Lead Spectrum Policy & Harmonization Engineer

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Department Summary:

As an operator of Federally Funded Research and Development Centers, MITRE staff are tasked with applying their skills to impact programmatic and technical decisions of highest importance to the nation. The Advanced Wireless & SATCOM Department, part of MITRE's Technology and Engineering Infrastructure, Networking, and Communications Division, provides premier communications engineering, wireless networking, SATCOM, spectrum, and technical analysis expertise for our customers at all classification levels.

We seek to expand our department with a senior technical leader capable of leading wireless communications engineering and standards-related analysis in support of national security missions. The successful candidate will bring deep technical expertise in wireless communications systems, spectrum-dependent systems, and emerging network technologies, along with the judgment and composure needed to represent technical positions in high-visibility, consensus-driven international standards environments.

This position is focused on research, design, analysis, evaluation, technical leadership, and sponsor decision support. It does not involve administering, operating, troubleshooting, or maintaining a production communications network.

Roles & Responsibilities:

Specific duties will vary by project but will generally include leading and performing wireless communications engineering, spectrum analysis, standards support, and technical assessment activities. Responsibilities may include:

• Lead technical analysis and sponsor support for international spectrum harmonization and regulatory activities, including preparation for and participation in ITU-R study groups, working parties, WRC/CPM preparatory work, and domestic forums (NTIA/IRAC, FCC, FAA).
• Develop, review, and defend technically rigorous contributions, comments, and national/sponsor positions, and analyze contributions submitted by other administrations and stakeholders.
• Plan and execute compatibility, coexistence, interference, propagation, link-budget, and aggregate-interference studies as contributions to harmonization and regulatory activities.
• Model potential interference from external systems into incumbent spectrum-dependent systems, quantifying operational impact and identifying recommended protection criteria and mitigation options.
• Build and validate study models using tools such as MATLAB, Visualyse, SEAMCAT, Atoll, iQ-link, and HTZ, and document assumptions for transparency and reproducibility.
• Navigate complex, consensus-driven multi-stakeholder settings where technical, regulatory, economic, and national interests may be in tension, while maintaining an evidence-based engineering position.
• Produce concise leadership-level summaries, technical recommendations, and decision-quality briefings for government sponsors and senior stakeholders.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Communications Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, Physics, Applied Physics, or a related discipline with 10 years of related experience; or Master's with 7 years; or PhD with 5 years; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience.
• Demonstrated experience analyzing spectrum policy and regulations and developing strategies related to spectrum management and emerging wireless technologies.
• Working understanding of how spectrum harmonization and the regulatory process develop both domestically and globally, including ITU-R working party / study group activities.
• Strong RF engineering fundamentals, including propagation and interference analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to model spectrum compatibility/coexistence studies using one or more tools such as MATLAB, Visualyse, SEAMCAT, Atoll, iQ-link, or HTZ.
• Experience developing technically defensible written products such as ITU-R or regulatory contributions, technical reports, analysis memoranda, or executive-level briefings.
• Ability to operate effectively in sensitive, high-visibility, consensus-based environments and communicate complex technical concepts to technical and non-technical leadership audiences.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret Clearance.
• This position requires a minimum of 50% hybrid on-site

Preferred Qualifications:

• MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Communications Engineering, Physics, Applied Physics, or related discipline with 7+ years relevant experience.
• Direct experience participating in ITU-R study groups, working parties, WRC/CPM preparatory activities, or regional bodies such as CITEL, and drafting/defending contributions and liaison statements.
• Demonstrated experience modeling interference from IMT (5G/6G) into federal systems, including aggregate interference, adjacent-band analysis, emission characteristics, receiver susceptibility, and protection criteria.
• Knowledge of federal spectrum-dependent systems-communications, navigation, surveillance (CNS), radar altimeters, and other aeronautical safety-of-life systems.
• Familiarity with spectrum sharing frameworks and techniques (e.g., DSS, CBRS) and the interplay between regulation/policy and technology development.
• Experience supporting DoD, NTIA, FCC, FAA, NASA, or DHS work involving spectrum, aviation, or international standards and regulation.
• Experience with RF test, measurement, and field assessment methods supporting study validation.
• Active DoD Secret or Top Secret clearance.

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):
Suitability - FAA

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):
None

Salary compensation range and midpoint:
$162,400 - $203,000 - $243,600 Annual

Work Location Type:
Hybrid

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Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local or international law.

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