Cellular Protocol Engineer — 3G/LTE/5G Lab & Field

Precise Systems Inc.; Crane (IN); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Precise Systems seeks a Cellular Protocol & Software Engineer to support NSWC Crane's Expeditionary Electromagnetic Warfare mission. This role analyzes, develops, implements, and tests 3G, LTE, and 5G cellular protocols in laboratory, simulated, OTA, and field environments.

The engineer must work in-person to deliver results. The assignment involves decoding signaling, writing software in C/C++, and creating structured test cases while correlating RF observations with protocol activity.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer/Electrical/Electronics Engineering or Math with CS concentration.
• Minimum of three years in computer design, software development, or computer networks.
• Hands-on experience analyzing or developing cellular protocols at protocol-stack level.
• Working knowledge of 3GPP architecture and LTE/5G protocol behavior (RRC/NAS/PDCP/RLC/MAC/PHY).
• Strong programming skills in C, C++, and Python for protocol analysis or test development.
• Experience capturing, decoding, and analyzing cellular signaling or packet traffic.
• Experience developing or executing lab, simulated, OTA, or field tests.
• Strong technical writing and communication skills to document findings and recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Analyze 3G, LTE, and 5G protocol stacks, signaling flows, and state transitions.
• Decode and evaluate control-plane and user-plane signaling across protocol layers.
• Analyze 3GPP procedures such as registration, authentication, and mobility.
• Identify protocol fields, timing relationships, and potential vulnerabilities.
• Develop, modify, debug, and maintain software in C, C++, and Python for protocol testing.
• Capture, decode, inspect, and troubleshoot cellular signaling using specialized tools.
• Develop and execute structured test cases to exercise protocol behavior and performance.
• Support test environments—lab, simulated, OTA, and field tests—reproducing protocol scenarios.
• Correlate RF observations with protocol activity to support defensible conclusions.
• Prepare technical reports, vulnerability findings, and engineering recommendations for Government review.

Skills

C

C++

Python

3GPP protocols

LTE/5G

Protocol analysis

RRC/NAS/PDCP/RLC/MAC/PHY

Software testing

Debugging

Lab/field tests

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, or Mathematics with a concentration in computer science

Tools

Wireshark

OpenAirInterface

srsRAN

Job description

Precise Systems seeks a Cellular Protocol & Software Engineer to support NSWC Crane's Expeditionary Electromagnetic Warfare mission. This role analyzes, develops, implements, and tests 3G, LTE, and 5G cellular protocols in laboratory, simulated, OTA, and field environments.

The engineer must work in-person to deliver results. The assignment involves decoding signaling, writing software in C/C++, and creating structured test cases while correlating RF observations with protocol activity.