Lead Range Operator

Summary

A FIRST RF Lead Range Operator is accountable for the maintenance and operation of FIRST RF’s 50-foot anechoic test chamber. This includes preventative maintenance, troubleshooting, repair, and calibration of the test chamber as well as setting up and conducting a wide variety of tests on a wide variety of antennas from research and development prototypes all the way to full-fledged FIRST RF products. The Lead Range Operator collaborates with technicians and engineers to keep the testing schedule organized and running smoothly. Additionally, the Lead Range Operator is expected to develop their understanding of pertinent technical subjects, including electromagnetics, RF theory, and test coordinate systems.   

Key Responsibilities

• Accountable for Range Operations & Performance
  • Plans, schedules, and oversees all range operations to meet internal and customer requirements
  • Tracks and reports range performance metrics and CPKs; deliver the TM Annual and Range Facility reports
  • Ensures consistent, safe, and efficient operation of all range assets
• Accountable for Range Calibration & Uncertainty
  • Owns and executes calibration plans, including traceability of instruments and data
  • Maintains and continuously improves range uncertainty measurements to meet or exceed specification
• Accountable for Range Maintenance & Process Control
  • Directs all preventive and corrective maintenance activities to maintain full operational readiness
  • Develops, documents, maintains, and updates range processes and standard operating procedures
  • Identifies and implements range updates that improve reliability, accuracy, and throughout
• Financial Stewardship
  • Accountable for managing the range operating budget and monitoring ongoing expenditures
  • Responsible for Range CAPEX, helping scope and propose capital investments with final budget accountability retained by the Test Manager
• Accountable for Range Scheduling & Coordination
  • Establishes and maintains the master schedule for all range activities
  • Coordinates with engineering, program management, and customers to deconflict priorities and maximize utilization
• Accountable for Range Troubleshooting & Continuous Improvement
  • Leads root-cause investigations and corrective actions when anomalies occur
  • Drives improvements that enhance accuracy, reduce downtime, and extend system life
• Supports Engineering & Change Management
  • Supports engineering change orders for product-specific test procedures
  • Provides subject-matter expertise for new test requirements and equipment integration

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Supervisory Responsibility

This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position requiring 40 hours per week.  During training, the schedule is expected to be Monday-Friday, from 8:30am-5:00pm.  Once training is complete, the schedule will shift to Monday-Friday, from 9:30am-6pm.  However, these hours will vary based on workload and the manager’s discretion. This job may require more than 40 hours of work per week as the need arises.

Travel

No travel is expected for this position.

Work Environment

This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as