Jr./Entry Level RF Compatibility Test Engineer - Space Programs

Peraton•Greenbelt, MD

20d•$51,000 - $82,000•Onsite

About The Position

We are seeking a Mid-Level RF Compatibility Test Engineer to support our NASA customer in Greenbelt, MD. Peraton is the Prime Contractor on the SENSE Contract; responsible for the Operations, Maintenance, Sustainment and Systems Engineering of satellite communication systems for NASA. In this position your work will involve providing spacecraft to ground station compatibility testing, engineering testing, and integration support for missions, projects, systems, and ground network transitions and initiatives. Maintain and operate test and networking systems within a Compatibility Test Lab (CTL), a testing facility located at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). The CTL is used for prelaunch testing, engineering and proof of concept testing for the NASA Space Relay (SR) and Direct-To-Earth (DTE) network. The work will include engineering troubleshooting, fault detection, and isolation. This position will also be responsible for performing testing (in accordance with test plans) with the SR and DTE to confirm RF compatibility of user spacecraft and the supporting ground network interfaces in accordance with test requirements and procedures. Review requirements, test plans and procedures. Setup and checkout equipment in test configurations. Setup and checkout various equipment interfaces such as local network interfaces, data and clock inputs and outputs, frequency standard references, RF signal levels and fiber optics. Support test team with knowledge of test procedures. Gather and summarize test results. Perform testing as described in Compatibility Test Plans. These tests may include travel to off-site locations such as spacecraft manufacturing sites, ground tracking stations, and/or Mission Operations Control Centers to emulate communication links between user spacecraft and the DTE and/or the SR. Perform radio frequency (RF) testing so that the measurement points are accessible through either RF or baseband interfaces and validate real-time authentication of telemetry, command and ranging systems. Perform signal investigation such as unique engineering tests for new modulation/demodulation techniques, new hardware, configurations; proof of concept testing for new antenna systems. Provide support in the acquisition, maintenance, and protection of resources in order to ensure that space communications systems can operate to their fullest capacity. Contribute to the ongoing modernization of the test environment by assisting with development or integration of networking and of increasingly automated procedures. Develop code to integrate COTS software into test automation suite, data collection, reporting, develop test procedures in accordance with test automation efforts, and refine reporting templates to align with data collection.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering/Science/Math or related technical discipline and 1- 3 years of related technical experience; Associate degree with 2 years; without a degree, 6+ years of related experience is required.
Knowledge of RF systems: frequency bands, purpose of RF devices, measures, signal distortion.
RF engineering skills which include the ability to independently configure and operate RF test equipment: Spec An, Sig Gen, Oscilloscope.
Experience with configuring and operating baseband devices: modems, routers, switches.
Experience writing test plans, test set-up, interpreting results and explaining to others.
Knowledge of coding and modulation techniques.
Experience with MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, Visio and MS Word.
Ability to obtain a DOD secret clearance, which requires a US citizen.

Nice To Haves

Experience and knowledge of NASA’s SN and NEN Networks and associated communication systems.
Experienced with Ethernet communications.
Knowledge of scripting (Python or similar).
Experience with COSMOS software.
Able to work both independently and collaboratively in groups.
Excellent oral and written communication skills, including presentation skills.

Responsibilities

Provide spacecraft to ground station compatibility testing, engineering testing, and integration support for missions, projects, systems, and ground network transitions and initiatives.
Maintain and operate test and networking systems within a Compatibility Test Lab (CTL).
Perform testing (in accordance with test plans) with the SR and DTE to confirm RF compatibility of user spacecraft and the supporting ground network interfaces in accordance with test requirements and procedures.
Review requirements, test plans and procedures.
Setup and checkout equipment in test configurations.
Setup and checkout various equipment interfaces such as local network interfaces, data and clock inputs and outputs, frequency standard references, RF signal levels and fiber optics.
Support test team with knowledge of test procedures.
Gather and summarize test results.
Perform testing as described in Compatibility Test Plans, which may include travel to off-site locations.
Perform radio frequency (RF) testing so that the measurement points are accessible through either RF or baseband interfaces and validate real-time authentication of telemetry, command and ranging systems.
Perform signal investigation such as unique engineering tests for new modulation/demodulation techniques, new hardware, configurations; proof of concept testing for new antenna systems.
Provide support in the acquisition, maintenance, and protection of resources in order to ensure that space communications systems can operate to their fullest capacity.
Contribute to the ongoing modernization of the test environment by assisting with development or integration of networking and of increasingly automated procedures.
Develop code to integrate COTS software into test automation suite.
Data collection.
Reporting.
Develop test procedures in accordance with test automation efforts.
Refine reporting templates to align with data collection.