RF System Test Engineer

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory • Laurel, MD

40d

About The Position

Are you searching for impactful work in the RF communications system domain? Are you a passionate engineer with a love for delivering mission critical capabilities? If so, we're looking for someone like you to join our team at APL! We are seeking a motivated test engineer to support building custom end-to-end RF communications systems for the special operations and intelligence communities. We design field-forward solutions to address challenging national security problems. As a member of our team, you'll support soup-to-nuts design for test and system testing and integration of groundbreaking RF communication systems, Our systems enable planning and decision making in domains as varying as active threat deterrence, signal intelligence, cyber operations, machine learning, image processing, and applied data analytics. They range from massive RF processing systems to small, low-power solutions designed for specialized application. You'll join a multidisciplinary team of engineers and scientists who believe in encouraging an open and collaborative work environment to solve difficult problems. As an RF Test Engineer, you will: Support the design of complex RF systems through the full development cycle, from idea to prototype to fielded capability. Evaluate proposed designs for feasibility of test, inform designs with inputs for testability, and develop test plans and testing infrastructure. Perform feasibility and characterization testing of components and subsystems to guide design choices and support prototyping. Perform design validation, subsystem and system tests, integration tests, environmental operational suitability tests, qualification and acceptance testing, and on- and off-site field testing.

Requirements

• Have a Bachelor's degree in computer or electrical engineering or a related field and 2+ years of experience in RF electronics design, electronics test and evaluation, or systems engineering and integration at the printed circuit board or system level.
• Are proficient in programming in Python or other scripting language such as MATLAB.
• Can operate laboratory equipment including oscilloscopes, signal generators, power meters, spectrum analyzers, and network analyzers.
• Are able to obtain a Secret level security clearance by your start date and can ultimately obtain a Final Top Secret level clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

Nice To Haves

• Are proficient with reading electrical schematics.
• Are skilled at debug of electronics issues encountered during development and test.

Responsibilities

• Support the design of complex RF systems through the full development cycle, from idea to prototype to fielded capability.
• Evaluate proposed designs for feasibility of test, inform designs with inputs for testability, and develop test plans and testing infrastructure.
• Perform feasibility and characterization testing of components and subsystems to guide design choices and support prototyping.
• Perform design validation, subsystem and system tests, integration tests, environmental operational suitability tests, qualification and acceptance testing, and on- and off-site field testing.

Benefits

• We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates.
• Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Industry: Educational Services
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees