Communications Systems Expert

Modern Technology Solutions Inc • El Segundo, CA

1d

About The Position

We are seeking a highly skilled Communications Systems Expert with a focus on RF Engineering to join our team supporting advanced space systems and/or missile defense systems.

This pivotal role requires expertise in analyzing and optimizing communication systems, including determining link margins, evaluating waveforms, and calculating data rates to ensure mission success in challenging environments.

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in Radio Frequency (RF) engineering, signal propagation, and system-level communications design for aerospace or defense applications. This position involves collaboration with cross-disciplinary teams, including systems engineering, payload integration, and mission planning, to design and verify resilient communication architectures.

Requirements

• Extensive experience with RF link budget analysis and understanding of system-level trade-offs.
• Strong background in waveform design, and modulation techniques.
• Expertise in calculating and optimizing data rates across communication links while ensuring reliability and minimizing latency.
• Knowledge of RF propagation in both terrestrial and space environments, including challenges such as Doppler shift, attenuation, interference, and plasma effects during re-entry.
• Understanding of antenna theory and design principles for spaceborne and missile communications systems.
• Familiarity with key communication standards and protocols, including MIL-STD.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to work in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.
• Exceptional communication abilities, including technical writing and presenting complex analyses to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, Communications Engineering, RF Engineering, or related field (Master’s or Ph.D. preferred).
• 8+ years of experience designing and analyzing RF systems for space or missile platforms.
• Must have Active Secret Clearance with TS/SCI Eligibility.

Responsibilities

• Design, analyze, and optimize RF communication systems for space and/or missile platforms.
• Calculate link budgets by evaluating factors such as transmitter power, receiver sensitivity, antenna characteristics, losses, environmental impacts, and more.
• Analyze and select waveforms tailored to mission-specific communication requirements, such as secure transmission, signal robustness, and noise immunity.
• Determine data rates and system performance requirements across multiple communication links, including space-to-ground, missile-to-satellite, and platform-to-platform architectures.
• Implement models for RF propagation and predict system performance under varying environmental conditions (e.g., plasma effects during re-entry, space vacuum, missile speeds, atmospheric attenuation).
• Perform system trade studies to evaluate communication technologies, such as frequency bands, modulation schemes, coding techniques, and encryption.
• Collaborate with payload integration teams to ensure communication subsystems align with overall system design, constraints, and mission goals.
• Provide expertise in communication standards, security protocols, and classifications specific to DoD space and missile programs.
• Produce technical reports, link budget analyses, and presentations for review by government stakeholders and program leadership.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level