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SAIC · 6 hours ago

RF Communication Systems Engineer

El Segundo, CA

Full-time

Onsite

Senior Level, Lead/Staff

$120K/yr - $160K/yr

12+ years exp

SAIC is seeking an experienced Communications Systems Engineer with a strong background in RF systems for satellite, ground terminal, and military user equipment applications. The role involves conducting detailed link budget analyses, developing complex communication scenarios, and ensuring robust integration of military user terminals for mission-critical applications.

Information TechnologySecurityService IndustrySoftware

Work & Life Balance

No H1B

Security Clearance Required

U.S. Citizen Only

Responsibilities

Requirements Development & Management Elicit, analyze, define, and manage technical requirements for satellite communication systems and ground terminals, translating high-level operational needs into detailed, verifiable system specifications. This includes a deep understanding of warfighter needs related to user equipment

Technical Analysis & Trade Studies Conduct comprehensive technical analyses and trade studies to evaluate design alternatives, assess performance feasibility, and make data-driven recommendations for optimal system solutions, considering constraints imposed by military user terminals

RF Systems Design and Analysis Design and analyze end-to-end RF communication systems, including satellite payloads and ground terminals, to meet mission requirements, with a focus on seamless integration with military user equipment to existing SATCOM solutions

Link Budget Analysis Develop and maintain detailed link budgets for satellite communication links, performing margin assessments and optimizing system performance based on modulation schemes, coding, and environmental factors, with specific consideration for user equipment performance

Scenario Modeling Create and simulate realistic communication scenarios to evaluate system performance under various conditions, including signal impairments, interference, and atmospheric effects, particularly as they impact deployed user terminals

MILSATCOM/COMSATCOM Expertise Apply in-depth knowledge of military and commercial SATCOM systems, including specific constellations (e.g., WGS, AEHF, MUOS) and standards, to develop and integrate solutions, particularly with respect to the user terminal segment

Military User Equipment Integration Analyze and evaluate the performance of various military user terminals (airborne, ground, maritime), ensuring interoperability and compatibility within the overall communication architecture

System Integration and Testing Support the integration, verification, and validation of communication equipment and software. Develop and execute test plans for lab and field evaluations of ground and space components, including specific tests for military user equipment over satellite systems

Ground Terminal Support Provide technical expertise on ground terminal architecture and design, including antennas, RF front-ends, modems, and data processing, ensuring compatibility with the military user terminal ecosystem

Architecture Development Participate in the definition of system architectures and interfaces, ensuring modularity, scalability, and compatibility across system components, from the space layer to the tactical user

Anomalies and Troubleshooting Investigate and resolve system anomalies, performance discrepancies, and technical issues throughout the system lifecycle, often involving user equipment in deployed scenarios

Technical Documentation Produce and maintain comprehensive technical documentation, including system specifications, test procedures, interface control documents (ICDs), and analysis reports

Collaboration Work collaboratively with cross-functional teams, including hardware and software engineers, mission planners, and military end-users, to deliver integrated system solutions

Qualification

RF Systems EngineeringLink Budget AnalysisMILSATCOM/COMSATCOM ExpertiseTechnical Analysis SkillsSystems Engineering PrinciplesLink Budget ToolsSATCOM KnowledgeProgrammingTest EquipmentSecure CommsModel-Based Systems EngineeringTechnical Leadership

Required

Clearance Able to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance

Education Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field. A Master's degree is preferred

Experience 12+ years of experience in communications systems engineering, with a focus on RF satellite communication systems

RF Fundamentals Strong understanding of RF principles, antenna systems, digital signal processing (DSP), and modulation/demodulation techniques

Systems Engineering Principles Proven experience with the systems engineering lifecycle, including requirements definition, decomposition, verification, and validation

Technical Analysis Skills Demonstrated ability to perform complex technical analysis, trade studies, and generate data-driven recommendations

Link Budget Tools Proficiency with link budget and RF simulation and modeling tools, such as STK (Systems Tool Kit), MATLAB, or custom scripts

SATCOM Knowledge Experience with both MILSATCOM and COMSATCOM systems, protocols, and architectures (LEO, MEO, GEO)

Preferred

Military User Equipment (UE) Experience Direct experience with military user terminals and ground equipment (e.g., AN/PRC, AN/MRC series, SATCOM On-The-Move systems)

Terminal Certifications Familiarity with the certification processes (e.g., Joint Interoperability Test Command – JITC, MIL-STD-188-164C, MIL-STD-188-165B) for military terminals

Technical Leadership Demonstrated experience leading technical efforts or small teams on complex communications projects

Clearance Active Secret or Top Secret security clearance

Programming Experience with programming/scripting languages like Python, C++, or MATLAB for data analysis and test automation

Test Equipment Hands-on experience with RF test equipment, including spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, and signal generators

Secure Comms Familiarity with secure and classified communication systems, cryptographic equipment, and Information Assurance (IA) requirements

Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) Experience with MBSE tools and methodologies