RF Sensor Engineer

Leidos•Pittsburgh, PA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Leidos Research Support Team supporting the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is seeking a RF Sensor Engineer to join their team in Pittsburgh, PA. This opportunity allows for side-by-side execution of research with world-class scientists and engineers, utilizing state-of-the-art equipment to contribute to new areas of basic and applied research. The successful candidate will collaborate on an interdisciplinary team spanning industry, academic, and national laboratory partners, with the goal of developing a wireless sensor network for infrastructure sensing. The development cycle for this role encompasses conceptual development through field demonstration. Knowledge of electromagnetic propagation through materials, passive microwave sensor devices, and networking methodologies, along with demonstrated automation and testing using state-of-the-art RF/microwave techniques, and hands-on experience working with RF and microwave propagation systems are highly desired. The successful candidate is expected to leverage analytical models, finite element modeling, and other simulation tools for device modeling, sensor network development, and instrumentation automation. Publications in high-quality scientific peer-reviewed journals, presentations at national and international technical meetings, and the development of new intellectual property are all expected outcomes of the research to be performed. This position is onsite at the NETL campus in Pittsburgh, PA 4 days a week, and 1 day a week from a home office.

Requirements

Masters’ degree in electrical engineering, engineering physics, or related field with 2+ years relevant experience
Experience with research, implementation, and evaluation of active and passive RF / microwave communication networks
Experience with device fabrication and testing (ideally in harsh environments)
Experience leveraging analytical models, finite element analysis and other simulation tools for device modeling, sensor network development, and instrumentation automation
Hands-on familiarity with laboratory equipment such as vector network analyzers, arbitrary waveform generators, oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, data acquisition and processing systems using Python, LabVIEW, MATLAB, or other programming languages
Ability to meet the requirements for gaining access to work on the NETL campus

Nice To Haves

PhD in electrical engineering, engineering physics, or related field
Software Defined Radio experience
Experience modeling and optimizing electromagnetic propagation through media and design and development expertise with surface acoustic wave sensors
COMSOL experience

Responsibilities

Design, simulate, and optimize Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) devices based on sensing stimuli of interest
Work with functional material scientists to design and develop devices capable of detecting pipeline environmental factors
Model and analyze radio wave propagation in complex pipeline environments, use results for design of high efficiency antenna
Use RF and microwave systems to wirelessly interrogate SAW sensors and measure changes in infrastructure conditions at desired locations
Implement real-time wireless data acquisition, synchronization, and secure communication protocols for SAW sensors array
Plan and participate in field test demonstrations of developed technologies
Collaborate with multidisciplinary group of science researchers to accomplish project tasks
Create and deliver oral, poster presentations of results in meetings and at technical conferences/workshops
Effectively document and communicate scientific results through peer-review journal manuscripts and technical reports