Principal RF Engineer - E3/Integration

Sierra Nevada Corporation - Plano, TX

Full-time - Principal

Plano, TX

Transportation Equipment Manufacturing

About the position

Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) has been a leader in the aerospace and defense industry for over 60 years, and we are now channeling our expertise into the U.S. Air Force's Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) mission. As a Principal RF Engineer, you will play a crucial role in modernizing and delivering the next-generation SAOC aircraft, which is trusted by high-level officials including the President and Secretary of Defense. This position offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to critical command, control, and communication systems during national emergencies. You will be responsible for designing, developing, and testing complex RF products and technologies that span a wide range of applications, from advanced mission payloads and electronic systems to integrated aircraft and space exploration systems. In this role, you will engage in RF front-end design, radio propagation modeling, microwave path analysis, interference analysis, filter design, and RF frequency planning. The Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR), Aviation, and Security (IAS) business area is recognized as a leader in ISR and aviation, serving as a prime integrator for both manned and unmanned aircraft systems. Our capabilities encompass the entire lifecycle of Command, Control, Computers, Communications, and Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems, including design, integration, testing, certification, training, and logistics support. We pride ourselves on delivering tailored solutions that meet customer requirements for cost, performance, and schedule, consistently exceeding expectations with a strong record of on-time and on-budget deliveries.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and test complex RF products and technologies.
• Conduct RF front-end design and radio propagation modeling.
• Perform microwave path analysis and interference analysis.
• Design filters and plan RF frequencies.
• Collaborate with multi-disciplinary design and development teams.
• Develop substantiation documentation to demonstrate compliance with industry standards.
• Utilize RF analysis techniques such as Cosite, E3 integration, and link budgets.
• Work with RF test equipment including Vector Network Analyzers and Spectrum Analyzers.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in RF Engineering or a related Engineering discipline with typically 14 or more years of relevant experience.
• Comprehensive knowledge of engineering principles and practices, particularly in RF modeling and analysis techniques.
• Progressive experience working in multi-disciplinary design and development teams.
• Knowledge of industry standard RF principles as they apply to design, analysis, and testing.
• Experience with analysis software applications such as ANSYS HFSS, ANSYS EMIT, ANSYS SAVANT/SBR+, and MATLAB.
• Ability to develop documentation demonstrating compliance with requirements and industry standards.
• Experience with RF test equipment such as Vector Network Analyzers, Spectrum Analyzers, and Signal Generators.
• Background in the Aerospace and Defense Industry, US Department of Defense, and/or US Military.

Nice-to-haves

• Higher-level degree may substitute for relevant experience.
• Knowledgeable of industry standard RF assemblies and component selection.
• Experience in designing and verifying to MIL-STD-464 and test procedures of MIL-STD-461.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off and flex time
• Friendly and talented colleagues
• Exclusive SNC company events
• Leadership and development training
• SNC Mentorship Program
• Education reimbursement
• Modern campus setting with collaboration spaces
• Free on-site fitness center
• State-of-the-art coffee house
• Full-service cafeteria with planned meals
• Access to walking and biking trails