RF Electrical Engineer (Software Defined Radio) with Security Clearance

Command Post Technologies, Inc; Dahlgren (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Leadership training

401k with company matching

Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)

Tuition reimbursement

Flexible hours

Work/Life balance

Paid Time Off

Parental Leave

Job summary

Command Post Technologies, Inc. seeks a mid-level RF Electrical Engineer specializing in Software Defined Radios to support Navy efforts at Dahlgren, VA.

You will lead testing, experiment development, and data collection, interfacing with diverse technical groups to solve problems and document final solutions. Responsibilities include designing RF systems, conducting performance analyses, developing test plans, and presenting reviews.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, or related technical discipline.
• Minimum of four (4) years of professional RF engineering experience.
• Active Secret security clearance.
• Experience with RF test equipment (spectrum analyzers, signal generators, VNAs, oscilloscopes, power meters).
• Experience integrating or developing SDR platforms.
• Experience with Python, C/C++, MATLAB, or similar.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and technical writing skills.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, integrate, and test RF communication systems using SDR platforms.
• Support telemetry, C2, instrumentation, and wireless architectures for advanced weapon systems.
• Conduct RF performance analysis, link budgets, spectrum analysis, and signal characterization.
• Develop and execute laboratory, range, and field tests for SDR-based systems.
• Configure SDR platforms using GNU Radio, MATLAB, Python, C++, or vendor tools.
• Support RF hardware integration (antennas, amplifiers, filters, DSP components).
• Analyze RF performance issues, identify root causes, and implement fixes.
• Produce test plans, engineering reports, and interface control documents.
• Collaborate with systems engineers, software developers, test engineers, and government leads.
• Assist technology assessments and prototyping of RF technologies.

Skills

RF Engineering

SDR (Software Defined Radios)

Signal Processing

Spectrum Analysis

Testing & Evaluation

Technical Writing

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Active Secret security clearance

Tools

GNU Radio

MATLAB

Python

C/C++

Vendor SDR environments

Job description

Command Post Technologies (CPT) is seeking a highly motivated RF Electrical Engineer specializing in Software Defined Radios (SDR) to support the U.S. Navy's Advanced Hypersonic Weapons & Guided Munitions Division (E20) at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division in Dahlgren, Virginia. The Mid-level RF Engineer serves as a scientist/engineer who is expected to develop technology through experiments and statistical analysis of target vulnerabilities. The successful candidate will lead testing, experiment development, and data acquisition. The position will interface with technical personnel from various external groups and organizations to identify problems, suggest changes, and develop and document final solutions for systems. The position will also be responsible for presenting test reviews and technical briefs.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, integrate, and test RF communication systems utilizing commercial and custom software-defined radio platforms.
• Support the development and evaluation of telemetry, command and control, instrumentation, and wireless communication architectures for advanced weapon systems.
• Conduct RF performance analysis, link budget development, spectrum analysis, and signal characterization.
• Develop and execute laboratory, range, and field testing activities for SDR-based systems and RF hardware.
• Configure and program SDR platforms using tools such as GNU Radio, MATLAB, Python, C++, or vendor-specific development environments.
• Support the integration of RF hardware, antennas, amplifiers, filters, and associated digital signal processing components.
• Analyze and troubleshoot RF system performance issues, identify root causes, and implement corrective actions.
• Develop technical documentation including test plans, engineering reports, interface control documents, and design analyses.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams including systems engineers, software developers, test engineers, and government technical leads.
• Support technology assessments and prototyping efforts involving emerging RF and communications technologies.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, or related technical discipline.
• Minimum of four (4) years of professional experience in RF engineering, wireless communications, software-defined radios, or related fields.
• Active Secret security clearance.
• Experience with RF test equipment such as spectrum analyzers, signal generators, vector network analyzers, oscilloscopes, and power meters.
• Experience integrating, configuring, or developing applications for software-defined radio platforms.
• Experience with scripting or programming languages such as Python, C/C++, MATLAB, or similar.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and technical writing skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative government-contractor environment.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience supporting U.S. Navy or Department of Defense weapons, missile, telemetry, or test range programs.
• Ability to design RF receiver chains to condition signals specifically for Software-defined radio (SDR) reception and processing using antennas, amplifiers, transmission lines, filters, and downconverters.
• Familiarity with scattering parameter measurement of RF subsystems using network analysis.
• Ability to conduct RF impedance matching utilizing Smith chart applications.
• Understanding of antenna technologies, feed methods, and impact of physical installation on antenna performance.
• Understanding of RF propagation to conduct link budget calculations.
• Familiarity with RF modeling and simulation.

About Us

We are Command Post Technologies, Inc. (CPT). CPT is a Service-Disabled, Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), providing engineering services in the areas of Cyber Security, Software Development, Test & Evaluation, and Strategic Planning. CPT employees appreciate working in a caring environment that promotes a healthy work-life balance. As individuals, we come together as a team, supporting a culture rooted in our core principles of integrity, determination, and innovation. In all of CPT’s collaboration efforts, our team prioritizes communication, accountability, and being resourceful in order to maximize efficiency and results.

What’s In It for You

• Great health benefits (for more info contact us directly)
• Leadership training
• 401k with generous company matching
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
• Career professional development
• Tuition reimbursement
• Flexible hours
• Work/Life balance
• Rewards and recognition
• Paid Time Off
• Parental Leave

Command Post Technologies, Inc. (CPT) is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) founded in 2008 and headquartered in Suffolk, VA with personnel in various states including Virginia, Maryland, Florida, and Texas.

With 2/3 of our staff being former military, CPT firmly believes in employing veterans.

Command Post Technologies, Inc. is a unique provider of innovative solutions that enhance our corporate clients’ productivity and empower our government clients with the ability to protect against all enemies: foreign and domestic.

CPT adapts its successful military experiential approach to the needs of leaders in a global business environment and provides an elite leadership curriculum that results in a world-class, leadership-altering event.

Command Post Technologies, Inc. (CPT) is an Equal Employment Opportunity and affirmative Action employer.

We consider applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or membership in any other group protected by federal, state, or local law.

We take affirmative action to ensure equal opportunities for employees and potential employees without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability genetic information, citizenship status, or membership in any other group protected by federal, state, or local law.

We abide by the Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision and will refrain from discharging or otherwise discriminating against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants.

An exception exists where the employee or applicant makes the disclosure based on information obtained while performing his or her essential job functions.