Radio Engineer

Peraton•Bethesda, MD

About The Position

Join Peraton in advancing the safety, efficiency, and modernization of the National Airspace System (NAS) through the FAA’s Business, National Airspace, and Technical Computing Services (BNATCS) contract. As a trusted partner to the Federal Aviation Administration, Peraton helps deliver the systems and services that keep our nation’s skies safe and connected. We’re looking for innovative professionals who thrive in mission-critical environments and are passionate about shaping the future of air traffic management. This is your chance to make an impact on one of the world’s most vital transportation infrastructures, working alongside leaders in aviation, engineering, data science, and systems integration. At Peraton, you won’t just support the mission — you’ll define it. Join a team dedicated to protecting the safety and integrity of U.S. air travel. Peraton is seeking an experienced Radio Engineer to support the design, integration, modernization, and sustainment of aviation radio communication and navigation systems supporting programs aligned to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This role provides technical expertise across RF engineering, air/ground communications, land mobile and trunked radio systems, navigation systems, and transponders, with a strong emphasis on hardware production and manufacturing readiness. The ideal candidate brings hands-on experience across the full lifecycle—from engineering design through production, deployment, and operational sustainment—within safety-critical aviation environments. In this position, you will: Design, analyze, and support RF-based radio communication systems used in aviation and ground operations. Provide engineering support across HF, VHF, and RF communication systems, including air/ground and land mobile radios. Support trunked radio systems and mission-critical voice communications. Engineer and sustain navigation systems, including associated transponders and avionics interfaces. Support integration of radio systems with networking, surveillance, and ATC infrastructure. Collaborate with TPMs, system engineers, architects, and communications teams to ensure technical alignment. Provide oversight and technical guidance for hardware production, manufacturing, and quality assurance activities. Review and support manufacturing documentation, test procedures, and acceptance criteria for radio hardware. Participate in site surveys, installations, system testing, and acceptance activities. Troubleshoot RF, hardware, and system-level issues across development, production, and operational environments. Ensure compliance with FAA standards, spectrum regulations, and safety requirements. Develop and maintain technical documentation, interface descriptions, and system diagrams. Why This Role Matters Radio communications and navigation systems are foundational to safe and efficient air traffic operations. As a Radio Engineer, your work ensures that pilots, controllers, and systems maintain continuous, reliable communication and navigation capability across the National Airspace System (NAS). Your expertise directly supports aviation safety, operational continuity, and the FAA’s modernization efforts—particularly where hardware performance, manufacturing quality, and field reliability are mission-critical.

Requirements

U.S. Citizenship Required.
Must have the ability to obtain / maintain a Public Trust clearance.
Bachelor’s degree and 8 years’ experience or Masters degree and 6 years’ experience or Associate’s degree and 10 years' years’ experience or HS diploma/equivalent and 12 years’ experience.
Experience supporting radio systems communication and installation.
Demonstrated experience with: RF engineering principles HF and VHF communication systems Air/ground aviation communications Land mobile and trunked radio systems Navigation systems and transponders
Experience supporting hardware-focused programs, including production and manufacturing.
Understanding of radio spectrum management, interference analysis, and RF testing.
Proven experience in implementing radio communication systems.
Voice Switch / Radio console experience.
Experience managing technical dependencies, interfaces, upgrades, and sustainment.
Experience coordinating with vendors like INDRA, SAAB.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience supporting FAA, aviation or transportation safety-critical infrastructures.
Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, RF Engineering, Telecommunications, or related technical discipline
Familiarity with NextGen aviation communications modernization initiatives.
Certifications such as FCC General Radiotelephone Operator License (GROL), CCNA, or equivalent.
Knowledge of communications interfaces with surveillance and networking systems.
Experience with digital trunked radio systems, P25 standards, or aviation communication protocols.
Knowledge of cloud or hybrid network architectures supporting RoIP technology deployments.
Background in network security practices for radio and IP-based systems.

Responsibilities

Design, analyze, and support RF-based radio communication systems used in aviation and ground operations.
Provide engineering support across HF, VHF, and RF communication systems, including air/ground and land mobile radios.
Support trunked radio systems and mission-critical voice communications.
Engineer and sustain navigation systems, including associated transponders and avionics interfaces.
Support integration of radio systems with networking, surveillance, and ATC infrastructure.
Collaborate with TPMs, system engineers, architects, and communications teams to ensure technical alignment.
Provide oversight and technical guidance for hardware production, manufacturing, and quality assurance activities.
Review and support manufacturing documentation, test procedures, and acceptance criteria for radio hardware.
Participate in site surveys, installations, system testing, and acceptance activities.
Troubleshoot RF, hardware, and system-level issues across development, production, and operational environments.
Ensure compliance with FAA standards, spectrum regulations, and safety requirements.
Develop and maintain technical documentation, interface descriptions, and system diagrams.