Electrical Engineer - NASA Sounding Rocket Program, Telemetry

Peraton Overview

Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world’s leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, our employees do the can’t be done by solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers. Visit peraton.com to learn how we’re keeping people around the world safe and secure.

Responsibilities

NASA’s Sounding Rocket Operations Contract (NSROC) is a suborbital spaceflight program located at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility (WFF), part of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC). NSROC provides suborbital launch vehicles, payload development, and field operations support to NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, enabling Earth, Heliophysics, and Astrophysics research.

Peraton is seeking an Electrical Engineer – Telemetry to support the NSROC program at Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, VA.

As an Electrical Engineer – Telemetry, you will support the design, integration, testing, and field operations of sounding rocket telemetry systems throughout the mission life cycle. Responsibilities include mission requirements, PCM data acquisition and encoding, RF telemetry hardware, ground data interfaces, system troubleshooting, and launch support. You will work independently and on multidisciplinary teams supporting multiple missions and projects.

Key Responsibilities:

• Produce and present technical material for internal and external customer meetings.
• Develop mission telemetry requirements, measurement lists, and PCM encoder matrices.
• Configure, integrate, and test PCM encoders, data acquisition hardware, RF transmitters, antennas, and ground telemetry checkout equipment.
• Perform system-level troubleshooting using electrical and RF test instrumentation.
• Support telemetry system integration, acceptance testing, launch rehearsals, field operations, and transition to new telemetry hardware and software.
• Participate in technical interchange discussions with customers, experimenters, range personnel, and other engineering disciplines.
• Generate and maintain engineering documentation supporting telemetry system design, test, configuration, and field operations.
• Manage assigned design and development activities; may serve as the lead electrical engineer for sounding rocket missions.

Required Training:

• Electrostatic Discharge (ESD)
• Quality Management System (QMS)
• Ordnance Awareness

Travel:

• Approximately 2-3 months per year, including remote launch campaigns that may last 6–8 weeks.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Physics, or another STEM discipline.
• Two or more years of engineering experience with telemetry, instrumentation, data acquisition, RF systems, or related electrical subsystems.
• Experience integrating and troubleshooting electrical components, subsystems, and test equipment. 
• Familiarity with electrical and RF test instrumentation, including:
  • Power supplies
  • Digital multimeters (DMMs)
  • Oscilloscopes
  • Spectrum analyzers
  • Network analyzers
• Ability to understand schematics, technical documentation, and detailed test or operating procedures.
• Must be a US Citizen and the ability to obtain a NASA PIV badge.

Desired Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering preferred. 
• Hands-on experience with PCM telemetry, encoder configuration, measurement definition, and RF telemetry systems. 
• Experience with RF transmitters, antennas, telemetry signal chains, or spectrum analysis. 
• Experience with Ground Data Systems and networked data acquisition systems. 
• Experience with FPGA/VHDL or embedded digital systems such as microcontrollers, PLDs, or DSPs. 
• Programming or scripting experience using C/C++, C#, MATLAB, Python, or similar engineering tools.
• Experience supporting aerospace, flight test, launch, range, or other field-based mission operations.

Target Salary Range

$66,000 - $106,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position. Salary is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the individual’s experience, education, knowledge, skills, and competencies, as well as geographic location and business and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.

Benefits Statement

Peraton offers eligible employees a variety of benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, health savings account, short/long term disability, EAP, parental leave, 401(k), paid time off (PTO) for vacation, and company paid holidays. A full listing of available benefits can be viewed at https://www.careers.peraton.com/benefits.

Application Statements

The application period for the job is estimated to be 30 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates. By applying to this job, you are expressing interest in the role and the Company. During the review of your application, you may be required to participate in an on-camera interview, as well as participate in a process to verify your identity. Use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools of any kind during Peraton interviews is strictly prohibited unless the candidate has obtained prior written authorization. All interview responses must be the candidate’s own.

EEO

EEO: Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.