Radio Frequency Engineer

Fathom 4 • Charleston, SC

5d • Onsite

About The Position

Works as part of an engineering team to analyze, design, integrate, and test radio frequency (RF) communications and C5ISR systems for DoD customers. Supports the full system lifecycle, from requirements and RF analysis through installation, test, and sustainment at shore sites and on mobile and fixed platforms. Collaborates with government engineers, program offices, and external stakeholders, and prepares technical reports, briefs, and test documentation. May provide technical direction to junior engineers and technicians.

The work location is on-site at North Charleston, South Carolina, with 10–20% travel expected for site surveys, installations, and testing. Some travel may be OCONUS. The position requires a government security clearance, and candidates must be U.S. citizens for consideration.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or Electrical and Computer Engineering, with coursework or a concentration in RF, microwave, electromagnetics, antennas, or communications systems. Candidates without formal RF coursework may be considered if they have equivalent professional RF engineering experience.
• Engineering degrees must be from an ABET-accredited program; technology degrees do not qualify as engineering or physical science degrees.
• Professional engineering experience involving hands-on design, analysis, integration, or test of RF communications systems or components; varying years of experience will be considered.
• Practical experience with standard RF test equipment such as spectrum analyzers, vector network analyzers, signal generators, and power meters.
• Experience with RF simulation software and setting up and conducting studies.
• Current active Secret clearance, with reasonable expectation of eligibility for a TS/SCI with CI Polygraph clearance in the future.
• U.S. citizenship, as the position requires a government security clearance.
• Solid working knowledge of RF fundamentals, including transmission lines, impedance matching, antennas, noise, modulation, and propagation.
• Ability to perform and document link budgets and RF performance calculations.
• Ability to read and interpret schematics, block diagrams, and installation drawings.
• Understanding of test, verification, and system integration within a systems engineering context.
• Ability to communicate effectively with non-technical stakeholders and translate complex technical issues into clear recommendations and actionable tasks.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to learn new systems and tools quickly.
• Familiarity with DoD cybersecurity and configuration management practices.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering with an RF, microwave, or communications focus.
• Experience with RF modeling and simulation tools such as Keysight ADS, Ansys HFSS, CST Studio, or MATLAB/Simulink, or propagation/coverage tools such as Remcom Wireless InSite, ATDI HTZ, or similar.
• Experience with SATCOM terminals such as MUOS or commercial Ku/Ka-band, or tactical data links such as Link 16.
• Software-defined radio experience, such as GNU Radio or Ettus USRP, or scripting for test automation, such as Python.
• EMI/EMC testing experience, including familiarity with MIL-STD-461 and MIL-STD-464.
• Shipboard, vehicle, or shore-site C5ISR installation experience, including NAVSEA or NIWC installation processes.
• Electronic Warfare (EW), Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), or spectrum management experience.

Responsibilities

• Perform RF systems engineering for military communications systems, including HF/VHF/UHF, SATCOM, line-of-sight data links, and tactical radios.
• Perform RF analyses, including link budgets, propagation and coverage studies, interference analysis, and antenna selection and placement.
• Support RF integration, installation, and site surveys, including antenna, transmission line, and RF distribution design.
• Plan and conduct RF testing and troubleshooting using laboratory and field test equipment; document results and recommend corrective actions.
• Support electromagnetic interference/electromagnetic compatibility (EMI/EMC) and spectrum supportability activities.
• Develop and review technical documentation, including requirements, design and installation drawings, test procedures, and reports.
• Collaborate with government engineers, program offices, and external stakeholders, and prepare technical reports, briefs, and test documentation.
• May provide technical direction to junior engineers and technicians.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time