RF Engineer

Astrion•Albuquerque, NM

28d•Onsite

About The Position

Astrion is seeking an RF Engineer to support space-based RF hardware development, EMI/EMC testing, and spectrum management activities for advanced research programs at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Space Vehicles Directorate in Albuquerque, NM. This position offers a hands-on opportunity to work on AFRL space vehicle and ground systems, contributing to lab testing, technical documentation, and spectrum coordination across military, government, and industry stakeholders.

Requirements

U.S. Citizenship required
Bachelor’s degree in Electrical, Computer, RF Engineering, or a related discipline with an RF focus
3+ years of hands-on engineering and/or testing experience with radio-frequency systems
Experience planning and conducting RF lab and/or field tests, including data acquisition and analysis
Proficiency with RF test equipment, including:
Spectrum analyzers
Vector network analyzers (VNAs)
Signal generators
Experience with MATLAB or Python for data modeling and analysis
Familiarity with EMI/EMC testing concepts (especially MIL-STD-461)
Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills
Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team
Attention to detail in testing and documentation processes

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting DoD space programs, particularly in PNT or small satellite systems
Familiarity with frequency management tools: DD Form 1494, EL-CID, Spectrum XXI
Experience with RF system calibration and ESD best practices
Previous work in classified or secure lab environments
Demonstrated ability to support multidisciplinary engineering teams
Prior involvement with EMI/EMC lab setups, equipment selection, and testing
Ability to adapt quickly between lab tasks, documentation, and coordination with external partners

Responsibilities

RF Integration & Test Engineering (70%)
Set up, calibrate, and operate RF test configurations for lab and field environments
Conduct testing of RF components, subsystems, and full systems
Perform EMI/EMC testing to MIL-STD-461 standards
Analyze RF test data and present findings to engineering teams and stakeholders
Support verification and validation (V&V) of hardware to meet program requirements
Contribute to test planning, execution, and technical documentation
Participate in design reviews and review vendor test plans and deliverables
Enforce and maintain lab safety protocols and recommend process improvements
Assist in post-delivery testing of flight and ground hardware
Spectrum Management & Frequency Coordination (30%)
Support spectrum certification and frequency coordination for AFRL programs
Prepare and submit DD Form 1494s using EL-CID and Spectrum XXI
Represent AFRL in national pre-coordination working group meetings
Coordinate with stakeholders including NASA, AFSMO, DoC, SMC, and AFSPC
Manage local spectrum usage for terrestrial system testing