Lead SATCOM MS&A Engineer

Mitre Corporation; McLean (VA); On-site; USD 147,000 - 221,000; Full time

Job summary

MITRE Corporation is seeking a SATCOM-focused engineer to contribute to programs advancing commercial and military SATCOM in complex environments. You’ll engage in research, design, analysis, testing, modeling, and emulation of networks across diverse environments to support national security goals.

The role requires hands-on experiments, collaboration with sponsors, and mentoring junior staff. A Top Secret/SCI clearance is required, with onsite presence at least three days per week.

Qualifications

• Requires 8+ years with Bachelors, 6+ with Masters, or PhD with 3+ years experience.
• Deep knowledge of RF communications theory: modulations, link budgets, coding, channels.
• Understanding of satellite systems operations and orbital dynamics.
• Experience with military and commercial SATCOM systems preferred.
• Ability to mentor junior staff and collaborate with sponsors on technical tasks.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research, design, analysis, testing, and M&S for SATCOM programs.
• Develop M&S capabilities to assess SATCOM performance in complex environments.
• Perform hardware and software experiments to validate models and techniques.
• Model network performance in tactical environments and analyze user links.
• Research emerging technologies and assist staff in sponsor work program development.

Skills

RF theory

Satellite operations

Team collaboration

MATLAB

STK

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor's in E.E. or related

Master's in related field

PhD with 3+ years

Tools

MATLAB

STK

Job description

At MITRE, your passion fuels work that impacts our nation and improves lives. This is where your skills strengthen national security, cybersecurity, health, transportation, and citizen services. We’re a nonprofit engineering, applied research, and advanced technology organization working in the public interest. With objectivity and integrity at our core, we lead federally funded research and development centers for U.S. government agencies – collaborating with industry and academia to deliver integrated, high-impact solutions that advance our nation’s health, security, and prosperity. Our people tackle the toughest technical challenges, supported by competitive benefits, meaningful career development, and a culture of innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence. Choose MITRE for a career with purpose — and help shape the future.

As an operator of Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), MITRE staff are tasked with applying their skills to impact programmatic and technical decisions of highest importance to the nation. The Advanced Wireless & SATCOM Department, which is part of the MITRE Technology and Engineering Infrastructure, Networking, and Communications Division, has as its mission to provide premier communications network engineering services for our customers at all classification levels. Our engineers have expertise in research, design, analysis, modeling and simulation, lab experimentation, field testing, and implementation of networks across a diverse set of networked communication environments including virtual, wired, and wireless. We are adept at combining networking research and innovation with practical hands‑on experience to provide risk reduction and deployable solutions for our customers.

Roles & Responsibilities

MITRE is seeking a strong candidate in satellite communications (SATCOM) to contribute toward a set of programs that are focused on advancing the understanding and utilization of commercial and military SATCOM in complex environments. This position will provide opportunities for professional growth through development, applied research, and innovation of SATCOM capabilities.

Specific duties will vary by project but will generally include a combination of research, design, analysis, testing, experimentation, modeling & simulation (M&S), and emulation of communications networks to solve our nation’s most complex problems. Those activities will include one or more of following:

• Support building & maintaining lab‑based testbeds and conducting proof‑of‑concept experiments
• Development of M&S capabilities to assess performance of SATCOM systems in complex environments
• Conduct hardware and software experimentation to validate models or techniques
• Model performance and behavior of networks and user links in tactical environments
• Research emerging technologies
• Assist MITRE staff in analyzing, modernizing, and advancing sponsor work programs

Basic Qualifications

• Requires a minimum of 8 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 6 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 3 years’ experience; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience.
• Thorough knowledge of RF communications theory, including modulations, link budgets, error correction coding, channel effects, communication protocols, etc.
• An understanding of satellite systems operations, including orbital dynamics and typical payload processing.
• Some understanding or experience with military and commercial satellite systems
• Ability to effectively collaborate within a team environment to execute analysis and technical development tasks for SATCOM projects, mentoring junior staff to build team competency and productivity.
• Ability to interact with sponsors, including synthesizing mission challenges into technical tasks, developing analytical conclusions, building consensus on recommendations.
• Strong analytical skills, solid mathematical foundation, and familiarity with modeling and simulation tools such as MATLAB and STK.
• Excellent verbal communication and writing skills.
• Must have an active Top Secret U.S Government issued Security Clearance with the ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI U.S. Government issued Security Clearance. Per the U.S. Government’s eligibility requirements, you must be a U.S Citizen to be considered for a security clearance.
• This position requires a minimum of 3 days per week on‑site

Preferred Qualifications

Additional qualifications that would be helpful or needed include an understanding of the following topics:

• Electromagnetic propagation
• Antenna design
• Object‑Oriented Programming (OOP) experience in MATLAB
• Phased array beamforming and technology capabilities
• Digital signal processing and detection and estimation theory
• Anti‑jam (AJ) and Low Probability of Intercept/Detection (LPI/LPD) techniques
• Surveillance and reconnaissance mission systems and capabilities
• Systems engineering for satellite systems
• Experience with testing and evaluation related to SATCOM
• Active Top Secret/SCI Clearance

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s)

Top Secret

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s)

Top Secret/SCI

Salary compensation range and midpoint

$147,200 - $184,000 - $220,800 Annual

Work Location Type

Onsite

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Commitment to Non‑Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local or international law.

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