Mid-Level System Engineer

WGS Systems, LLC; Frederick (MD); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

WGS Systems, LLC, in Frederick, Maryland, seeks a Systems Engineer with military and commercial radio communications and sensor system experience. The role centers on owning technical baselines for SIGINT/EW programs, translating complex requirements into specs, and assisting embedded teams in lab and field environments.

You will lead architecture, interfaces, and verification, while coordinating MIL-STD-810 testing and test campaigns. Travel 10–20% to support field events and program reviews.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Computer Engineering, Physics, or related field.
• 5–8 years in systems engineering or integration and test in Defense/Aerospace.
• Strong RF fundamentals in SIGINT/EW.
• Proficiency with Python and/or C++ for data analysis.
• Laboratory test equipment experience (spectrum analyzers, signal generators).
• MIL-STD-810 familiarity; MIL-STD-461 a plus.
• MATLAB/Simulink for system modeling; MBSE tools helpful.
• U.S. citizenship with security clearance; Secret/TS preferred.
• Strong technical writing and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Act as primary Technical Lead from inception through field testing.
• Lead requirements decomposition and ICD development.
• Coordinate MIL-STD-810 environmental testing.
• Hands-on lab integration of RF hardware with embedded systems.
• Develop MATLAB models to simulate performance and budgets.
• Collaborate with FPGA/embedded teams on interfaces.
• Support field/range testing 10–20% travel.
• Contribute technical content for program captures.

Skills

Technical leadership

Communication skills

RF fundamentals

Lab troubleshooting

Python/C++ scripting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, or related field

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

MATLAB/Simulink

MBSE tools (Cameo, MagicDraw)

Spectrum Analyzers

Signal Generators

Job description

WGS Systems, LLC, is looking for a Systems Engineer with experience and background in military and commercial radio communications and sensor system engineering to join our company. Primary work activities will take place in Frederick, Maryland with occasional travel supporting various events.

The successful candidate is a versatile, mission-focused Systems Engineer who thrives in the intersection of high-level architecture and hands-on RF integration. You are a “technical athlete” capable of owning the technical baseline for complex SIGINT and EW programs, translating ambiguous mission requirements into rigorous specifications while maintaining the practical skills to debug an RF signal chain in the lab. You possess the professional maturity to lead a MIL-STD-810 qualification campaign and the technical depth to “flex” into Python or C++ to assist embedded developers during critical integration milestones.

Key Responsibilities/Duties Include:

• Technical Leadership: Act as the primary Technical Lead for assigned programs, owning the technical baseline from inception through field testing and representing the company at formal reviews (SRR, PDR, CDR).
• Requirements & Architecture (70% Focus): Lead systems engineering activities, including requirements decomposition, interface control document (ICD) development, and system architecture design for SIGINT, EW, and communication platforms.
• Qualification Coordination: Serve as the lead coordinator for MIL-STD-810 environmental testing; authoring Test Plans (LTP), managing external test laboratory relationships, and overseeing the execution of stress screening and final reporting.
• Integration & Test (30% Focus): Conduct hands‑on lab integration and troubleshooting of RF hardware with embedded systems, utilizing Signal Hound spectrum analyzers, waveform generators, and other diagnostic tools.
• Modeling & Simulation: Develop and maintain MATLAB models to simulate system performance, analyze link budgets, and validate signal processing algorithms against complex spectral environments.
• Embedded Collaboration: Partner with embedded software and gateware (FPGA) teams to define and verify hardware‑software interfaces, occasionally assisting with Python/C++ scripting for test automation.
• Field Support: Support local field and range testing (approx. 10‑20% travel) to validate system performance in real‑world environments.
• Proposal Support: Assist in the growth of the business by contributing technical content and architectural diagrams to technical volumes for new program captures.

Qualification Requirements:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field (Master’s degree preferred).
• Experience: 5‑8 years of experience in systems engineering or integration and test, specifically within the Defense/Aerospace sector.
• RF Fundamentals: Strong command of RF physics, including spectral analysis, noise figure, gain distribution, and signal detection within the SIGINT/EW domain.
• Programming Literacy: Practical experience with Python and/or C++ for data analysis or basic embedded troubleshooting is highly desired.
• Lab Proficiency: Proven experience using laboratory test equipment (Spectrum Analyzers, Signal Generators) to diagnose hardware/software interface issues.
• Standards Knowledge: Familiarity with MIL-STD-810 environmental qualification; experience with MIL-STD-461 (EMI/EMC) is a significant plus.
• Systems Tools: Proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink for system modeling. Experience with MBSE tools (Cameo, MagicDraw) is a plus but not required.
• Security Clearance: Must be a U.S. Citizen. Minimum “Clearable” status is required; an active Secret or TS/SCI clearance is strongly preferred.
• Soft Skills: Exceptional technical writing skills and the ability to communicate complex engineering trade‑offs to both internal stakeholders and external customers.

WGS Systems, LLC, based in Frederick, Maryland, provides systems and products that support our military and homeland security front line personnel. We have been recognized as a small‑business industry leader by the state of Maryland by winning the Homeland Security Award from the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development.

WGS Systems is proud to be an EEO employer M/F/D/V.