RF/Radar Engineering Specialist

The Aerospace Corporation is the trusted partner to the nation’s space programs, solving the hardest problems and providing unmatched technical expertise. As the operator of a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC), we are broadly engaged across all aspects of space— delivering innovative solutions that span satellite, launch, ground, and cyber systems for defense, civil and commercial customers. When you join our team, you’ll be part of a special collection of problem solvers, thought leaders, and innovators. Join us and take your place in space.

At Aerospace, we are committed to providing an inclusive and diverse workplace for all employees to share in our common passion and aspiration – to carry out a mission much bigger than ourselves.

The Communication Software Implementation Department (CSID) within CTED is hiring an RF/Radar Engineering Specialist to perform proof-of-concept studies, implements new algorithms, and builds prototypes for signal processing applications. We are subject matter experts who provide technical advice to our customers on satellite communication systems. 

When you join our team, you’ll also be part of a special collection of problem solvers, thought leaders, and innovators in CTED.   Join us and take your place in space.

Work Model: This role is hybrid work required in either of El Segundo, CA or Chantilly, VA.

What You’ll Be Doing

• The chosen candidate will collaboratively establish and lead projects that further the organization’s technical capabilities around Radio Frequency and Radar Signal processing
• Engage in mentoring activities that promote a culture of inclusivity and growth both within, and across, organizational boundaries
• Manage technical projects with cross-disciplinary teams from proposal to execution plan to final product delivery
• Ensure the technical quality of deliverables (reports, software, hardware, services, etc.) to customers.
• Mentor and lead staff to create cutting edge prototypes in the RF and Radar processing application area using best available technologies
• Promote and market the organization’s capabilities to customers. Engage with customers and higher management in identifying areas to support and develop statements of work and statements of expectations for technical projects.
• We go beyond analysis and simulation to build working intelligent Communication prototypes. You also need to be excited about exploring fields and concepts that may be out of your comfort zone.

What You Need to be Successful - Engineering Specialist

Minimum Requirements :

• Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or another related discipline 
• Minimum of six years of relevant experience and strong technical knowledge in Radio Frequency Processing, Radar Processing and, more broadly, Digital Communication
• Strong coding skills in either C++ or Python programming languages
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with corporate, customer, and contractor management and staff
• Record of effective mentorship, career development, training, and interpersonal skills directed toward junior engineers
• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance, which is issued by the U.S. Government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.

Minimum Requirements for Senior Engineering Specialist:

• All of the above requirements for RF/Radar Engineering Specialist
• Proven technical leadership skills with demonstrated project management experience from initial concept to execution and Aerospace-quality product delivery
• Minimum of ten years of relevant experience

How You Can Stand Out

It would be impressive if you have one or more of these:

• Domain expert level experience of progressively responsible engineering experience in software development, signal processing systems, space systems and/or communication systems
• Active TS/SCI security clearance
• Experience developing digital communication prototyping using GNU Radio, SDR#, pySDR, X-Midas, etc.
• Work implementing and/or leveraging SecDevOps/DevSecOps pipelines for software projects
• Comprehension of ML Ops tools and processes
• Familiarity with Data Science which includes data-centric problem formulation, data cleaning hands-on experience as well as classification, regression and reinforcement learning knowledge
• Strength in more than one of the following programming languages/libraries: Python, C/C++, TensorFlow, scikit-learn, Keras, Theano, PyTorch, Veles, etc.
• Experience supporting Air Force and/or NRO space programs
• Advanced degree (Master or PhD) in relevant