Associate SATCOM Systems Engineer

Inmarsat Government, Inc; Reston (VA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Inmarsat Government, Inc. in Reston, VA is seeking an experienced engineer to lead requirements gathering and prototype development for L-band user terminals and network topologies. The role emphasizes hands-on RF testing and collaboration with teams and vendors to deliver robust satellite communications solutions.

A bachelor's degree and 3+ years in the field are required, with opportunities to work on emerging NTN concepts and productization pathways.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in engineering or STEM discipline.
• Minimum of 3 years of engineering experience in communication systems design, integration and testing.
• SATCOM systems engineering expertise including GEO/LEO knowledge.
• Hands-on experience with RF bench equipment and modem configuration.
• Familiarity with IP routing basics and Linux/Unix environments.
• Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration abilities.
• Ability to document and present technical information clearly.

Responsibilities

• Requirements Gathering: translate operational needs into technical concepts with stakeholders.
• Concept & Prototyping: design and scope prototype L-band terminals and networks.
• Vendor & Outsource Management: draft SOWs and manage vendor timelines for prototyping.
• Testing & Validation: set up bench and over-the-air tests to validate hardware and networks.
• System Evaluation: use RF test equipment to measure signal quality and link budgets.
• Core Hand-off: package concepts and data for transition to core engineering.

Skills

SATCOM Expertise

Hardware Testing

Networking Fundamentals

Linux Knowledge

Communication Skills

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or STEM

Tools

MATLAB

STK

Python

Excel

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Full-time Regular Reston, VA 20191, Reston, VA, US

3 days ago Requisition ID: 1229

Key Responsibilities:

• Requirements Gathering: Collaborate with internal teams, external stakeholders, and customers to translate operational needs and market trends into technical concepts.
• Concept & Prototyping: Envision, design, scope, research, acquire, and build prototype L-band user terminals and supporting network topologies.
• Vendor & Outsource Management: Author technical specification documents and statement of work (SOW) requirements for outside vendors; manage vendor timelines and deliverables when prototyping is executed externally.
• Testing & Validation: Set up, execute, and document bench-level and over the air test configurations to validate new user terminal hardware and network architectures.
• System Evaluation: Utilize RF test equipment (spectrum analyzers, signal generators, power meters) to measure signal quality, gain, and frequency response, correlating real-world bench data against theoretical link budgets.
• Core Hand-off: Package successful proof-of-concepts, test data, and architectural designs to seamlessly transition projects to the core engineering team for formal productization.

Requirements:

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree in an engineering or STEM discipline.
• Experience: Minimum of 3 years of engineering experience in communication systems design, integration, and testing.
• SATCOM Expertise: Proficiency in satellite systems engineering, including the integration and deployment of mobile satellite systems; knowledge of GEO and LEO orbit satellite communications.
• Hardware & Testing: Hands-on experience configuring engineering-model modems, executing initial system bring-up, and using standard RF bench equipment.
• Networking Fundamentals: Familiarity with IP routing basics (IP addressing, subnet masks, gateways, DHCP Client/Server, and VLAN tagging).
• LINUX Familiarization: Foundational knowledge of Linux/Unix operating systems (CLI tools, file management, and basic shell scripting).
• Soft Skills: Strong interpersonal communication skills with a proven ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Communication Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication capabilities to support technical reporting, vendor coordination, and team presentations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Emerging Tech: Exposure to or familiarization with 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) and New Radio (NR) standards, including hybrid satellite-terrestrial conceptual design.
• Software & Modeling: Experience with modeling software such as MATLAB, STK (Systems Tool Kit), Python for data analysis, or advanced Excel link budgets.

Inmarsat Government is an Equal Opportunity Employer