Radio Frequency Lab Engineer

Booz Allen Hamilton•Laurel, MD

1d•$62,000 - $141,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Opportunity: Do you enjoy a hands-on approach to solving technical challenges in a team environment, while closely working with stakeholders to produce operationally relevant solutions? This is the role of our Radio Frequency (RF) Lab Engineer working to support the customer each day. From development of quick-turn prototypes to demonstrations of soon-to-be fielded capabilities designed to protect their operations at home and abroad. Booz Allen operates an RF Systems laboratory supporting the development, integration, testing, and operation of HF, VHF, UHF, and 800 MHz land mobile radio, VHF and UHF air-to-ground, tactical combat net and data link radio systems, commercial and military SATCOM, 5G cellular networks, and is equipped with a full suite of calibrated test equipment. Laboratory work on RF systems includes operational and compliance testing, comparative analysis, equipment configuration and staging, moving lab equipment on and off shelves for daily use, positioning of lab equipment to reorganize workspaces, and the development of new systems and technologies utilizing Software Defined Radio, electronic control systems and software, antennas and transmission lines, and other types of electronic components. You may be tasked to participate in field operations including RF spectrum and interference monitoring, direction finding, equipment installation and optimization, acceptance testing, and RF coverage measurement. The RF Lab Engineer provides technical support to a variety of Federal agencies to include the Department of War. Support development of functional prototypes, help refine requirements through the development process, integrate best practices to ensure quality of delivery, and prepare reports, presentations, and briefing materials to share technical progress. As an RF Lab Engineer, you will also be responsible for ensuring the centralized lab resource remains in working order to the required quality standards, maintain equipment calibration, support logistics to load, unload, ship, and transport equipment where it is needed. Work with us as we deliver advanced mission-critical spectrum technology. Join us. The world can’t wait.

Requirements

1+ years of experience with mission critical electronics, radio communications, or radar systems
Experience building prototype level hardware and software systems
Experience developing scripts in Linux for system control
Experience with circuit board design and layout
Knowledge of AC and DC power systems and integration with solar power generation
Ability to solder to a prototype level
Ability to move or position lab equipment up to 50 lbs
Secret clearance
Associate's degree

Nice To Haves

Experience specifying components such as directional couplers, attenuators, and RF termination loads for assembling conducted RF distribution systems
Experience in MATLAB, Python, or programming languages suitable to augment or enhance COTS RF simulation capabilities
Experience conducting functional field demonstrations or measurements
Experience working with Software Defined Radios including familiarity with GNU radio
Experience utilizing tools such as Keysight Pathwave for RF system and circuit design and analysis and developing functional prototypes involving RF systems
Experience with Pathwave, MATLAB, Vivado, and other tools for development of software defined radio systems, waveforms, signals, and related work including FPGA implementation of RF signal processing systems.
Knowledge of RF protocols, propagation models, and Wireless communications systems
Ability to perform measurements with vector spectrum analyzers, oscilloscopes, vector network analyzers, and power meter
Ability to specify components in sub-systems such as the RF chain and compute cores
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Physics, Science, Technology, or Mathematics

Responsibilities

Support the development of quick-turn prototypes.
Demonstrate soon-to-be fielded capabilities.
Perform development, integration, testing, and operation of various radio systems (HF, VHF, UHF, 800 MHz land mobile radio, VHF and UHF air-to-ground, tactical combat net and data link radio systems, commercial and military SATCOM, 5G cellular networks).
Conduct operational and compliance testing.
Perform comparative analysis of RF systems.
Configure and stage equipment.
Move and position lab equipment.
Develop new systems and technologies utilizing Software Defined Radio, electronic control systems and software, antennas and transmission lines, and other electronic components.
Participate in field operations including RF spectrum and interference monitoring, direction finding, equipment installation and optimization, acceptance testing, and RF coverage measurement.
Provide technical support to Federal agencies.
Support development of functional prototypes.
Refine requirements through the development process.
Integrate best practices to ensure quality of delivery.
Prepare reports, presentations, and briefing materials.
Ensure the centralized lab resource remains in working order to required quality standards.
Maintain equipment calibration.
Support logistics for loading, unloading, shipping, and transporting equipment.