RF Microwave Design Engineer - Level 3 or 4

Northrop Grumman; Boulder (CO); On-site; USD 114,000 - 171,000; Full time

Job summary

Northrop Grumman Space Systems in Boulder, CO is seeking an RF Microwave Design Engineer at Level 3 or 4 to support our team. You will conduct RF/payload analyses, design RF/microwave systems, and develop architectures for SATCOM ground terminals and related hardware. Ideal candidates have experience with link budget analyses, MATLAB, and MS Office, and understand RF propagation.

A U.S. Citizenship and a Secret clearance are required; willingness to travel up to 10% is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline with 5+ years of relevant experience
• Active Secret clearance is required at time of application
• Understanding of Digital Communications and Signal Processing
• Experience in modeling, simulation, and/or analysis of RF Systems, including Space-to-Ground and Payload Systems
• Design and integration of SATCOM ground terminals, RF-over-Fiber, high-power transmitters, and phased-array and parabolic antennas
• Experience performing Link Budget Analysis to design and optimize the communication link between the satellite and the ground station and/or Cascade Analysis to evaluate the overall performance of the payload and associated components
• Proficient with MATLAB
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite
• Strong communication skills

Responsibilities

• Conduct RF/payload/communication system analysis, modeling, and simulation
• Designing and developing RF/microwave systems and corresponding analyses
• Designs, develops, tests radio frequency (RF) and/or microwave systems architecture, components, circuits, or products
• Generating specifications and analyses for ambiguous customer requirements
• Supporting RF engineering Basis of Estimates for proposals
• Execute trades and analyses for Radio Frequency systems and circuitry
• Model and simulate RF systems for high-frequency and microwave applications

Skills

RF engineering

MATLAB

Link budget analysis

Antenna design

SATCOM

Signal processing

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in STEM

Master’s degree in STEM

Tools

HFSS

DOORS

MS Office

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret

TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time

Description

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work - and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

Northrop Grumman Space Systems is seeking an RF Microwave Design Engineer - Level 3 or 4 to support our team in Boulder, CO.

Responsibilities

• Conducting RF/payload/communication system analysis, modeling, and simulation


• Designing and developing RF systems and corresponding analyses


• Designs, develops, tests radio frequency (RF) and/or microwave systems architecture, components, circuits, or products. Includes antenna design, both reflector and array systems, frequency synthesizers, transmitters and receivers.


• Generating specifications and analyses for ambiguous customer requirements


• Supporting RF engineering Basis of Estimates for proposals


• Execute trades and analyses for Radio Frequency systems and circuitry


• Design and develop RF systems and corresponding analyses, such as link budgets, cascade analyses, and frequency response


• Model and simulate RF systems for high-frequency and microwave applications

This requisition may be filled at a higher job grade based on the qualifications listed below.

This requisition may be filled as either a level 3 or level 4.

Basic Qualifications For a Level 3

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline with 5 years of relevant experience - OR - Master’s degree with 3 years of relevant experience - OR - PHD with 1 year of relevant experience


• Active Secret clearance is required at time of application


• Understanding of Digital Communications and Signal Processing.


• Experience in modeling, simulation, and/or analysis of RF Systems, including Space-to-Ground and Payload Systems


• Design and integration of SATCOM ground terminals, RF-over-Fiber, high-power transmitters, and phased-array and parabolic antennas.


• Experience performing Link Budget Analysis to design and optimize the communication link between the satellite and the ground station and/or Cascade Analysis to evaluate the overall performance of the payload and associated components


• Proficient with MATLAB


• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite


• Strong communication skills

Basic Qualifications For a Level 4

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline with 8 years of relevant experience - OR - Master’s degree with 6 years of relevant experience - OR - PHD with 4 years of relevant experience


• Active Secret clearance is required at time of application


• Understanding of Digital Communications and Signal Processing.


• Experience in modeling, simulation, and/or analysis of RF Systems, including Space-to-Ground and Payload Systems


• Design and integration of SATCOM ground terminals, RF-over-Fiber, high-power transmitters, and phased-array and parabolic antennas.


• Experience performing Link Budget Analysis to design and optimize the communication link between the satellite and the ground station and/or Cascade Analysis to evaluate the overall performance of the payload and associated components


• Proficient with MATLAB


• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite


• Strong communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Extensive RF/payload/communication experience in system analysis, modeling and simulation.


• Extensive knowledge and experience in the area of Satellite Communications (SATCOM) such as Analog-to-Digital and Digital-to-Analog analysis and testing; digital channelization, digital beamforming, digital receiver theory and technology


• Knowledge of RF performance metrics (G/T, tracking performance, axial ratio, phase variation) and EMI/RFI shielding requirements


• Ability to analyze and evaluate complex satellite test data, extensive experience working with spectrum analyzers, network analyzers and vector signal analyzers and their associated data.


• Experience with MATLAB/Simulink in modeling complex communication systems.


• Experience with Basis of Estimates


• Understanding of MBSE (SysML) and


• Experience with DOORS


• Familiarity with STK


• Familiarity with HFSS.


• Top Secret security clearance with SCI eligibility (either adjudicated or the ability to obtain SCI access)


• Comfortable with ambiguity and able to work with uncertain or incomplete information


• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills


• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment

Primary Level Salary Range: $114,000.00 - $171,000.00

Secondary Level Salary Range: $142,200.00 - $213,400.00

The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions.

Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.

The application period for the job is estimated to 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.

Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO.

U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.