RF Engineer Sr Principal

General Dynamics Information Technology•Egg Harbor Township, NJ

2d•$147,292 - $199,278•Onsite

About The Position

GDIT is seeking a Sr. Principal RF/Spectrum Systems Engineer to support Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems (CUAS) engineering for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The role leads research, testing, evaluation, and spectrum analysis of UAS detection and mitigation technologies in active airport environments. It combines hands-on RF engineering and systems analysis with national policy development that informs future FAA Advisory Circulars and aviation safety standards.

Requirements

Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electrical, Aerospace, Systems, Mechanical, or another technical discipline; non-U.S. degrees must be ABET accredited.
10 or more years of progressive engineering experience in RF, radar, or spectrum management.
Proven experience using spectrum analyzers and other equipment to test, evaluate, and characterize complex RF devices and environments for FCC/NTIA compliance.
Demonstrated success conducting open-air RF/spectrum data collection.
Ability to evaluate the functional capabilities of complex technologies with minimal supervision.
Strong collaboration, technical writing, and presentation skills for technical and non-technical audiences and multidisciplinary teams.
Ability to independently plan and deliver projects with high-quality, on-time results.
Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Physical ability to lift up to 25 pounds during field deployments.
Ability to obtain an FAA Suitability clearance and maintain a valid U.S. passport.

Nice To Haves

Direct experience developing or executing structured test plans for aviation or defense technologies.
Proficiency with data analysis and visualization tools such as MATLAB, Python, JMP, or advanced Excel.
Familiarity with FAA Safety Risk Management principles or airport operations.

Responsibilities

Lead radar testing across L, S, C, X, Ku, and Ka frequency bands using FMCW, pulse Doppler, and other waveforms, including phased-array antenna technologies.
Lead testing of mitigation devices operating in VHF, UHF, microwave, and other frequency bands.
Conduct precise RF measurements, including power, gain, EIRP, and spectrum occupancy, and evaluate electromagnetic compatibility for spectral compliance.
Perform near-field and far-field antenna range measurements in controlled or operational environments.
Conduct spectrum interference testing at active airports before CUAS deployment.
Develop, execute, and oversee detailed test plans, test cards, and structured evaluation frameworks.
Manage vendor systems during deployment, troubleshooting, data collection, and teardown.
Establish selection criteria for UAS platforms used in evaluations, along with performance metrics and pass/fail criteria.
Document research, development, testing, and evaluation activities to inform FAA guidance on CUAS selection, procurement, deployment, management, and RF measurement equipment.
Conduct RF hazard analyses and safety assessments before open-air testing.
Translate RD/T&E data into performance specification frameworks using modeling, simulation, and analysis tools to help shape FAA Advisory Circulars.
Use technical data tools to model and analyze spectrum environments and system capabilities.
Create multi-airport CUAS operational recommendations and best practices aligned with FAA Safety Risk Management principles.