Radio Frequency (RF) Design Engineer - Experienced Level (Maryland)

$102,477 - $187,662/Yr

National Security Agency - Fort Meade, MD

Full-time - Mid Level

Fort Meade, MD

National Security and International Affairs

About the position

The Radio Frequency (RF) Design Engineer position at the NSA involves applying engineering and scientific principles to design, develop, and deploy RF systems that enhance intelligence operations. The role requires collaboration with a team of engineers and analysts to create advanced technologies for signal collection and processing, ensuring adherence to engineering standards and addressing national security needs.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, test and deploy end-to-end RF systems, from the antenna through follow-on processors.
• Design, build, test and deploy communications systems using commercial off the shelf (COTS)/government off the shelf (GOTS) radios, software-defined radios (SDR) and SDR frameworks, as well as field programmable gate array (FPGA) technologies.
• Conduct RF site surveys and include results in the design and performance assessments of RF systems.
• Work with and/or lead project teams to satisfy operational requirements for RF systems.
• Analyze results of RF collection in support of national mission requirements.
• Lead new advances in RF engineering and push the leading edge of RF communications technologies.

Requirements

• Experience in applying principles, methods, analysis, and applications of radio frequency theory such as radio wave propagation and antenna theory.
• Knowledge of communication theory including signal processing, decision theory, and estimation theory.
• Experience in designing, analyzing, testing, and integrating electrical and communications systems.
• Proficiency in hardware design including analog, board-level, chip technologies, and digital systems.
• Programming skills in languages such as Assembly, JAVA, Matlab, Python, and VHDL.
• Experience with computer networking and communication protocols.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience with lab equipment such as spectrum analyzers and oscilloscopes.
• Involvement in amateur or HAM Radio clubs.
• Familiarity with open-source Wi-Fi tools.

Benefits

• Relocation assistance
• Flexible work schedules
• Generous leave programs
• Paid personal fitness time
• Training and continuing education classes
• Health and life insurance
• Federal Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)
• Federal retirement plan