Spectrum Engineer/Radio Frequency (RF) Engineer

Leidos; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 70,000 - 126,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos is seeking a Spectrum Engineer to support the FAA Spectrum Engineering Services Group in Washington, DC. The role involves coordinating frequency assignments for radar, air-to-ground, LMR, microwave, and satellite systems, ensuring compliance with FAA Orders and NTIA Redbook.

The candidate should have an electrical engineering degree and 2+ years of RF/spectrum experience. The position requires US citizenship and the ability to obtain a Secret-level security clearance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or completion of a formal spectrum management course or equivalent military experience in spectrum management.
• 2+ years of relevant experience in radio frequency engineering and/or spectrum engineering.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Must be a US citizen and able to obtain a security clearance of Secret or higher.

Responsibilities

• Contributes to the planning, coordination, and execution of FAA and non-FAA frequency assignment actions, ensuring conformance with FAA Orders, NTIA Redbook, and standards.
• Perform RF compatibility analyses using FAA spectrum tools to identify and mitigate interference among systems.
• Conduct RF propagation, link-budget, EMC, and interference analyses using FAA tools.
• Validate all technical data for completeness and accuracy (location, equipment, parameters, emission designator, power, bandwidth, antenna characteristics).
• Collaborate with federal and contractor engineers and FAA offices to resolve issues and advance records through the process.

Skills

RF engineering

Spectrum management

Microsoft Office

US citizen

Security clearance (Secret+)

Education

Electrical engineering degree

Spectrum management course

Tools

Spectrum XXI

Job description

Description

Leidos’ NISC IV program seeks a Spectrum Engineer to support the FAA Spectrum Engineering Services Group.

The Spectrum Engineering Group is responsible for securing, managing, and protecting all civil aviation spectrum resources to ensure interference-free operation of FAA communications, navigation, and surveillance (CNS) systems across the National Airspace System (NAS).

The ideal candidate will have an electrical engineering degree or other training and at least 2 years of spectrum engineering and/or radio frequency engineering experience. This role performs engineering and coordinating of frequency assignment actions for primary surveillance radar systems, air-to-ground voice communication, Land mobile radio, microwave, satellite, and various other Radio Frequency (RF) Spectrum Engineering disciplines while ensuring compliance with FAA Order 6050.32 and NTIA Redbook requirements.

Core Responsibilities (All Bands)

• Contributes to the planning, coordination, and execution of FAA and non-FAA frequency assignment actions, ensuring that technical analyses and documentation conform to FAA Orders, the NTIA Manual (Redbook), and established engineering standards.
• Perform radio-frequency compatibility analyses using the FAA’s spectrum-automation and modeling tools to identify and mitigate potential interference among communications, navigation, and surveillance systems.
• Conduct RF propagation, link-budget, EMC, and interference analyses using FAA spectrum-automation and modeling tools.
• Validate all technical data (location, equipment, parameters, emission designator, power, bandwidth, and antenna characteristics) for completeness and accuracy.
• Collaborates closely with other federal and contractor engineers, Service Area Spectrum Offices, and FAA program offices to resolve technical issues and advance records through the assignment and coordination process.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or completion of a formal spectrum management course or equivalent military experience in spectrum management.
• 2+ years of relevant experience in radio frequency engineering and/or spectrum engineering.
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Ability to learn FAA-specific software and systems.
• Must be a US citizen.
• Must have a security clearance of Secret or higher or be able to meet the requirements for one.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of spectrum-engineering principles, electromagnetic theory, and radio-frequency propagation as applied to communications, navigation, and surveillance systems that support the National Airspace System (NAS).
• Experience in applying analytical and automation tools to perform frequency-assignment processing, data validation, and compatibility analysis, with attention to accuracy and completeness.
• Experience evaluating radio-frequency system parameters to identify and mitigate potential interference and resolving routine and complex spectrum-engineering problems.
• Familiar with Spectrum XXI or similar federal spectrum management tools is highly desirable.
• Ability to perform engineering calculations (FSPL, link budgets, noise/interference ratios, power conversions).
• Ability to interpret technical data and apply mitigation best practices to resolve RF interference issues affecting aviation systems.
• Knowledge of roles and responsibilities of spectrum management within the National Airspace System (NAS).
• Knowledge of frequency management practices, including engineering, assignment, and protection of radio frequencies, and the National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA) Redbook.
• Knowledge of and experience with various frequency policy organizations, including National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), Interdepartmental Radio Advisory Committee (IRAC), and associated sub-committees, and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

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Pay Range

Pay Range $69,550.00 - $125,725.00

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.

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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.