RF Communications Engineer

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Leidos Defense provides a diverse portfolio of systems, solutions, and services covering land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace for customers worldwide. Solutions for Defense include enterprise and mission IT, large-scale intelligence systems, command and control, geospatial and data analytics, cybersecurity, logistics, training, and intelligence analysis and operations support. Our team is solving the world’s toughest security challenges for customers with “can’t fail” missions.

Following NASA's award of the High Achievability Lunar Terrain Vehicle (HALTV) program contract to Lunar Outpost, Leidos, as a key partner, is seeking RF Communications Engineer to support HALTV and other programs as part of a diverse team that develops lunar mobility systems, cislunar spacecraft, and a wide range of critical technologies for civil, military, and commercial space programs.

 

Primary Responsibilities

The Lead RF Communications Engineer will support the Leidos Space Platforms Portfolio in the development of a lunar terrain vehicle system and support equipment, primarily responsible for subsystem integration, qualification, and testing of RF communications hardware into a seamless operational system. This position requires expertise in RF simulation analysis, subsystem-level testing, electromagnetic compatibility testing, and end-to-end system verification. The role also requires the ability to translate high-level product development strategies into system requirement specifications and to work with multi-discipline engineering teams to develop lower-level detailed requirements. Candidates will work in a team environment to support design through product implementation and should be able to contribute to engineering design dispositions and support resolution of documentation discrepancies in coordination with Lunar Outpost and other team members.

 

Candidate may be required to travel as necessary (10-20%)

 

Basic Qualifications

• Candidates must possess a bachelor's degree or master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering or equivalent degree from an ABET-accredited institution. Candidates with master's and PhD degrees are encouraged to apply, with degree level substitution for direct industry work experience.
• Candidates must have 5+ years of experience with roles, as detailed in this description, with an engineering company or system integrator where design, integration, testing, and/or modification of human-rated aerospace systems communications hardware was involved.

• Candidate must have demonstrated experience developing RF link budgets along with hardware experience with space-based transceivers, antennas, and amplifiers.
• Candidate must have hands-on experience with RF simulation and analysis tools such as HFSS, CST Studio Suite, ADS, or equivalent electromagnetic simulation software.
• Candidate must have excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Candidates must have demonstrated experience effectively communicating within a team environment.
• Candidate must be a resident of the North Alabama area or willing to relocate to the Huntsville - North Alabama, AL area.

 

Preferred Qualifications

 

Preferred candidates may have experience and/or working knowledge of the following:

Space Communications Systems

• Demonstrated the ability to architect and implement complex space-based RF communication links/systems from concept through flight operations.
• Proficiency with CCSDS (Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems) standards and NASA communication protocols.
• Understanding of communications with regards to navigation and telemetry systems.
• Cislunar or deep space communications heritage.
• Experience with NASA Deep Space Network (DSN) or Near Space Network (NSN) operations.

Wi-Fi and Commercial Wireless Systems

• Experience with Wi-Fi standards including IEEE 802.11n, 802.11ac, and 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) protocols and implementations.
• Hands-on experience with integration and testing of Wi-Fi subsystems in aerospace or ruggedized environments.
• Knowledge of Wi-Fi performance tests including throughput, latency, packet error rate, and range testing.
• Familiarity with Wi-Fi security protocols (WPA2, WPA3) and network configuration for mission-critical applications.
• Experience conducting Wi-Fi subsystem qualification testing including environmental testing (thermal, vibration, vacuum).

RF Design and Analysis

• Experience with RF PCB design using tools such as Altium Designer or Keysight ADS.
• Proficiency in STK (Systems Tool Kit) integration and scripting for mission analysis and end-to-end system modeling.
• Coordinating and planning frequency spectrum with Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Interagency Operations Advisory Group (IOAG), National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), Space Frequency Coordination Group (SFCG), and International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
• Knowledgeable with electromagnetic interference (EMI) analysis and testing, passive intermodulation (PIM), and harmonic effects.
• Experience with cosite analysis and antenna pattern analysis using computational electromagnetic software such as STK, HFSS, E3Expert, GEMACS, and/or MATLAB/Simulink.
• Experience across multiple frequency bands including S-Band, X-Band, Ka-Band, C-Band, L-Band, and ISM band (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz) RF design.
• Knowledge of RF filter design (microstrip and waveguide).
• Experience with test bench equipment including VNA, VSG, oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, and Wi-Fi test equipment.

 

 

SECURITY REQ:

Candidate must be a US Citizen.

 

Candidate must possess (and be able to maintain) a Final Secret Clearance or meet the eligibility to obtain (and maintain) a Secret Clearance

 

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting:

October 15, 2026

Pay Range:

Pay Range $87,100.00 - $157,450.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.