RF/ Spectrum Engineer

TEKsystems•Galloway Township, NJ

2d•$63 - $63•Onsite

About The Position

Shape the Future of Aviation Safety. Our client is seeking a Sr. Principal RF/Spectrum Systems Engineer to support Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems (CUAS) engineering for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). In this high-impact role, you will lead the research, testing, evaluation, and spectrum analysis of cutting-edge UAS detection and mitigation technologies in active airport environments. This position uniquely bridges hands-on RF engineering, advanced systems analysis, and national policy development—directly influencing future FAA Advisory Circulars and aviation safety standards.

Requirements

Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electrical, Aerospace, Systems, Mechanical (preferred) or other technical discipline. Non-U.S. degrees must be ABET accredited.
10+ 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 in conducting open-air RF/spectrum data collection.
Ability to evaluate the functional capabilities of complex technologies with minimal supervision.
Highly collaborative with strong technical writing and presentation skills for both technical and non-technical audiences with teams including other disciplines.
Ability to independently plan and deliver projects with high-quality, on-time results.
Proficiency with MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Physical ability to lift up to 25 lbs. during field deployments.
Ability to obtain an FAA Suitability clearance and maintain a valid U.S. passport.
Must be W-2 employee that can obtain FAA clearance.

Nice To Haves

Direct experience developing or executing structured test plans for aviation or defense technologies.
Proficiency with data analysis and visualization tools (e.g., MATLAB, Python, JMP, or advanced Excel).
Familiarity with FAA Safety Risk Management (SRM) principles or airport operations.
Radar experience would be beneficial and valuable but not an absolute requirement, as we work with various detection technologies, but strong RF fundamentals and knowledge of measurement theory and systems analysis would translate to any type of technology being evaluated.
Previous FAA, DoD, DHS, or federal aviation experience is preferred.
Understanding of spectrum management and regulatory considerations of RF systems that transmit or affect authorized bands is critical.
Test and evaluation / technical analysis of RF systems may be used to support FAA guidance, advisory circulars and engineering briefs but the engineer will not be creating the documentation directly.

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 other frequency bands (VHF/UHF/Microwave).
Conduct precise RF measurements (power, gain, EIRP, spectrum occupancy) and evaluate electromagnetic compatibility (EM/EMC) for spectral compliance.
Perform near-field and far-field antenna range measurements in controlled or operational environments.
Conduct rigorous spectrum interference testing at active airports prior to 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, alongside performance metrics and pass/fail criteria.
Document all RD/T&E activities to contribute to FAA guidance on the selection, procurement, deployment, and management of CUAS systems as well as RF-specific measurement equipment.
Conduct thorough RF hazard analyses and safety assessments prior to open-air testing.
Translate complex RD/T&E data into performance specification frameworks using modeling, simulation, and analysis tools to shape FAA Advisory Circulars.
Utilize 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 (SRM) principles.