Sr Electronic Warfare / RF Systems Engineer

Job Description

Job Description

Roles and Responsibilities Include:

• Support Operational Test and Evaluation of RF systems.
• Provide technical expertise in Radio Frequency (RF) signal analysis for the testing of electronic warfare, survivability, and communications systems.
• Ensure EW testing has adequate spectrum diversity, spatial coverage, and power levels to represent the area of operation.
• Recommend EW threats for simulation from EWIR database for use with RF simulators.
• Research/develop emitters/modes to support RF threat simulation for testing of EW radar receivers.
• Work closely with active-duty operational test directors, government civilians and contractor support staff to plan for, execute, and report on operational test and evaluation events
• Primary responsibility is writing test plans and reports. This includes coordinating meetings to review planning and reporting products with the higher headquarters, OPTEVFOR. Acts as primary interface with Operational Test Agencies and is the lead expert in test planning and reporting policies and processes.
• Test planning functions involve determining measures, data requirements, and test conditions to safely conduct and capture data required to support the test objectives.
• Direct and exercise control over the various phases of test. Responsible for the creation and dissemination of test data cards for all test events. At the conclusion of test events, review all data cards for completeness and update as necessary.
• Coordinate and direct engineering activities related to the capture of data. Identify data collection sources to support test planning. Verify data collection equipment is operational and recording data during test. Also support the collection, reduction and analysis of test data.
• Document issues with systems under test, maintenance procedures, range support, and data collection as identified throughout the test. Record conditions under which failures occurred.
• Resolve issues that develop during test including the identification of incomplete data and develop recovery plans to assure all data is captured before test concludes.
• Analyzes and interpret test data and prepares technical reports for use by engineering and management personnel. Apply statistical methods in the selection, collection, classification, adjustment, analysis, and interpretation of test data to support the reporting process
• Provide technical support and create standard methodologies to support test and evaluation planning, execution and reporting.
• Test conduct involves pre- and post-test briefings for the flight and ground crews. Monitoring testing real time to assure testing is completed as planned. Process, analyze, and report on the large volumes of flight test data. Will have the lead responsibility for data reduction and analysis as well as documenting the data analysis process and results.
• This position involves significant teamwork and coordination with flight test co-workers in various disciplines (pilots, mechanics, inspectors, instrumentation, and data technicians), design engineers, qualification or certification authority representatives, and related subject matter experts.
• Security Clearance Statement: This position requires a government security clearance. Must be a US Citizen for consideration.
• Clearance Level:
  • Must possess a secret clearance or be able to obtain a secret clearance upon hiring
  • Must be capable of completing an NCIC criminal background check to access military installations.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering from an accredited college or applicable STEM degree (i.e., 800, 1300, and 1500 DOD series positions)
• Four years of experience in test and evaluation.
• Ten years of EW/RF related experience.
• Must be able to communicate effectively, using both written and oral communication

Key Skills and Knowledge Requirements:

• Proficient technical writer as applicable to test plans, data analysis, deficiencies, and reports of results.
• Must possess analytical thinking and initiative to solve problems with minimal oversight
• Work within a team environment to meet rapid timelines, simultaneous development, analysis and testing of multiple new and improved capabilities to support requested warfighter needs.
• Computer skills to include Microsoft Office applications and basic knowledge of analytical software like RStudio, Python, C++, to perform data parsing, analysis, and test automation.

Additional Requirements:

• Familiar with military and spectrum regulatory standards and test methods.
• Must be able to travel, based on program requirements.

Desired Skills:

• B.S. in Electrical/Electronic Engineering
• Developmental EW/RF Engineering test experience
• Experience with data reduction and analysis
• Flight testing experience
• Military Aircrew experience

Additional Notes:

• Position is first and foremost a military flight test engineering experienced individual with a specialty in RF and/or EW aviation systems (doesn't require direct testing of such systems but experience in the fielding and operations of such systems).
• Such EW/RF aviation systems could include aviation radars, such as APG-73, airborne EW systems such as APR-39, IDECM, NEXGEN Jammer, ASPJ, etc. utilized in an operational environment.
• Experience with operational employment of communications systems and data links is also of high value. Such as Link 16, TTNT, ANW2, BE-CDL, TSM WREN, etc.
• Ideal applicant would have experience in system level RF or EW systems operations with subsequent experience in flight test engineering. Potentially from either a government military flight test facility such as at China Lake, Point Mugu, Patuxent River, Eglin, or Edwards or an OEM test group.
• The individual would have a in depth of understanding of the fundamental operation of these systems and the ability to apply that knowledge to the military application and tasking.
• Someone with a science-related (Physics, Chemistry or Biology) or non-engineering background can still qualify if they have a long and strong/extensive experience base in operational employment of EW/RF systems including non-military or space systems that closely relate to military fielded systems.