Wireless Communications Engineer

Mclaurin Aerospace; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Employer paid insurance (medical, dent

vision, life, disability

Job summary

Mclaurin Aerospace in Houston, TX, seeks a Wireless Communications Engineer to join NASA Johnson Space Center on the JETS II contract. You will assess RF links, review CCSDS-based protocols, and develop link budgets using Matlab/Simulink, contributing to ISS, Orion, and Moon Base programs.

The role requires bachelor level engineering with RF coursework, strong analytical skills, and U.S. citizenship or permanent residency. On-site with potential telework options.

Qualifications

• Requires a bachelor’s degree in Engineering and 2–5 years of experience
• BS or MS in Electrical Engineering from an accredited school
• On-site position with situational telework
• RF Communications coursework: digital communications, DSP, microwave, satellite comms, estimation and detection theory

Responsibilities

• Serve as RF Communications Systems Engineer for ISS, Orion, Moon Base and Exploration Programs
• Review Link and network layer protocols per CCSDS recommendations
• Create RF link budgets using analytical methods and simulations
• Participate in SRR, PDR/CDR, and technical interchange meetings
• Perform RF interference and compatibility analysis and RF propagation analysis
• Review IRD/VR/ICD and component specs (Transponders, Transceivers, baseband)
• Assist NASA RF subsystem manager and act as point of contact
• Interface with NASA centers, agencies and partners
• Other duties as required

Skills

RF communications

analytical skills

teamwork

communication

C/C++

Python

Matlab/Simulink

Education

Bachelors in Engineering

BS/MS in Electrical Engineering

Tools

MATLAB

Simulink

Excel

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 Wireless Communications Engineer to join our JETS II contract team at NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, TX.

If selected you will:

• Serve as a RF Communications Systems Engineer for the Communication and Tracking Sub-System Analysis Team for ISS, Orion, Moon Base and Exploration Programs, a critical integration effort of the NASA Program which will return to the Moon
• Review Link and network layer protocols implemented on communication systems based on CCSDS recommendations
• Determine the performance of Radio Frequency (RF) communication links and create link budgets using analytical methods, analysis and simulations
• Actively participate and contribute to Systems Requirements Reviews (SRR), Preliminary & Critical Design Reviews, and Technical Interchange Meetings
• Perform RF interference & compatibility analysis, Power Flux Density analysis, Spectral analysis for space-based communication systems using Matlab, Simulink and Excel
• Review Radio Frequency communication subsystem level Interface Requirements Documents (IRD), Verification Requirements (VRs), Interface Control Documents (ICDs) and component level requirements (Transponders, Transceivers, baseband processors)
• Assist and support NASA RF communication sub system manager with reviews, meetings and be the technical Point of Contact
• Represent JSC and interface with other NASA centers, federal agencies and commercial partners
• 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 bachelor's degree in Engineering and a minimum of 2- 5 years of experience in the field or in a related area.
• A BS or a MS degree in Electrical Engineering from an accredited engineering school
• On location position - situational telework only
• Must have completed college level RF Communications coursework such as Digital communications, DSP, Microwave, satellite communications, Estimation and Detection theory, etc.
• Strong analytical skills in RF communications
• Strong 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
• 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
• Experience with NASA processes
• Knowledge in antennas, RF propagation and network layer protocols
• Familiar with CCSDS communication standards
• Knowledge of Pseudo noise (PN) Ranging, forward error correction such as LDPC, radiometric (range and range rate) calculations, Orbital Dynamics
• 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.