RF Engineer, Staff (Level IV) - Top Secret clearance

Location: Littleton, CO

About the role

Lockheed Martin Space is seeking a Staff RF Engineer to join the Radio Frequency (RF) Talent Center (RFTC) team. In this role, you will contribute to challenging programs related to Space Vehicles, Hypersonics, Human Space Flight, Interplanetary Missions, Missile Defense, and more. You will support the Global Security portfolio by engaging in system design, requirements flow-down, hardware implementation, integration, test, and troubleshooting anomaly resolution.

Responsibilities

• Support timing, frequency, and ephemeris design on world-class RF Payloads across various program lifecycle stages.
• Perform system design and architecture to identify optimal payload solutions for new program captures.
• Engage in system requirements flow-down to hardware design, integration, and test to verify mission performance.
• Lead troubleshooting and anomaly resolution.
• Collaborate with RF Engineers, Box and Sub-systems CPEs, leaders, and Subject Matter Experts to ensure program success.
• Partner with customers and program leadership to ensure the success of payload products and milestones.
• Perform box and subsystem design, system signal analysis, requirement verification, trades, risk/opportunities, and support proposal efforts.
• Demonstrate subject matter expertise on payload hardware and mission execution.
• Contribute to payload architecture and trade decisions to improve payload and mission performance.
• Own and deliver operational hardware.
• Design and develop RF circuitry for high-frequency and microwave applications, including receivers, transmitters, antennas, and frequency synthesizers.
• Responsible for hardware layout, component evaluation, prototype construction, and test.
• Prepare test methods and specifications; analyze and test RF hardware to verify performance characteristics.
• Provide inputs to Product Development for formal documentation and support manufacturing during deliverable assembly and test.
• Develop RF System/Subsystem Architectures, including antennas, transmitters, receivers, low noise amplifiers, high power amplifiers, RF conversion elements, and transmission line equipment.
• Perform link analysis and optimization, including effects of propagation medium and possible interference sources.
• Develop and allocate RF system and subsystem functional and performance requirements.
• Identify and track RF technical performance measurements (TPMs).
• Perform RF system/subsystem/component trade studies and CAIV analysis.
• Support Life Cycle Costs, reliability, availability, and maintainability analysis.

What You Will Gain

• Deep expertise in payload hardware and mission execution.
• Expanded engineering and RF hardware proficiency through challenging, real-world projects.
• Collaborative experience working with a high-performing team of engineers.
• High-impact engagement with customers on technical discussions and interchanges.
• Accelerated skills to take on engineering growth opportunities.
• Hands-on involvement in cutting-edge mission areas delivering tangible, real-world results.
• Contribute to the safety and effectiveness of our armed forces.

Requirements

• Experience with space electronics and/or hardware design.
• Knowledge of digital timing signals (e.g., 10MHz, 1PPS).
• Experience working with subcontracts.
• U.S. Citizenship required due to program/customer requirements.
• Currently Active Top Secret security clearance required; selected candidates will need to obtain and maintain Top Secret with adjudicated SCI Eligibility (TS/SCI) for long-term employment.

Desired Skills

• Proven ability to execute major milestone reviews (e.g., SRR, PDR, CDR).
• Experience leading small technical teams across the design lifecycle to produce artifacts meeting technical specifications.
• Experience with successful execution of RF payload/subsystem test plans.
• Demonstrated ability to participate in cross-functional teams and communicate effectively as one team with common goals.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including interacting with customers, suppliers, management, and peers.
• Ability to develop and analyze technical requirements, perform trade studies, and allocate functions to RF payloads, subsystems, and/or components.
• Experience defining end-to-end performance and functionality of RF payloads and/or subsystems consistent with mission needs and CONOPS.
• Experience analyzing and verifying technical requirements/functions for engineering systems.
• Excellent problem-solving and troubleshooting skills.
• Experience reviewing supplier/factory data results to show compliance with RF engineering requirements.
• Proficiency in developing specifications and interface definitions for digitally processed RF payloads.
• Experience certifying and selling off an RF payload or subsystem to the customer.
• Proficiency in AI prompting as it applies to this position.

Pay

Full-Time Salary Range: $135,700 - $251,900. Note that the salary information listed is a general guideline only. Lockheed Martin considers factors such as scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, and market considerations when extending an offer.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance.
• Flexible work arrangements and schedules (e.g., 4x10).
• 401(k) match.
• Paid time off and holidays.
• Parental Leave.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Flexible Spending Accounts.
• Education Assistance.
• Life Insurance.
• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability.
• Annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation programs (performance-based, not guaranteed).

For Washington state applicants only: Non-represented full-time employees accrue at least 10 hours per month of Paid Time Off (PTO) for incidental absences and other reasons; receive at least 90 hours for holidays. Represented full-time employees accrue 6.67 hours of Vacation per month; accrue up to 52 hours of sick leave annually; receive at least 96 hours for holidays. PTO, Vacation, sick leave, and holiday hours are prorated based on start date during the calendar year.

Schedule

9x80 work schedule (full-time onsite, not hybrid).