Electrical Engineer

U.S. Naval Research Laboratory; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, DC is seeking Advanced Degree Research Electrical Engineers with deep expertise in RF and optical systems, electromagnetics, antennas, and related domains.

Candidates should show strong capabilities in digital receivers, real-time FPGA-based firmware, and applications of AI/ML to signal processing, with a drive for innovation in national security technologies. U.S. Citizens only; equal opportunity employer.

Qualifications

• Electrical engineering professionals with advanced degree focus in RF/optical systems, electromagnetics, antennas, or related domains.
• Candidates should possess deep technical capability in their specialties and need not cover all domains.

Responsibilities

• Apply advanced engineering techniques in RF/optical systems, electromagnetics, and antenna designs.
• Develop and test digital receivers, exciters, and FPGA firmware for real-time signal processing.
• Leverage AI/ML approaches to enhance sensing, detection, and simulation capabilities.

Skills

RF systems engineering

Optical systems engineering

Electromagnetics

Antennas and adaptive beamforming

Microwave and mm-wave

Transmitters and solid-state

Digital receivers and exciters

Signal processing

AI/ML applications

Modeling and simulation

Tools

FPGA

MATLAB/Simulink

Job description

**Note: Resumes are limited to two pages and will be accepted until 11:59pm ET on 9 August 2026.**

New developments in the Systems Directorate require Advanced Degree Research Electrical Engineers with critical knowledge, technical expertise, and a drive for innovation.

About NRL: NRL is located in Washington D.C. and offers its civilian employees a challenging and exciting career in the federal government with flexible work schedules, competitive salaries, and world-class research facilities equipped with state-of-the-art technology. Apply your talents in a creative, hands-on environment that provides outstanding opportunities for educational and career advancement. Work alongside world-renowned scientists and engineers to forge your own path to success.

About the Systems Directorate: The mission of the NRL Systems Directorate is to apply the tools of basic research, concept exploration, and engineering development to expand operational capabilities and to provide materiel support to Naval and Marine Corps missions. Emphasis is placed on creating and exploiting new knowledge in advanced and emerging technologies, devices, systems, and methods that enable superior warfighting capabilities, avoid technological surprise, and deny these capabilities to adversaries.

The Directorate is composed of over 550 staff members across four Research Divisions:

• Radar
• Information Technology
• Optical Science
• Tactical Electronic Warfare

Who we are looking for:

We are actively seeking electrical engineering professionals with specialized skills in one or more of the following focus areas. Candidates are not expected to have expertise or knowledge in all of these domains, but should possess deep technical capability in their respective specialties:

• RF and Optical systems engineering
• Electromagnetics
• Antennas and adaptive beamforming
• Microwave and mm-wave techniques
• Transmitters and solid-state technology

Signal Processing & Computing:

• Digital receivers and exciters
• Statistical and adaptive signal processing
• Detection of signals in noise, clutter, and interference
• Real-time software and firmware (FPGA) design
• Applications of AI/ML
• Modeling and simulation

This opportunity is open to all US Citizens. NRL is an equal opportunity employer.