- Evaluate and verify payload and system requirements and technical specifications, supporting program-office systems engineering and acquisition processes.
- Assess risk, schedule, and cost mission-assurance trades and identify mitigation options to enable responsive, cost-effective delivery of space capabilities.
- Collaborate with the program-office Architecture and Integration team to develop and evaluate communications architectures.
- Provide subject matter expertise in communications systems and components, including receive/transmit subsystems, signal-processing components such as converters, amplifiers, and filters, and antenna subsystems.
- Solve challenging communications and signals-collection problems using modeling, simulation, prototyping, and experimental measurement techniques.
- Establish and maintain the trust and confidence of the government customer.
Benefits
- Comprehensive health care and wellness plans.
- Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation.
- Standard and alternate work schedules, including telework options.
- 401(k) plan with company-paid benefits of 8%, 10%, or 12% of eligible compensation based on years of service, plus matching contributions; employees are immediately eligible and vested upon hire.
- Flexible spending accounts.
- Variable pay program for exceptional contributions.
- Relocation assistance.
- Professional growth and development programs.
- Education assistance programs.
- Inclusive work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
