Temporary Rf Drive Test Engineer Jobs in Ashburn, VA

Dedrone systems sit at the bleeding edge of counter-UAS (CUAS) capability. You'll design and execute the test strategies that prove them out, across hardware/software integration, networking, active and passive detection, computer vision, RF mitigation/defeat, environmental durability, and automated regression. You'll be the engineer who understands the entire system and its nuances end to end: you'll determine whether a system has what it takes to meet the objective, build the tooling to evaluate it against live drone threats, and be the one who can reproduce the issue nobody else can. Your job is to make sure the systems our customers rely on hold up in the real world, against real threats, at the forefront of technology.
In this role the drone is the threat. What's under test is the CUAS stack - detect, track, identify, and defeat - along with the sensors, software, integrations, and platforms that deliver it.

• Own system-level test strategy for one or more CUAS product lines, from early prototype through production and field deployment.
• Design and execute integration test plans across the full stack: RF sensors, radar, EO/IR and acoustic sensors, computer vision, RF detection/DF, jamming and mitigation/defeat, networking, radios, and third-party system integrations.
• Plan and execute field test campaigns at the range - flying threat-representative target drones against the system and executing live detect-track-ID-defeat runs.
• Build and maintain test tooling, automation, and instrumented data capture and reduction, regression automation, and HIL / RF-chamber / environmental setups for sensor and platform hardware.
• Collect, analyze, and report test metrics, turn field data into clear insights, recommendations, and event reports for PM, engineering, and leadership.
• Evaluate third-party and integrated systems against defined acceptance criteria to determine whether a system or integration meets the cut.
• Triage complex multi-system failures across HW, FW, SW, RF, and network; reproduce intermittent field issues others can't.
• Partner with various Dedrone teams during design reviews to bake in testability early.
• Help shape the System Test and Evaluation discipline across Dedrone.

Required

• BS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Aerospace, or a related field - or equivalent hands-on experience. We actively welcome non-traditional paths: prior technician, electrician, military technical-trade experience followed by a degree is a strength, not a gap.
• 5-8 years across system test, system integration, field test & evaluation, or hands-on technical roles (military or industry) on complex electromechanical and RF systems.
• Hands-on with at least two of: HW/SW integration testing, RF/wireless validation, environmental/reliability testing, test automation, electrical system testing, radar testing, EO/IR or camera testing, acoustic sensing.
• Demonstrated ability to debug across the stack - hardware, electrical, RF, network, and software.
• Comfortable owning field operations and translating raw test data into decisions stakeholders can act on.
• U.S. person defined as a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders)
• Approximately 50% field time

Strongly preferred

• CUAS, EW/SIGINT, RF, Cameras, Radar or other mission-critical / safety-critical system experience.
• RF and wireless depth: DF, spectrum analysis, and the protocols drones live on (sub-GHz proprietary, Wi-Fi, LTE/5G, Bluetooth), plus jamming/mitigation.
• Familiarity with UAS.
• Experience with automated test frameworks.

Nice to have

• FAA Part 107 (the team flies its own target drones).
• MS in a relevant field.
• Prior CUAS or counter-drone operational experience (military or government).

• Competitive salary and 401k with employer match
• Discretionary paid time off
• Paid parental leave for all
• Medical, Dental, Vision plans
• Fitness Programs
• Emotional & Mental Wellness support
• Learning & Development programs
• Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)
• And yes, we have snacks in our offices

Benefits listed herein may vary depending on the nature of your employment and the location where you work.