Senior RF Engineer

MITRE; Fairborn (OH); On-site; USD 127,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

MITRE, in Fairborn, OH, seeks a senior antenna specialist to analyze RF/Satcom antenna designs and model performance for national security systems. You will contribute to digital engineering architectures, assess threats, and prototype novel antenna solutions in a highly collaborative, mission-focused environment.

Required are 5+ years in antenna theory, proficiency with HFSS/CST/FEKO, and an active Top Secret/SCI clearance. On-site presence is expected four days a week.

Qualifications

• 5+ years related experience with antenna theory/design for Satcom.
• Active Top Secret/SCI clearance; US citizenship required.
• On-site work minimum 4 days/week; strong collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Analyze RF and Satcom antenna system designs for operational use.
• Model and simulate performance under varied conditions.
• Develop digital engineering architectures for intelligence apps.
• Assess adversarial threats and mitigation in end-to-end analyses.
• Prototype new antenna tech; stay updated on advances.

Skills

Antenna theory and design

Satcom systems

RF fundamentals

Modeling & simulation

Team collaboration

Education

Master's or PhD preferred (EE/Systems)

Bachelor's degree minimum

Tools

HFSS

CST

FEKO

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.

The Air & Space Intelligence Department delivers impactful engineering analyses to rapidly transform current and future warfighter operations in contested and denied environments. We accomplish this through close interaction with our United States Air Force (USAF), United States Space Force (USSF), Office of the Under Secretary of War for Intelligence & Security (OUSW(I&S)), and Intelligence Community sponsors, as well as senior leadership across the Intelligence, Acquisition, and Warfighting communities. Our engineering analyses are informed by intelligence assessments of adversarial capabilities and threats to U.S. mission systems. We conduct engineering assessments of advanced and evolving threats, perform end-to-end mission and effects chain analysis, develop engineering architectures for intelligence applications, identify threat mitigation opportunities, and evaluate emerging technologies to improve operational effectiveness. We leverage artificial intelligence (AI), advanced analytics, and systems engineering to accelerate mission understanding, enhance decision advantage, and enable resilient intelligence capabilities across complex national security missions.

Roles & Responsibilities:

• Analyze the design of radio frequency (RF) and satellite communication (Satcom) antenna systems, including phased array and reflector antennas, of operational systems.
• Conduct modeling and simulation analysis to predict antenna performance in various environments and under different operational conditions.
• Support the development of digital engineering architectures for Intelligence applications related to Satcom systems.
• Participate in end-to-end effects chain analysis to assess the impact of adversarial threats and identify potential mitigation strategies.
• Engage in experimentation and prototyping of new antenna technologies and threat mitigation capabilities.
• Stay well-informed of advancements in antenna and Satcom technologies, and assess their applicability to future warfighter operations in contested and denied environments.
• Develop tailored, engineering-level Intelligence assessments based on adversary systems to enable engineering research, experimentation, prototype development, acquisition, test and evaluation, and operational execution of cyber and electronic warfare solutions.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to understand how the adversary integrates antenna systems with satellite payloads and platforms.

Basic Qualifications:

• Typically requires a minimum of 5 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree; or 3 years and a Master's degree; or a PhD with relevant experience who can immediately contribute at this job step; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in antenna theory and design, specifically in the context of Satcom systems.
• Proficient in the use of antenna design and analysis software (e.g., HFSS, CST, FEKO).
• Strong understanding of RF principles and electromagnetic theory.
• Experience with modeling and simulation tools for predicting antenna performance.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team environment.
• Must have an active Top Secret/SCI U.S Government issued 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 4 days a week on-site.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree (Master's or PhD) in Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Experience with digital engineering tools and methodologies.
• Knowledge of intelligence assessments and threat analysis related to Satcom systems.
• Familiarity with spectral regulations and standards governing satellite communications.
• Experience in Space Systems Operations.
• Experience with operations involving EW, cyber, and/or EW-enabled cyber threats.
• Experience in conducting outdoor antenna range testing and measurements.
• Demonstrated ability to innovate and develop novel solutions to complex technical challenges.

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

Top Secret/SCI

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

Top Secret/SCI

Salary compensation range and midpoint:

$126,800 - $158,500 - $190,200 Annual

Work Location Type:

Onsite

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

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