Spectrum Engineer/Radio Frequency (RF) Engineer

Location: Washington, DC

Time Type: Full time

Job Description

Leidos’ NISC IV program seeks a Spectrum Engineer to support the FAA Spectrum Engineering Services Group.

The Spectrum Engineering Group is responsible for securing, managing, and protecting all civil aviation spectrum resources to ensure interference-free operation of FAA communications, navigation, and surveillance (CNS) systems across the National Airspace System (NAS).

The ideal candidate will have an electrical engineering degree or other training and at least 2 years of spectrum engineering and/or radio frequency engineering experience. This role performs engineering and coordinating of frequency assignment actions for primary surveillance radar systems, air-to-ground voice communication, Land mobile radio, microwave, satellite, and various other Radio Frequency (RF) Spectrum Engineering disciplines while ensuring compliance with FAA Order 6050.32 and NTIA Redbook requirements.

*Must be commutable to the Washington DC area.

*While the position itself is hybrid/remote (most of the time) – the candidate will be expected to go into the office in DC on an as needed basis.

Core Responsibilities (All Bands):

• Contributes to the planning, coordination, and execution of FAA and non-FAA frequency assignment actions, ensuring that technical analyses and documentation conform to FAA Orders, the NTIA Manual (Redbook), and established engineering standards.

• Perform radio-frequency compatibility analyses using the FAA’s spectrum-automation and modeling tools to identify and mitigate potential interference among communications, navigation, and surveillance systems.

• Conduct RF propagation, link-budget, EMC, and interference analyses using FAA spectrum-automation and modeling tools.

• Validate all technical data (location, equipment, parameters, emission designator, power, bandwidth, and antenna characteristics) for completeness and accuracy.

• Collaborates closely with other federal and contractor engineers, Service Area Spectrum Offices, and FAA program offices to resolve technical issues and advance records through the assignment and coordination process.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or completion of a formal spectrum management course or equivalent military experience in spectrum management.

• 2+ years of relevant experience in radio frequency engineering and/or spectrum engineering.

• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

• Ability to learn FAA-specific software and systems.

• Must be a US citizen.

• Must have a security clearance of Secret or higher or be able to meet the requirements for one.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of spectrum-engineering principles, electromagnetic theory, and radio-frequency propagation as applied to communications, navigation, and surveillance systems that support the National Airspace System (NAS).

• Experience in applying analytical and automation tools to perform frequency-assignment processing, data validation, and compatibility analysis, with attention to accuracy and completeness.

• Experience evaluating radio-frequency system parameters to identify and mitigate potential interference and resolving routine and complex spectrum-engineering problems.

• Familiar with Spectrum XXI or similar federal spectrum management tools is highly desirable.

• Ability to perform engineering calculations (FSPL, link budgets, noise/interference ratios, power conversions).

• Ability to interpret technical data and apply mitigation best practices to resolve RF interference issues affecting aviation systems.

• Knowledge of roles and responsibilities of spectrum management within the National Airspace System (NAS).

• Knowledge of frequency management practices, including engineering, assignment, and protection of radio frequencies, and the National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA) Redbook.

• Knowledge of and experience with various frequency policy organizations, including National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), Interdepartmental Radio Advisory Committee (IRAC), and associated sub-committees, and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting:

August 28, 2026

Pay Range:

Pay Range $69,550.00 - $125,725.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.