Communications Systems Engineer

Fts Intl; Chantilly (VA); Hybrid; USD 165,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Paid Time Off

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

Retirement and Savings

Job summary

FTS International, LLC in Chantilly, VA seeks a Communications Systems Engineer to support specialized analysis, engineering, design, and operations for IC/DoW customers. The role emphasizes optical and quantum communication systems and mission-critical solutions.

The engineer will perform SETA activities, evaluate designs, and prepare technical briefings and programmatic documentation to support acquisition and system integration efforts.

Qualifications

• TS/SCI with polygraph is required.
• BS STEM in engineering discipline is required.
• 12+ years of relevant experience with at least 4 years in optical/quantum communication.
• Experience with USG program management and acquisition lifecycle processes and documentation.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and technical writing communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Support development of next-generation national security systems across land, sea, air, and space domains.
• Provide SETA support to an IC R&D customer developing optical/quantum systems.
• Perform reviews, assessments, and risk evaluations of optical/quantum projects at various levels.
• Evaluate designs including optical terminals, free-space links, photonic components, and quantum subsystems.
• Assess emerging tech and gaps in high-bandwidth space links and quantum-enabled transport architectures.
• Develop roadmaps, requirements, specifications, verification, and transition strategies.
• Conduct technical outreach to capture user needs and evaluate capabilities.
• Prepare system engineering docs, analyses, and program-level briefings.
• Provide support to programmatic and acquisition activities, including source selections and lifecycle documentation.

Skills

TS/SCI with polygraph

12+ years of experience

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Microsoft Office

Verbal and written communication

Education

BS STEM in engineering

Job description

FTS International, LLC (FTS) is committed to providing the Federal Government with quality consultants and support.To ensure mission success we focus on putting our customers first while minimizing corporate bureaucracy onour staff.We provide Subject Matter Experts (SME) free of Organizational Conflicts of Interest (OCI)focused onindependent analysis and mission support services within the disciplines of Engineering, Counter Terrorism Operations, Management, Information Technology, Signals Analysis, Administration, Cyber Security and Linguistics.

FTS has an opportunity for a Communications Systems Engineerin Chantilly, VA.

TheCommunications Systems Engineerwill support specialized analysis, engineering, design, and operations for Intelligence Community (IC) and Department of War (DoW) customers.

Responsibilities

• Support development of next-generation and far-future national security systems across land, sea, air, and space domains
• Provide systems engineering and technical advisory (SETA) support to an IC Research & Development (R&D) customer developing advanced hardware, software, and architectural solutions for mission-critical optical and quantum communication systems
• Perform technical reviews, assessments, and risk evaluations of optical and quantum communication system development efforts at the component, subsystem, system, and architecture levels
• Evaluate designs and technologies including optical terminals, free-space optical links, photonic components, entanglement-based communication architectures, and quantum-enhanced optical subsystems
• Assess emerging technologies and identify gaps related to high-bandwidth space links, advanced modulation formats, pointing/tracking systems, link budgets, networking performance, and secure quantum-enabled transport architectures
• Support development of technology roadmaps, requirements, specifications, verification approaches, and transition strategies for optical and quantum system modernization
• Conduct technical outreach with mission users to capture needs and evaluate applicability of emerging optical and quantum capabilities
• Prepare system engineering documentation, technical analyses, and program-level briefings to communicate findings and strategic recommendations
• Provide support to programmatic and acquisition activities, including source selections, lifecycle documentation, and system integration planning

Required Skills/Qualifications

• TS/SCI with polygraph
• BS STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math) in engineering discipline
• 12+ years' relevant experience with at least 4 years in optical or quantum communication systems
• Experience with USG program management and acquisition lifecycle processes and documentation
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and technical writing communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools

Desired Skills/Qualifications

• MS STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math) in engineering discipline
• 1+ year of experience supporting USG R&D acquisition processes and documentation
• Experience with space-based optical terminals, quantum optical payloads, photonic systems, or advanced quantum-enhanced communication architectures

Expected Salary Range: $165,000 - $195,000 per year. Placement within the range is determined by qualifications, job-related criteria, experience, internal equity and market considerations. In addition, FTS International, LLC has benefits offerings in addition to salary to include Health Insurance, Paid Time Off, Life Insurance, Short Term and Long-Term Disability, Retirement and Savings, Learning and Development opportunities, wellness programs as well as other optional benefit elections.

FTS International, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer – vets/disabled.