RF Communications Engineer (Active Secret Clearance)

at  THE MITRE CORPORATION

Why choose between doing meaningful work and having a fulfilling life? At MITRE, you can have both. That’s because MITRE people are committed to tackling our nation’s toughest challenges—and we’re committed to the long-term well-being of our employees. MITRE is different from most technology companies. We are a not-for-profit corporation chartered to work for the public interest, with no commercial conflicts to influence what we do. The R&D centers we operate for the government create lasting impact in fields as diverse as cybersecurity, healthcare, aviation, defense, and enterprise transformation. We’re making a difference every day—working for a safer, healthier, and more secure nation and world. Our workplace reflects our values. We offer competitive benefits, exceptional professional development opportunities for career growth, and a culture of innovation that embraces adaptability, collaboration, technical excellence, and people in partnership. If this sounds like the choice you want to make, then choose MITRE - and make a difference with us.

DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

The mission of the Border Security department is to improve our impact on U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) operations in the areas of border security, law enforcement, and immigration as part of the Center for Securing the Homeland (CSH). Our current work program includes support in the areas of systems engineering, program acquisition and management, sensors and surveillance, communications and networking, digital engineering, and cybersecurity. Our goal is to expand the CBP work program in one or more technical areas where MITRE has superior capabilities and resources and can have a significant impact on meeting our CBP sponsor challenges.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum of 5 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field – preferably electrical engineering, radar engineering, systems engineering, data analytics, artificial intelligence or equivalent; or 3 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with relevant experience who can immediately contribute at this job step.
• Technical expertise in one or more of the following communication areas: cellular (5G, LTE), satellite communications (SATCOM), mesh radios, land mobile radio (LMR), Wi-Fi, microwave, and millimeter wave communications.
• Technical experience with one or more of the following networking devices and tools: IP networking analysis tools, switches, routers, modems, access points, and other networking equipment.
• Experience with at least one system modeling and simulation tool, such as Ansys Systems Tool Kit (STK), MATLAB, Planet, Atoll, SpectrumE, SignalPro, Riverbed Modeler, ns-3, ExtendSim, QualNet, etc.
• Experience performing trade studies, analyses, modeling & simulation, prototyping and/or experimentation.
• Experience with a scripting language such as Python or similar language.
• Able to effectively employ system engineering principles with an understanding of communications and network systems and how they can be applied and integrated to solve government problems.
• Adept at engaging customers through excellent written and verbal communications, including engaging and convincing presentations.
• Able to develop independently and lead teams to develop engineering trade studies, performance analyses, and architecture design and evaluation activities.
• Active Secret clearance required, and ability to obtain Department of Homeland Security (DHS) fitness and/or component suitability.
• This position requires a minimum of 50% hybrid on-site.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• An advanced degree in a STEM field – preferably electrical engineering, radar engineering, systems engineering, data analytics, artificial intelligence or equivalent.
• Ability to program using C++ or similar language.
• Active Top Secret (TS) clearance and the ability to obtain DHS fitness and/or component suitability.
• Hands-on experience performing wireless and/or SATCOM engineering trade studies, analyses, modeling & simulation, prototyping and experimentation.
• Experience planning, developing and executing test and evaluation (T&E) for network and communications systems.
• Understanding and experience with RF communications theory, including modulations, link budgets, error correction coding, channel effects, communications protocols, etc.

• Perform analyses of current and future communications and networking problems, derive results from modeling and simulation tools, develop data-driven actionable recommendations, and present findings to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Engage with the customer to formulate their needs and to provide data-driven results to impact their ability to meet their technical missions.
• Perform systems engineering, analysis, modeling & simulation, prototyping, and experimentation.
• Lead tasks which include planning and execution of the work, leading teams, and developing and presenting results to the sponsor.
• Identify additional project opportunities to expand the technical work portfolio through sponsor and internal engagement.