Spectrum Communications Team Lead

Mclaurin Aerospace; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Relocation assistance

Education assistance

Generous PTO

Job summary

Mclaurin Aerospace at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston is seeking a Spectrum Communications Team Lead to oversee RF spectrum management, link budgets, interference analysis, and coordination with NASA centers and government agencies. You will lead engineers, plan tasks, and ensure high-quality analyses using Matlab/Simulink and STK.

Preferred candidates bring experience with NTIA processes, C/C++, Python, and a strong RF/space communications background, plus U.S.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or related field required with strong RF skills.
• College-level RF Communications coursework and knowledge of digital modulation/demodulation, encoding/decoding, spread spectrum signals.

Responsibilities

• Perform spectrum management and coordination tasks for RF systems; interface with NASA centers and agencies to resolve spectrum issues.
• Determine RF link performance and create link budgets using analysis and simulation tools.
• Perform RF interference and compatibility analysis for space-based communication systems.
• Reduce data, analyze results, and document findings for customers.
• Lead spectrum engineers, schedule tasks, and coordinate with the Project Manager.

Skills

Digital communications

RF system analysis

Space communications

Phase modulation

Spread spectrum

Signal detection

Interference analysis

Baseband filtering

Matlab/Simulink

STK

C/C++

Python

Spectrum regulations

NTIA process

Antennas

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

MS degree in Engineering

Ph.D. in Engineering/Physical Sciences

Tools

STK

Matlab/Simulink

Python

C/C++

Job description

Are you passionate about human space exploration, understanding the origins of the universe, and working with a passionate and diverse team to make a difference? If you are, we need you!

We need your talent, teamwork, and energy to help us achieve great things that inspire people all over the globe. We need you to bring creative ideas and diverse backgrounds to help us envision, shape, and deliver systems that will enable the exploration of space while benefiting people here on Earth. We are excited about what we do, and we need you on our team as we take on exciting challenges for NASA's pursuits in deep space exploration.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Spectrum Communications Team Leadto join our JETS II contract team at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX.

If selected you will:

• Perform spectrum management & coordination tasks for RF systems and interface with other NASA centers and federal agencies to resolve spectrum issues.
• Determine the performance of Radio Frequency (RF) communication links and create link budgets using analytical methods or by applying analysis and simulation tools.
• Perform Radio Frequency interference and compatibility analysis for Space based communication systems.
• Perform data reductions, analyze, and document results for presentation to customers.
• Excellent knowledge of digital communications, RF system analysis, FEC coding, and Space communications.
• In depth understanding of communication systems such as phase modulation, spread spectrum, signal detection, interference analysis, baseband filtering, etc.
• Knowledge of Federal and Commercial spectrum regulations, NTIA regulatory approval process including certification and Authorization to transmit,,
• Familiar with antennas, antenna polarization, power spectral density, spectral roll-off, adjacent band Interference, power flux density, .
• Familiar with analysis software such as Matlab/Simulink, STK or other orbital and RF modeling software.
• Represent JSC and interface with other NASA centers, federal agencies and commercial partners
• Provide task scheduling, assigning tasks to spectrum engineers and coordinate tasks with Project Manager.
• Foster strong, healthy customer relationships.
• Lead the prioritization and assignment of tasks for engineers supporting the Spectrum team.
• Perform other duties as required.

Qualifications:

This position has been posted at multiple levels. Depending on the candidate's experience, requirements, and business needs, we reserve the right to consider candidates at any level for which this position has been advertised.

• Typically requires a minimum of a bachelor's degree in Engineering and normally possess 5- 10 years of related experience. License and certification may be required.
• BS degree in engineering from an accredited engineering school and fourteen (10) years of related engineering experience, or a MS degree from an accredited engineering school and twelve (8) years of related engineering experience, or Ph.D. from an accredited engineering school and nine (5) years of related experience. Less experience shall be considered if the candidate has experience in core competencies.
• Must have completed college level RF Communications coursework and have good knowledge of communication systems such as digital modulation/demodulation, encoding/decoding, spread spectrum signals, signal detection, data formatting and packetizing
• Excellent communication and organizational skills along with the ability to work in a team environment
• Johnson Space Center onsite position
• Strong analytical skills in RF communications
• A BS or a MS degree in Electrical Engineering or physical sciences from an accredited engineering school
• Must be a U.S. Citizen or a Permanent Resident (3 years) and successfully complete a U.S. government background investigation

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with Spectrum (frequency) management including NTIA spectrum approval process, review of spectrum requests, spectrum sharing and interference analysis
• Programming languages such as C/C++ and Python

Benefits

• Competitive pay
• Positive work-life balance
• 100% Employer paid insurance including: Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment, short-term disability, and long-term disability
• 11 paid holidays annually
• Generous PTO
• 401k after 12 months of service with employer match
• Education assistance
• Relocation assistance (if applicable)

Mclaurin is a unique organization with a special focus on combining the best features of research and industry in order to foster innovation. Our organization strongly supports research, publication, and engagement with the academic community. We encourage our employees to remain on the cutting edge of new developments in their respective disciplines.

US Citizenship and the ability to pass a comprehensive security background investigation is required.

Mclaurin is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.