Phased Array Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Senior RF Antenna Systems Engineer

Location: McLean, Virginia (this role is 5 days a week on-site, no exceptions)

Type: Full-time, Direct Hire.

Only accepting W2 candidates who do not require sponsorship and get future clearance

Salary: $180,000 to $220,000 Annual salary plus up to a 11.55% bonus

We are seeking a highly skilled Senior RF Antenna Systems Engineer to lead the technical development, integration, and validation of advanced user terminal antenna systems supporting next-generation broadband and satellite communications. This role will drive antenna architecture, system performance, supplier collaboration, and product qualification while working with multidisciplinary engineering teams to deliver innovative antenna solutions for fixed and mobile communication platforms.

Education & Experience Required

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications Engineering, Physics, or a related technical discipline.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in antenna systems, RF engineering, satellite communications, wireless communications, or related technologies.
• Experience designing, integrating, testing, or evaluating antenna systems and RF hardware.
• Proven expertise in simulation, design, and testing of electronically steerable antennas for satellite communication, for land mobile, aeronautical, maritime, and fixed applications.
• Strong knowledge of UT antenna architectures, including modem integration and flat panel antenna approaches.
• Familiarity with standardized antenna control protocols, modem interoperability, and communication standards (e.g., open AMIP, open BMIP).
• Strong understanding of satellite modems, hub systems, and RF equipment.
• Experience working with suppliers, vendors, and technology partners.
• Ability to develop technical requirements, test requirements, and compliance matrices for LEO UT antenna technologies and UT approvals.
• Evaluate vendor terminal designs for performance, reliability, manufacturability, and integration strategy.
• Experience defining and executing validation tests, including prototype evaluation.

Preferred

• Master's degree in Electrical Engineering or a related field.
• Ph.D. specializing in phased-array antennas, electromagnetics, RF systems, beamforming, or wireless communications.
• Experience developing electronically steerable antennas (ESAs) or advanced phased-array antenna systems for commercial, aerospace, or defense applications.
• 10+ years of experience in satellite antenna, user terminal (UT), and/or satellite system design.

Main Responsibilities Antenna System Architecture & Development

• Develop, maintain, and manage technical requirements for advanced user terminal antenna systems.
• Define, allocate, and verify antenna performance requirements for fixed, mobile, and transportable communication terminals.
• Support the development of certification, qualification, regulatory compliance, and product approval processes.
• Perform system-level modeling, analysis, and simulation to optimize antenna performance, coverage, and overall system efficiency.
• Evaluate new antenna technologies and recommend design improvements that enhance performance, reliability, manufacturability, and cost competitiveness.

Technical Leadership & Supplier Management

• Serve as the primary technical interface with antenna manufacturers, technology partners, and engineering suppliers.
• Evaluate vendor solutions based on technical performance, reliability, production readiness, manufacturing capability, schedule, cost, and regulatory requirements.
• Lead supplier design reviews, technical assessments, technology evaluations, and product development activities.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship across multidisciplinary engineering teams throughout the product development lifecycle.

Product Validation & Performance Testing

• Develop and execute antenna characterization, validation, and verification test plans for prototype and production hardware.
• Analyze antenna performance using laboratory and field measurements to validate design objectives.
• Support product qualification activities, environmental testing, production readiness, and ongoing performance optimization.
• Collaborate with systems, RF, hardware, software, and manufacturing teams to ensure successful product integration.

Technology Strategy & Innovation

• Monitor emerging developments in phased-array antennas, electronically steerable antennas (ESAs), beamforming technologies, RF systems, satellite communications, and next-generation wireless technologies.
• Contribute to technology roadmaps and long-term product strategies.
• Support customer engagements, technical presentations, proposal development, and business development initiatives by providing subject matter expertise.

Technical Skills & Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess experience with:

• Design, modeling, simulation, integration, and testing of electronically steerable and phased-array antenna systems.
• Beamforming architectures, antenna control systems, calibration techniques, and adaptive RF technologies.
• Flat-panel antennas, tracking reflector antennas, hybrid antenna architectures, and Ku-, Ka-, X-, or other microwave frequency bands.
• RF subsystems including:
  • Power Amplifiers (PA)
  • Low Noise Amplifiers (LNA)
  • Frequency conversion systems
  • RF front-end architectures
  • Beamforming ICs and RF integrated circuits
• Communication system analysis including:
  • Link budgets
  • G/T
  • EIRP
  • Modulation and coding
  • Interference analysis
• Electromagnetic theory, antenna propagation, and RF system optimization.
• Design-for-Manufacturing (DFM), production engineering, cost optimization, and product lifecycle support.
• Integration of antenna systems with modems, networking equipment, embedded controllers, and communication platforms.
• Global regulatory requirements applicable to RF and wireless communication products.

Professional Skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Excellent technical writing, documentation, and presentation skills.
• Ability to communicate complex engineering concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced development environment.
• Demonstrated engineering judgment balancing performance, cost, manufacturability, schedule, power consumption, and reliability.
• Fluent verbal and written English.

Leadership

• Provide technical leadership across multidisciplinary engineering teams.
• Lead supplier interactions, technical reviews, and development activities involving external partners.
• Guide engineering teams through architecture decisions, product evaluations, and technology selection.
• Manage technical work packages and supplier deliverables while ensuring projects meet performance, quality, schedule, and cost objectives.
• Make independent engineering decisions within the scope of assigned programs and establish technical priorities that support successful product delivery.