RF Systems Engineer

Responsibilities

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) acquires and manages the ground system for the Nation's operational environmental satellites and provides ground system services to partner missions. The ground system supports spacecraft in various orbital regimes including Geostationary Earth orbit (GEO), Polar and Low Earth Orbit (LEO), and Lagrange Point Orbit. Spacecraft include those owned/operated by NOAA, non-NOAA US partner missions, and foreign owned partner missions. The NOAA/NESDIS antenna enterprise is comprised of antennas at multiple locations across the United States NOAA's Office of Space Weather Observations (SWO) develops, deploys, and sustains NOAA operational satellite systems that study space weather and safeguard society. SWO will provide users with real-time data for generating space weather products and services, enabling them to provide timely and accurate forecasts, warnings, and alerts.

Under SWO, the Space Weather Ground Services (SWGS) is a joint NOAA/NASA mission to support the development, sustainment, and maintenance of satellite ground systems for NOAA's space weather monitoring satellites. The first satellite, Space Weather Follow-On Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1), was successfully launched in September 2025 and will take measurements from Lagrange point 1. Additional satellites are planned, with the first, Space Weather Observations at L1 to Advance Readiness A (SOLAR-A), scheduled for a 2028 launch date. In addition to sustaining the existing ground system that flies SWFO-L1, the SWGS is in the early design and evaluation phase for a ground architecture that will support both SWFO-L1 but also future space weather satellites.

RESPONSIBILITIES: This position will support the Antenna and RF post-launch testing for SWFO-L1 and the planning, design, and testing for SOLAR-A and future space weather missions. The candidate will participate in multiple antenna/RF activities including, but not limited to:

• Calculating point to point RF link budgets for desired and/or undesired signals.
• Designing, evaluating RF proposals, reviewing the design from a development contractor, or fielding and testing, sensitive RF receivers, transmitters greater than about 100 watts, a variety of types of antennas, or components for large, multi-band, antennas (such as filters, polarizers, feed horns, or equivalent), antenna control units or tracking systems.
• Identifying and measuring the significant performance parameters of the above items. The definition of "significant" will vary widely.
• Creating specifications for procurement of the above items, separately or as parts of existing or new systems.
• Assisting with the development and administration of contracts, to include tasks such as: development of solicitation material, administration of source selection reviews, and assessment of technical solutions.
• Developing procurement packages, and their associated elements, to fund specific activities.
• Evaluating test procedures and test results for requirement verification
• Performing signal analysis using available tools including spectrum analyzers, signal generators, modems, FEC coder/decoders, measuring bit errors in digital links.
• Preparing and supporting RF compatibility testing with spacecrafts.
• Defining interfaces between antenna systems and control systems, including potentially outsourced antenna and/or control services.
• Working with multiple organizations (due to the nature of NOAA/NESDIS antenna enterprise) to define and scope the requirements for SWO satellites.
• Working with international antenna partners to ensure compatibility with SWO satellites.
• Monitoring project performance and reviewing contractor deliverables to ensure technical, programmatic, and financial goals and objectives are met and identify possible program risks.

This position will require occasional travel to NOAA operational sites such as the Wallops Command Data Acquisition Center (WCDAS) at Wallops, VA and the Consolidated Back Up (CBU) in Fairmont, WV. It is also likely to require occasional travel to vendor manufacturing facilities anywhere in the continental United States for design discussions and as an acceptance test witness. Travel to overseas vendor locations is also possible, if and when overseas suppliers are selected.

Required Qualifications

• The candidate must possess, at minimum, a Bachelor's Degree in a related field (Electrical engineering, Aerospace Engineering)
• In lieu of a Bachelor's degree in a related field, the successful candidate can qualify with a Bachelor's or Associates in an unrelated field plus at least 3 additional years of experience working with RF systems and performing tasks similar to those listed under the responsibilities section.
• Must be able to show proof of U.S. Citizenship or U.S. Permanent Residency.

Additional Required Skills:

• 8+ years' experience working with RF systems and performing tasks similar to those listed under the responsibilities section.
• Familiarity with either International Telecommunications Union (ITU), Consultative Committee on Space Data Systems (CCSDS), or National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) regulations related to antennas and RF systems.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Strong Microsoft Office product skills to build custom reports, equations, and diagrams to explain results to both technical and non-technical recipients.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with operational NOAA weather satellites would be beneficial.

Overview

Noblis and our wholly owned subsidiaries, Noblis ESI, and Noblis MSD tackle the nation's toughest problems and apply advanced solutions to our clients' most critical missions. We bring the best of scientific thought, management, and engineering expertise together in an environment of independence and objectivity to deliver enduring impact on federal missions. Noblis works with a wide range of government clients in the defense, intelligence and federal civil sectors. Learn more at Noblis -About Us

Why work at a Noblis company?

Our employees find greater meaning in their work and balance the other things in life that matter to them. Our people are our greatest asset. They are exceptionally skilled, knowledgeable, team-oriented, and mission-driven individuals who want to do work that matters and benefits the public. Noblis has won numerous workplace awards. Noblis maintains a drug-free workplace.

*Remote/hybrid status is subject to change based on Noblis and/or government requirements

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, sex, age, national origin, religion, physical or mental disability, pregnancy/childbirth and related medical conditions, veteran or military status, or any other characteristics protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact us.

EEO is the Law | E-Verify | Right to Work

Total Rewards

At Noblis we recognize and reward your contributions, provide you with growth opportunities, and support your total well-being. Our offerings include health, life, disability, financial, and retirement benefits, as well as paid leave, professional development, tuition assistance, and work-life programs. Our award programs acknowledge employees for exceptional performance and superior demonstration of our service standards. Full-time and part-time employees working at least 20 hours a week on a regular basis are eligible to participate in our benefit programs. Other offerings may be provided for employees not within this category. We encourage you to learn more about our total benefits by visiting the Benefits page on our Careers site.

Compensation at Noblis is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the combination of education, certifications, knowledge, skills, competencies, and experience, internal and external equity, location, clearance level, as well as contract-specific affordability, organizational requirements and applicable employment laws. The projected compensation range for this position is based on full time status. For part time or on-call staff, compensation is proportionately adjusted based on hours worked. While monetary compensation is important, it's just one component of Noblis' total compensation package.

Posted Salary Range

USD $127,100.00 - USD $198,575.00 /Yr.