Senior Electrical Engineer/Radio Frequency (RF) Engineer

About the role

The Spectrum Engineering Group supports the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in securing, managing, and protecting civil aviation spectrum resources. The candidate will investigate, analyze, and resolve radio frequency (RF) interference affecting critical communications, navigation, and surveillance systems.

Responsibilities

• Investigate reports of RF interference affecting mission-critical communications, navigation, surveillance, or wireless systems.
• Conduct both on-site and remote RF interference investigations to identify, characterize, and resolve interference sources.
• Document findings, recommend corrective actions, and verify successful mitigation of interference issues.
• Operate spectrum analyzers, monitoring receivers, and related RF test equipment to identify interfering emissions.
• Measure and analyze: frequency, bandwidth, occupied spectrum, modulation characteristics, power levels, harmonics, spurious emissions.
• Evaluate RF propagation characteristics, signal strength, noise floor, and overall spectrum utilization.
• Interpret RF measurements and prepare technical reports for engineering and operational stakeholders.
• Perform radio direction finding (RDF) operations to locate unknown RF interference sources.
• Utilize directional antennas, GPS mapping, and triangulation techniques during field investigations.
• Support rapid response activities for high-priority interference events.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field (or equivalent experience).
• Minimum 8+ years of experience in RF engineering, spectrum management, interference mitigation, or wireless communications.
• Experience conducting RF interference investigations and root-cause analysis.
• Proficiency using RF test equipment, including: spectrum analyzers, monitoring receivers, signal generators, RF power meters.
• Experience with radio direction finding equipment and techniques.
• Understanding of RF propagation, antenna theory, modulation methods, and electromagnetic interference (EMI).
• Ability to analyze technical data and prepare detailed engineering reports.
• Strong troubleshooting and analytical skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in field and office environments.
• Experience working in fast-paced operational environments.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to technical excellence.
• Valid driver's license.
• US citizen.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting aviation, public safety, defense, telecommunications, or government communications systems.
• Familiarity with FCC, NTIA, or international spectrum regulations.
• Experience with spectrum monitoring software and GIS/GPS mapping applications.
• Knowledge of digital communication systems, microwave, satellite, LTE/5G, or land mobile radio (LMR) technologies.

Skills

• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Attention to detail.
• Technical expertise in RF spectrum analysis, interference mitigation, and radio direction finding.

Benefits

Details about benefits are available at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits.

Pay

Pay Range $107,900.00 - $195,050.00

Schedule

Details about the schedule are available at www.leidos.com/careers/schedule.