Principal RF Communications & Electronic Warfare Engineer

Secmation•Linthicum Heights, MD

2d•$185,000 - $250,000•Hybrid

About The Position

This isn't another defense contractor job. Join a mission-focused engineering team developing next-generation RF communications and Electronic Warfare capabilities for national defense. Lead system architecture, collaborate directly with DoD customers, and work hands-on across SDR, radar, resilient networking, and secure communications technologies - with meaningful technical ownership from concept through operational deployment. Why top engineers choose Secmation: Own technical direction instead of maintaining legacy systems. Influence architecture from early concept through field deployment. Work directly with DoD customers, decision makers, and mission users. Solve challenging RF, Electronic Warfare, SDR, radar, and secure communications problems. Collaborate with a small, highly technical team where every engineer has real impact. Build technology designed to transition into operational use. What you'll build and lead: Lead the development of advanced RF technologies that directly support critical defense missions. You will shape system architecture, guide technical strategy, and move innovative capabilities from early concept through modeling, integration, HWIL testing, field demonstration, validation, and operational implementation. You'll work across: Electronic Warfare capabilities, including Electronic Attack, Electronic Support, Electronic Protection, and countermeasure development. Software Defined Radio solutions spanning software, firmware, and secure embedded communications platforms. Tactical RF communications, SATCOM, resilient networking, radar, and RF sensing technologies. AI-enabled RF analysis, mission systems, and adaptive signal-processing capabilities. RF algorithm development, communications-system modeling, mission simulation, and scenario development using MATLAB and Python. System integration, hardware-in-the-loop testing, field testing, validation, and live customer demonstrations. Cross-program technical leadership, engineering mentorship, and direct engagement with government stakeholders.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship and an active DoD Security Clearance.
Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related technical discipline.
12+ years of relevant RF, communications, radar, or EW experience with demonstrated principal-level technical leadership.
Deep experience designing, implementing, and analyzing military RF communications systems for tactical and defense applications.
Hands-on experience with SDR frameworks and platforms such as GNU Radio, REDHAWK, USRP/UHD, Epiq, or comparable technologies.
Experience with Electronic Warfare system design and applications, including EA, ES, EP, or countermeasure development.
Experience with SATCOM, radar, tactical communications, resilient networking, or RF sensing systems.
Strong background in signal processing, waveform performance, adaptive tuning, optimization, and error-correction techniques.
Proficiency with MATLAB and Python for modeling and simulation, plus embedded C/C++ for systems-level applications.
Experience leading system integration, HWIL testing, mission simulation, field testing, and customer demonstrations.
Ability to independently lead complex technical work while collaborating effectively within a small, multidisciplinary engineering team.
Strong technical communication skills and the ability to present findings and recommendations to internal teams, program leadership, and government customers.

Nice To Haves

15+ years preferred experience.

Responsibilities

Lead the development of advanced RF technologies that directly support critical defense missions.
Shape system architecture, guide technical strategy, and move innovative capabilities from early concept through modeling, integration, HWIL testing, field demonstration, validation, and operational implementation.
Work across Electronic Warfare capabilities, including Electronic Attack, Electronic Support, Electronic Protection, and countermeasure development.
Develop Software Defined Radio solutions spanning software, firmware, and secure embedded communications platforms.
Work with Tactical RF communications, SATCOM, resilient networking, radar, and RF sensing technologies.
Develop AI-enabled RF analysis, mission systems, and adaptive signal-processing capabilities.
Perform RF algorithm development, communications-system modeling, mission simulation, and scenario development using MATLAB and Python.
Conduct system integration, hardware-in-the-loop testing, field testing, validation, and live customer demonstrations.
Provide cross-program technical leadership, engineering mentorship, and direct engagement with government stakeholders.