Senior RF Communications & Signal Processing & Engineer

Leidos Inc; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 117,000 - 195,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos Defense Sector seeks an RF Communications & Signal Processing Engineer to join the JSIL Technology and Certification Center in Huntsville, AL. You will support development, integration, testing, and evaluation of advanced tactical data links for UAS and other platforms supporting U.S.

Army and DoD missions. The role combines RF theory, digital signal processing, and electronic warfare across lab, field, and flight tests, with opportunities to expand expertise and deliver mission-ready

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or Physics with ≥8 years of experience.
• Master’s preferred with ≥6 years of experience.
• Experience leading RF comms system analysis or test activities.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership in RF communications and data link technologies.
• Develop test strategies, plans, and technical reports for lab/field/flight tests.
• Plan, execute, and support RF comms system testing including integration and data collection.
• Analyze waveform performance, RF link quality, resilience, and detectability under representative conditions.
• Perform advanced signal analysis to characterize system performance and identify improvements.
• Interface with government stakeholders, test organizations, and industry partners for development and decisions.
• Present findings and recommendations to leadership and stakeholders.
• Mentor junior engineers and test personnel.

Skills

RF theory

Digital communications

Signal processing

Test leadership

Written/verbal communication

Security clearance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or Physics

Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering or Physics

Tools

Common Data Link (CDL)

Software-defined radios (SDRs)

SATCOM

Job description

Description

At Leidos, we deliver innovative solutions through the efforts of our diverse and talented people who are dedicated to our customers' success. We empower our teams, contribute to our communities, and operate sustainably. Everything we do is built on a commitment to do the right thing for our customers, our people, and our community. Our Mission, Vision, and Values guide the way we do business.

Looking for an opportunity to make an impact?

Leidos' Defense Uncrewed Systems Integration and Test is seeking a motivated and ambitious RF Communications & Signal Processing Engineer to join the Software, Simulation, Systems Engineering and Integration Directorate (S3I) Joint Technology Center - Systems Integration Lab (JSIL) Technology and Certification Center. In this role, you'll support the development, integration, testing, and evaluation of advanced tactical data links and communications systems for UnmannedAircraft Systems (UAS) and other airborne and ground platforms supporting U.S. Army and DoD missions.

Your greatest work is ahead!

This is a hands-on, multidisciplinary engineering role at the intersection of RF communications, digital signal processing, and electronic warfare. You'll work across the test and evaluation lifecycle, from laboratory analysis and system integration to field, and flight testing, with opportunities to expand your expertise across these technical areas.

The ideal candidate brings strong technical depth in one or more of these areas and an interest in expanding their expertise across the others. You'll lead advanced test and analysis efforts, evaluate communications system and waveform performance, assess communications resilience and signal detectability, and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams and government stakeholders to deliver mission-ready capabilities and help inform future U.S. Army and DoD communications systems.

If this sounds like the kind of environment where you can thrive, keep reading!

Leidos Defense Sector

Leidos Defense Sector provides a diverse portfolio of systems, solutions, and services covering land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace for customers worldwide. Solutions for Defense include enterprise and mission IT, large-scale intelligence systems, command and control, geospatial and data analytics, cybersecurity, logistics, training, and intelligence analysis and operations support. Our team is solving the world's toughest security challenges for customers with "can't fail" missions. To explore and learn more, click here!

Primary Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and subject matter expertise in RF communications, digital signal processing, and tactical data link technologies.
• Develop test strategies, plans, and procedures, and prepare technical reports for laboratory, field, and flight test activities.
• Plan, execute, and support RF communications system testing, including system integration, instrumentation, data collection, and post-test analysis.
• Analyze waveform performance, RF link quality, communications resilience, signal detectability, and overall system effectiveness under operationally representative conditions.
• Perform advanced signal analysis to characterize communications system performance and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Interface with government stakeholders, test organizations, and industry partners to support technology development, acquisition decisions, and system integration.
• Present technical findings and recommendations to internal leadership and government stakeholders.
• Provide technical mentorship and guidance to junior engineers and test personnel.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related engineering field with a minimum of 8 years of experience.
• Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a related engineering field with a minimum of 6 years of experience.
• Experience leading technical analysis or test activities for RF communications systems.
• Strong understanding of RF theory, including propagation, RF system performance, and link budget analysis.
• Strong understanding of digital communications concepts, including modulation, coding, filtering, waveform design, and signal processing.
• Experience troubleshooting RF or communications systems in laboratory, field, or flight test environments.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to develop technical reports, and briefings, and effectively present engineering recommendations.
• Active Secret security clearance with the ability to maintain it (Top Secret eligibility preferred).
• Must be a resident of Huntsville, AL or willing to relocate to the Huntsville, AL area.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's or Ph.D. with an emphasis in electromagnetics, RF engineering, digital communications, or signal processing.
• Experience with Common Data Link (CDL), tactical data links, software-defined radios (SDRs), SATCOM, or resilient communications.
• Experience electronic warfare (EW), spectrum operations, or anti-jam (AJ) and low probability of detection (LPD) assessments.

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo - because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 - and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting: August 26, 2026

For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Pay Range:

Pay Range $107,900.00 - $195,050.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline onlyand not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

About Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Pay and Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.