Senior Spectrum Engineer — RF & Radar Systems

Mitre Corporation; Silver Spring (MD); On-site; USD 173,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

MITRE seeks a technically strong Principal Spectrum Engineer to lead spectrum compatibility studies and provide hands-on RF engineering support for critical weather and environmental sensing missions.

You will oversee analyses, engage sponsors, and guide multidisciplinary teams across the acquisition lifecycle, ensuring robust spectrum solutions and mission impact. This role requires deep technical mastery, written communication, and a on-site commitment.

Qualifications

• Typically requires a minimum of 10 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree; or 8 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 5 years’ experience; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience.
• Master's Degree or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Communications Engineering, Physics, Applied Mathematics, or a highly related technical discipline.
• Experience in spectrum engineering, RF systems engineering, radar engineering, electromagnetic compatibility, wireless systems, or a closely related technical field.
• Demonstrated experience conducting or leading spectrum compatibility, interference, coexistence, or band-study analyses involving complex spectrum-dependent systems.
• Deep technical understanding of RF systems, including transmitters, receivers, antennas, propagation, link budgets, interference mechanisms, radar or communications systems, and system-level performance.
• Demonstrated proficiency developing and evaluating RF propagation and interference analyses using MATLAB, Python, or comparable engineering tools, including experience assessing model assumptions, sensitivity, uncertainty, and technical limitations.
• Demonstrated experience leading technically complex engineering efforts, independently reviewing and challenging analytical methods and conclusions, and providing technical direction across multidisciplinary teams.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and briefing skills with demonstrated ability to communicate detailed engineering concepts, analytical assumptions, uncertainty, and mission implications to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• 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.

Responsibilities

• Spectrum Band Studies & Compatibility Analysis: Lead complex spectrum band studies and electromagnetic compatibility analyses, with an initial focus on the 2.7-2.9 GHz band.
• Hands-on Spectrum Engineering: Personally develop, execute, and review RF propagation, link-budget, interference, coexistence, and statistical analyses using MATLAB, Python, and specialized spectrum-engineering tools.
• Spectrum-Dependent System Acquisition: Provide spectrum engineering expertise throughout the acquisition and modernization lifecycle of spectrum-dependent systems.
• Weather & Radar Systems Engineering: Apply RF, radar, spectrum, and systems engineering expertise to operational sensing and weather systems.
• Strategic Technical Leadership: Provide technical direction for multidisciplinary engineering teams addressing complex and high-visibility spectrum problems.
• Sponsor & Interagency Engagement: Serve as a trusted technical advisor to government spectrum, engineering, acquisition, and mission stakeholders.
• Work Shaping, Documentation & Mentorship: Identify emerging technical needs, help shape future engineering efforts, author and review high-quality technical reports and briefings, and mentor engineers.

Skills

Spectrum engineering

RF systems engineering

Radar engineering

EMC

Python

MATLAB

Systems engineering

Technical leadership

Briefing stakeholders

Active TS/SCI clearance

Education

Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering

PhD in Electrical Engineering

Tools

MATLAB

Python

Job description

MITRE seeks a technically strong Principal Spectrum Engineer to lead spectrum compatibility studies and provide hands-on RF engineering support for critical weather and environmental sensing missions.

You will oversee analyses, engage sponsors, and guide multidisciplinary teams across the acquisition lifecycle, ensuring robust spectrum solutions and mission impact. This role requires deep technical mastery, written communication, and a on-site commitment.