Lead Spectrum Engineer

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MITRE operates six Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), including the Center for Enterprise Modernization (CEM), sponsored by our public sector partners including the Department of Commerce. In the CEM FFRDC, we help our sponsors advance critical national missions through objective technical analysis, systems engineering, spectrum engineering, advanced sensing, technology modernization, and acquisition support.

MITRE is seeking a technically strong Lead Spectrum Engineer to provide technical leadership and hands-on engineering support for critical weather and environmental sensing missions. The ideal candidate will possess deep expertise in spectrum engineering, RF systems, radar, antennas, propagation, interference and compatibility analysis, and spectrum-dependent systems, combined with the systems engineering judgment needed to support complex operational systems and acquisitions.

A major near-term focus of this position will be technical leadership for spectrum compatibility and band studies involving the 2.7-2.9 GHz band, including analysis of incumbent radar systems, interference protection between incumbent and commercial systems, and potential new spectrum uses. The engineer will also support the acquisition and modernization of spectrum-dependent systems and provide broader RF, spectrum, and systems engineering expertise to operational weather systems.

This is a hands-on engineering position requiring an individual who can independently perform complex technical analyses, lead defined technical workstreams, critically evaluate engineering assumptions and results, and effectively communicate findings to government stakeholders. The successful candidate will work closely with senior technical leaders while taking ownership of significant portions of complex spectrum and RF engineering efforts.

Roles & Responsibilities:

• Spectrum Band Studies & Compatibility Analysis: Perform and lead technical elements of spectrum band studies and electromagnetic compatibility analyses, with an initial focus on the 2.7-2.9 GHz band. Develop interference scenarios involving radar and other spectrum-dependent systems and analyze propagation, antenna characteristics, receiver performance, aggregate interference, deployment assumptions, operational scenarios, and applicable protection criteria.
• Hands-on Spectrum Engineering: Develop and execute RF propagation, link-budget, interference, coexistence, and statistical analyses using MATLAB, Python, and specialized spectrum-engineering tools. Evaluate input data, model assumptions, sensitivity, uncertainty, and technical limitations, and independently verify analytical results.
• Spectrum-Dependent System Acquisition: Provide spectrum engineering support throughout the acquisition and modernization lifecycle of spectrum-dependent systems. Contribute to requirements development, architecture and design reviews, technical evaluations, trade studies, test planning, and risk assessments to identify and address spectrum considerations early in system development.
• Weather & Radar Systems Engineering: Apply RF, radar, spectrum, and systems engineering expertise to operational sensing and weather systems. Analyze how interference, spectrum constraints, RF architectures, and system design decisions affect system performance and mission outcomes.
• Technical Workstream Leadership: Lead defined technical workstreams within larger multidisciplinary engineering efforts. Develop analytical approaches, coordinate technical tasks, review the work of other engineers, identify technical risks and data gaps, and ensure that engineering results are reproducible and supported by appropriate evidence.
• Sponsor & Interagency Engagement: Work directly with government spectrum, engineering, acquisition, and mission stakeholders to understand technical problems, develop analytical approaches, present engineering results, and support technical discussions with other federal and industry organizations. Clearly communicate assumptions, uncertainties, tradeoffs, limitations, and mission implications.
• Documentation, Collaboration & Mentoring: Develop high-quality technical reports, briefings, models, and other engineering artifacts; collaborate with technical experts across MITRE and external organizations; contribute to identification of emerging technical needs; and mentor less-experienced engineers through technical guidance, peer review, and hands-on collaboration.

Basic Qualifications:

• Typically requires a minimum of 8 years experience in AI with a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field; or 6 years and a Master's degree.
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Communications Engineering, Physics, Applied Mathematics, or a highly related technical discipline and applicable professional experience, or an equivalent combination of related education and work experience.
• Experience in spectrum engineering, RF systems engineering, radar engineering, electromagnetic compatibility, wireless systems, or a closely related technical field.
• Spectrum Engineering: Demonstrated experience performing spectrum compatibility, interference, coexistence, or related RF analyses involving spectrum-dependent systems.
• RF Technical Depth: Strong technical understanding of RF systems, including transmitters, receivers, antennas, propagation, link budgets, interference mechanisms, and radar or communications systems.
• Modeling & Analysis: Demonstrated proficiency performing RF propagation and interference analyses using MATLAB, Python, or comparable engineering tools, including the ability to evaluate assumptions, conduct sensitivity analyses, and interpret technical limitations.
• Technical Execution & Leadership: Demonstrated ability to independently execute complex engineering analyses, troubleshoot technical problems, critically review engineering results, and lead defined technical tasks or workstreams involving multiple contributors.
• Communication: Strong written, verbal, and briefing skills with demonstrated ability to communicate engineering methods, assumptions, results, uncertainty, and implications to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Must have an active Top Secret/SCI U.S Government issued Security Clearance. Per the U.S. Government's eligibility requirements, you must be a U.S Citizen to be considered for a security clearance.
• This position requires a minimum of 4 days a week on-site.

Preferred Qualifications:

• MS or PhD in electrical engineering, math, or physics
• Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Communications Engineering, Systems Engineering, Physics, Applied Mathematics, or a related technical discipline.
• Technical experience with radar systems operating in the 2.7-2.9 GHz band or comparable radar frequency bands.
• Experience conducting spectrum compatibility or band studies involving incumbent federal systems and proposed commercial or other non-federal spectrum uses.
• Knowledge of federal spectrum management, including spectrum allocation, assignment, coordination, interference protection, and spectrum-sharing processes.
• Experience with weather radar, meteorological sensing, environmental sensing, or other mission-critical radar and remote-sensing systems.
• Experience supporting the acquisition, modernization, or lifecycle engineering of spectrum-dependent systems, including development or evaluation of spectrum-related technical requirements.
• Experience applying deterministic or statistical/Monte Carlo methods to spectrum compatibility analysis, including aggregate interference or geographically distributed system analyses.
• Experience validating RF or spectrum models using measurement, test and evaluation, or comparison with authoritative data.
• Experience working directly with government technical stakeholders and collaborating across multiple engineering organizations or disciplines.
• Experience mentoring junior engineers, conducting technical peer reviews, or providing technical direction to small engineering teams.

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):
Top Secret/SCI

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

Salary compensation range and midpoint:
$156,400 - $195,500 - $234,600 Annual

Work Location Type:
Onsite

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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