Space Systems Integration

Provides engineering services for space systems

RF Systems Engineer

Telecommunications EngineeringConfirmed live in the last 24 hours

Full-timeChantilly, VA, USA$180k - $230k /yrIn-person

About the Job

Requirements

A master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications, or a related field and at least 10 years of experience.
Extensive hands-on experience in RF systems design and satellite communications engineering.
Familiarity with ground terminal design and satellite communication subsystems.
Strong working knowledge of modulation schemes, link budgets, and antenna system performance.
Experience with RF laboratory measurement tools and software-defined radio platforms.
Must possess an active Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information clearance and a counterintelligence polygraph completed within the last 10 years.
Willingness to travel up to 10%.

Responsibilities

Perform end-to-end RF systems engineering, including link budget analysis, signal propagation studies, EIRP and G/T calculations, and noise figure optimization.
Support the design, integration, and validation of SATCOM systems across GEO, MEO, and LEO satellite constellations and waveform technologies.
Apply mesh networking concepts such as dynamic routing, frequency reuse, and latency optimization.
Design, develop, and integrate ground terminal systems, including RF front ends, BUCs, LNBs, antennas, modems, and related hardware.
Analyze and optimize waveforms, including QPSK, 8PSK, 16QAM, and Forward Error Correction schemes, for spectral efficiency and link robustness.
Apply antenna theory and design principles to phased arrays, parabolic reflectors, flat-panel antennas, and systems requiring beam steering, polarization control, and precision tracking.
Collaborate on network protocol integration to ensure interoperability between SATCOM and terrestrial TCP/IP, VLAN, and QoS-based infrastructures.
Operate RF laboratory test equipment, including spectrum analyzers and signal generators, and interpret the results.
Use software-defined radios and digital intermediate-frequency architectures in development and troubleshooting.

Desired Qualifications

Prior experience supporting military or government communication systems.
Knowledge of mesh networking, advanced waveform optimization, and spectrum management.
Experience with digital intermediate frequency, signal processing, and adaptive communications techniques.
Familiarity with non-traditional RF sensing technologies and methodologies.

Salary Range: 180000 to 230000 (Currency: USD) (Pay period: per-year-salary)

Space Systems Integration (SSI) is a fast-growing engineering company that provides aerospace solutions to a variety of government and commercial customers. Our employees are forward-thinking, self-directed individuals who are committed to solving our customers’ technical challenges.

SSI is seeking an RF Systems Engineer in Chantilly, VA, to provide Systems Engineering and Technical Advisory (SETA) services to a Government Intelligence Community (IC) customer. In this position, you will support advanced satellite communications and ground terminal solutions. This role requires deep technical expertise in RF systems engineering, SATCOM, and network integration to enable resilient, high-performance communication systems for mission-critical applications.

Key Requirements

Perform end-to-end RF systems engineering, including link budget analysis, signal propagation studies, EIRP, G/T calculations, and noise figure optimization.
Support the design, integration, and validation of SATCOM systems across GEO, MEO, and LEO satellite constellations and waveform technologies.
Apply knowledge of mesh networking concepts such as dynamic routing, frequency reuse, and latency optimization.
Design, develop, and integrate ground terminal systems including RF front-ends, BUCs, LNBs, antennas, modems, and related hardware.
Analyze and optimize waveforms including QPSK, 8PSK, 16QAM, and Forward Error Correction (FEC) schemes for spectral efficiency and link robustness.
Apply antenna theory and design principles to phased arrays, parabolic reflectors, flat panel antennas, and systems requiring beam steering, polarization control, and precision tracking.
Collaborate on network protocol integration, ensuring smooth interoperability between SATCOM and terrestrial TCP/IP, VLAN, and QoS-based infrastructures.
Operate and interpret results from RF lab test equipment, including spectrum analyzers, signal generators, and related diagnostic tools.
Utilize Software Defined Radios (SDRs) and digital Intermediate Frequency (IF) architectures in both development and troubleshooting roles.

Required Qualifications

Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications, or a related field and (ten) 10 or more years of experience.
Extensive hands-on experience in RF systems design and SATCOM engineering.
Familiarity with ground terminal design and satellite communication subsystems.
Strong working knowledge of modulation schemes, link budgets, and antenna system performance.
Experience with RF lab measurement tools and SDR platforms
Must possess an active Top Secret/SCI clearance and CI polygraph (polygraph within the last ten (10) years).
Willingness to travel up to 10%

Preferred Qualifications

Prior experience supporting military or government communication systems.
Knowledge of mesh networking, advanced waveform optimization, and spectrum management.
Experience with digital IF, signal processing, and adaptive communications techniques.
Familiarity with non-traditional RF sensing technologies and methodologies.

#ssi #weknowhowtobuildit #spacejobs

Space Systems Integration provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

About the Company

Space Systems Integration

Provides engineering services for space systems

Space Systems Integration provides engineering services in Northern Virginia, focusing on space systems and related programs. The company works by offering engineering support, systems integration, and technical services to government and defense projects. It differentiates itself through its emphasis on space systems and its location in the Northern Virginia region, which positions it to work closely with government agencies and defense contractors. The goal is to deliver reliable engineering solutions that help customers plan, build, and integrate space-related systems and programs.

Company size: 11-50
Company stage: Not listed
Total funding: Not listed
Headquarters: Chantilly, VA
Founded: 2005

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