What are the responsibilities and job description for the Radio Communications Engineer (LMR) position at Astek?
About the Role
We’re looking for a hands-on Radio Communications Engineer for an onsite role in Columbia, MD, supporting the deployment, integration, and maintenance of Land Mobile Radio (LMR) systems in a mission-critical environment.
This is a field-oriented position, ideal for someone who enjoys working close to the equipment, troubleshooting real-world RF issues, and collaborating with technical teams on active systems.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Support the installation, configuration, and testing of LMR systems (Motorola, L3Harris, Kenwood)
- Assist with system integration activities and ensure radios and networks communicate properly
- Perform field troubleshooting on RF systems (coverage issues, interference, hardware faults)
- Work on radio infrastructure: antennas, repeaters, base stations, combiners
- Participate in system testing and validation before deployment
- Help diagnose issues and contribute to root cause analysis and fixes
- Collaborate with network teams, engineers, and field technicians
- Maintain clear technical documentation and test records
- Support ongoing maintenance and system upgrades
What We’re Looking For
- ~5 years of experience working with LMR / radio communication systems
- Hands-on experience with at least one major vendor:
- Motorola (P25 / ASTRO)
- L3Harris
- Kenwood
- Solid understanding of:
- RF fundamentals and troubleshooting
- Trunked radio systems and P25 (nice to have, not mandatory expert level)
- Basic networking concepts (IP-based systems)
- Comfortable working on-site / in the field when needed
- Ability to troubleshoot and solve practical, real-world issues
Nice to Have
- Experience in public safety or transportation projects
- Familiarity with RF test equipment (spectrum analyzer, etc.)
- Experience with radio system deployments or upgrades
Why This Role
- Great opportunity for a mid-level engineer or strong technician stepping up
- Exposure to large-scale communication systems
- Hands-on, impactful work in a mission-critical environment
Salary : $85,000 - $97,000