RF Spectrum Engineer, Lead

Mitre Corporation; Colorado Springs (CO); On-site; USD 156,000 - 235,000; Full time

Job summary

MITRE is seeking a RF Spectrum Engineer to provide technical leadership across spectrum sharing and testing activities in support of government efforts to optimize the electromagnetic environment. The ideal candidate will lead studies and engineering evaluations, focusing on spectrum coexistence, interference risk, and operational performance across diverse RF systems.

Strong reporting, analysis, and collaboration across agencies are required.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree or 5 years with a Master's or a PhD with relevant background.
• A technical background in at least 1 fundamental signal processing domain such as system performance analysis, RF laboratory testing, or detection and estimation theory.
• Experience with RF systems, 5G NR, LTE, Wi-Fi, IoT, or Bluetooth is preferred.
• Strong ability to produce technical reports, briefings, and sponsor presentations.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and lead spectrum sharing test, design, and deployment activities with federal agencies, industry, and academia.
• Define and execute analyses to determine compatibility of spectrum-dependent systems across use cases.
• Prepare high quality technical reports, trade studies, and engineering recommendations.
• Identify and evaluate technologies to address spectrum coexistence problems.
• Provide strategic oversight and synchronize work across tasks and organizations.

Skills

RF testing

Signal processing

MATLAB

Python

Written communication

Spectral analysis

Test planning

System evaluation

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

PhD (with experience)

Tools

MATLAB

Python

Simulink

STK

HFSS

CST

Wireless InSite

SEAMCAT

Sionna

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.

MITRE is seeking a RF Spectrum Engineer to provide technical leadership across multiple spectrum sharing and testing activities in support of government efforts to more effectively utilize the electromagnetic environment. This position is focused on evaluating spectrum coexistence, compatibility, interference risk, and operational performance across diverse RF systems, platforms, and networks.

The ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience in executing and leading testing and evaluation efforts in RF engineering and spectrum analysis and will more broadly require familiarity with best practices in areas such as systems engineering and spectrum management. This role will lead studies and engineering evaluations involving commercial and government systems, with emphasis on understanding how systems interact in complex spectrum environments.

Roles & Responsibilities:

• Coordinate and lead spectrum sharing test, design, and deployment activities of technical teams from federal agencies, commercial industry, and academia.

• Define and execute technical analysis methodologies to determine compatibility of spectrum-dependent systems across commercial and government use cases

• Prepare high quality technical reports, trade studies, engineering recommendations, and sponsor briefings based on analytical findings.

• Identify and evaluate emerging technologies that could be utilized to address spectrum coexistence problems

• Provide strategic oversight and manage concurrent components of a broader spectrum-based work program, synchronizing work products across different tasks and organizations

Basic Qualifications:

• Typically requires a minimum of 8 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 5 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD without experience; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience.

• A technical background in at least 1 fundamental signal processing domain such as:

• system performance analysis, RF laboratory testing

• detection and estimation theory

• electromagnetics and antenna design

• waveform design, modulation theory, error control coding, information theory

• stochastic processes, propagation, channel estimation and equalization

• receiver design, interference cancellation, algorithm development

• advanced wireless protocols such as 5G NR, LTE, Wi-Fi, IoT, Bluetooth

• Strong background in test, evaluation, and analysis of RF systems

• Strong background in analysis, modeling, and simulation of RF systems

• Experience in analytical software development languages such as MATLAB or Python

• Experience assessing commercial and government wireless systems in varied spectrum environments.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including technical documentation and presentation development.

• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD 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 on site each week.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s or PhD in electrical engineering, applied mathematics, physics, systems engineering, or related discipline

• 8+ years of professional experience in RF engineering, spectrum engineering, electromagnetic compatibility, or related analytical engineering work.

• Full responsibility for delivering technical reports, presentations, and/or code, including definition, completion, and technical quality

• Experience evaluating spectrum coexistence, interference mechanisms, and compatibility across multiple systems or platforms.

• Experience conducting studies involving coexistence between commercial wireless technologies and government communication, radar, or platform systems.

• Familiarity with spectrum regulations, allocation frameworks, and supportability considerations relevant to government and commercial systems.

• Familiarity with software-defined radios, adaptive communications, electronic protection, or dynamic spectrum access concepts.

• Familiarity with modeling and simulation tools such as Sionna, MATLAB, Simulink, STK, HFSS, CST, Wireless InSite, SEAMCAT, HTZ communications, or similar.

• Ability to obtain Top Secret or higher clearance

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

None

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

Secret

Salary compensation range and midpoint:

$156,400 - $195,500 - $234,600 Annual

Work Location Type:

Onsite

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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