Sr. C2 Terminal RF & Antenna System Engineer

The Aerospace Corporation•Los Angeles, CA

3d•$166,400 - $249,600•Onsite

About The Position

The Aerospace Corporation is seeking a senior RF engineer to support the Evolved Strategic SATCOM (ESS) Program Office and its Command & Control (C2) Terminal. The role provides independent technical assessment of terminal architectures and vendor prototypes, with findings that inform government acquisition decisions. The engineer will work with antennas, phased arrays, software-defined radios, and signal processing to assess and improve terminal performance for a strategic national mission. The position serves as a subject matter expert in C2 RF systems and MILSATCOM, evaluating link performance, waveform behavior, signal processing, interference, and anti-jam performance under realistic operational conditions. The engineer will lead integration and test activities, project teams, and customer engagement; communicate technical findings to senior government and Aerospace leaders; and develop and manage Aerospace Engineering and Technology Group support to the program. The role also supports ongoing development programs and future mission capability for NC3 customers. The selected candidate must work full-time on-site at Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, and be willing to travel domestically up to 10% of the time. An active Secret clearance and eligibility to obtain TS/SCI are required; U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a clearance.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree from an accredited program in Electrical Engineering or a related technical discipline.
Twelve or more years of related experience in antenna/RF system design, analysis, and test, or comparable depth in SDR, waveform, signal processing, or satellite terminal engineering.
Experience supporting DoD or IC space system programs.
Strong communication skills, including briefing technical material to senior audiences clearly and concisely, writing assessments that withstand scrutiny, and influencing stakeholders toward sound technical positions.
Willingness to travel domestically up to 10% of the time.
Active Secret security clearance with eligibility to obtain a TS/SCI clearance issued by the U.S. government.
U.S. citizenship, required to obtain a security clearance.

Nice To Haves

An advanced degree in a relevant technical area.
Proficiency in phased array design, modeling, and performance measurement.
Proven ability to architect and implement antenna and RF system solutions against real-world performance requirements.
Hands-on experience with SATCOM terminal development, integration, or testing in airborne, ground-mobile, or fixed environments.
Experience developing or operating ground stations.
Experience with protected SATCOM, anti-jam, or anti-spoof techniques and their measured performance.
Experience with RF test and measurement, anechoic chamber or range testing, and anomaly resolution on real hardware.
Experience evaluating competing vendor designs, supporting source selection, or assessing contractor technical performance.
Experience working in a program office with a government customer.
A track record of leading development projects and mentoring junior engineers.
An existing TS/SCI clearance.

Responsibilities

Serve as the program's subject matter expert in C2 RF systems, antennas, phased arrays, and software-defined radio communication subsystems.
Solve MILSATCOM problems involving link performance, signal processing, waveform behavior, interference, and anti-jam performance under realistic operational conditions.
Evaluate competing C2 terminal architectures and prototypes, and lead integration and test activities to measure performance.
Lead project teams and engage directly with the customer on key technical problems.
Translate technical findings into decisions; brief senior government and Aerospace leadership; write rigorous assessments; and build consensus across contractors and organizations.
Use technical judgment to support successful execution of ongoing development programs and shape future mission capability.
Operate strategically in support of NC3 customers and stakeholders.
Develop and manage Aerospace Engineering and Technology Group support to the program, ensuring access to needed specialized expertise.

Benefits

Comprehensive health care and wellness plans.
Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation.
Standard and alternate work schedules, including telework options.
401(k) plan with company-paid benefits of 8%, 10%, or 12% of eligible compensation based on years of service, plus matching contributions; employees are immediately eligible and vested upon hire.
Flexible spending accounts.
Variable pay program for exceptional contributions.
Relocation assistance.
Professional growth and development programs.
Education assistance programs.
Inclusive work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect.