Sr. Principal Communications Engineer

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Department Summary:

As an operator of Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), MITRE staff apply technical expertise to impact critical national security missions. The Advanced Wireless & SATCOM Department supports sponsors across the defense and intelligence communities by providing systems engineering, integration, and test & evaluation expertise in resilient communications and SATCOM systems.

The Space Communications Engineering team provides senior technical analysis, systems engineering, and independent assessment support for advanced satellite, airborne, and enterprise communications systems. The team helps government sponsors evaluate communications architectures, emerging technologies, and mission-driven technical alternatives across the program lifecycle.

We are seeking a part-time Senior Principal Communications Engineer to provide highly experienced technical guidance in satellite communications, communications modeling and simulation, performance analysis, and systems engineering. The successful candidate will help translate complex communications engineering issues into actionable recommendations for technical leaders, program decision-makers, and sponsor stakeholders.

Roles & Responsibilities:

• Provide senior-level technical analysis and engineering guidance for space-based, airborne, and enterprise communications systems.
• Conduct systems reviews, performance evaluations, trade studies, and feasibility assessments across the communications program lifecycle.
• Analyze satellite communications architectures, waveforms, link budgets, propagation effects, anti-jam techniques, multi-access approaches, and network performance considerations.
• Apply modeling and simulation methods to evaluate SATCOM and tactical communications system performance, mission effectiveness, risks, and alternatives.
• Support system integration and engineering activities tailored to sponsor mission requirements, including requirements analysis, architecture review, technical risk identification, and technology evaluation.
• Evaluate emerging communications technologies and provide independent technical recommendations on applicability, maturity, integration risk, and operational value.
• Engage with sponsors and senior stakeholders to explain complex communications concepts, technical tradeoffs, and the "so what" of alternative approaches in clear, decision-ready language.

Basic Qualifications:

• Typically requires a minimum of 12 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree; or 10 years and a Masters Degree; or a PhD with 7 years of experience.
• Degree in Electrical Engineering, Communications Engineering, Systems Engineering, Applied Physics,
• Significant experience in satellite communications, space communications, tactical communications, or enterprise communications systems engineering.
• Demonstrated expertise in communications system performance analysis, including link budgets, modulation and coding, propagation effects, interference considerations, and network performance.
• Demonstrated experience with modeling and simulation of SATCOM or tactical communications systems.
• Experience conducting technical reviews, trade studies, architecture assessments, feasibility analyses, or independent engineering evaluations.
• Ability to produce clear technical reports, briefings, and recommendations for senior technical, programmatic, and sponsor audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently in a part-time senior technical advisory role while collaborating effectively with multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret clearance within one year of hire
• Per the U.S. Government's eligibility requirements for a clearance, U.S Citizenship is required.
• This position requires a minimum of 50% hybrid on-site

Preferred Qualifications:

• PhD or advanced graduate study in Electrical Engineering, Communications Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
• 25+ years of experience in satellite communications, communications systems engineering, or communications modeling and simulation.
• Deep expertise in SATCOM concepts such as link budget analysis, modulation/coding, spread spectrum, multi-access, anti-jam techniques, frequency coordination, fading-channel analysis, and SATCOM network performance.
• Experience with modeling and simulation tools such as OPNET, QualNet, STK, JCSS, MATLAB, Python, or similar communications analysis environments.
• Prior experience supporting FFRDC, DoD, DHS, Intelligence Community, or other government sponsor technical work programs.
• Experience serving in a senior technical advisory, chief engineer, portfolio technical lead, or independent technical oversight role.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor technical staff, review technical products, and strengthen the quality and rigor of sponsor-facing engineering analysis.
• Active Top Secret or TS/SCI clearance.

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):
None

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):
Top Secret

Salary compensation range and midpoint:
$188,400 - $235,500 - $282,600 Annual

Work Location Type:
Hybrid

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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