Radio Frequency Lab Engineer

Booz Allen Hamilton•Laurel, MD

1d•$62,000 - $141,000•Onsite

About The Position

This role involves a hands-on approach to solving technical challenges in a team environment, working closely with stakeholders to produce operationally relevant solutions. The Radio Frequency (RF) Lab Engineer supports customers by developing quick-turn prototypes and demonstrating capabilities designed to protect operations. Booz Allen operates an RF Systems laboratory that supports the development, integration, testing, and operation of various radio systems including 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, and 5G cellular networks. The lab is equipped with a full suite of calibrated test equipment. Laboratory work includes operational and compliance testing, comparative analysis, equipment configuration and staging, moving and positioning lab equipment, and developing new systems and technologies using Software Defined Radio, electronic control systems and software, antennas and transmission lines, and other electronic components. The role may also involve field operations such as 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 Federal agencies, including the Department of War, supports the development of functional prototypes, refines requirements, integrates best practices for quality delivery, and prepares reports, presentations, and briefing materials. Additionally, the engineer is responsible for maintaining the lab resource in working order, ensuring equipment calibration, and supporting logistics for equipment transport.

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

Develop quick-turn prototypes.
Demonstrate soon-to-be fielded capabilities.
Perform operational and compliance testing of RF systems.
Conduct comparative analysis of RF systems.
Configure and stage RF 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 to load, unload, ship, and transport equipment.