Communications Systems Engineer - SBG

Description

SBG Technology Solutions, a DSS, Inc. company, specializing in engineering, information technology, cyber-security, intelligence, and training, is looking for a hard-working results-oriented Cybersecurity Systems Engineer.

Overview

This role is responsible for supporting the development, integration, and performance optimization of military and commercial satellite communication (SATCOM) systems, with a strong emphasis on military user equipment and ground terminals. The position involves translating operational warfighter needs into detailed technical requirements, performing RF system design and link budget analysis, conducting trade studies, and modeling communication scenarios to ensure mission effectiveness. The role also supports system architecture development, integration, testing, and troubleshooting across space, ground, and user terminal segments while maintaining technical documentation and collaborating with cross-functional engineering and military stakeholder teams to deliver reliable, interoperable SATCOM solutions.

The Communications Systems Engineer Will

• Requirements Development & Management: Elicit, analyze, define, and manage technical requirements for satellite communication systems and ground terminals, translating high-level operational needs into detailed, verifiable system specifications. This includes a deep understanding of warfighter needs related to user equipment.
• Technical Analysis & Trade Studies: Conduct comprehensive technical analyses and trade studies to evaluate design alternatives, assess performance feasibility, and make data-driven recommendations for optimal system solutions, considering constraints imposed by military user terminals.
• RF Systems Design and Analysis: Design and analyze end-to-end RF communication systems, including satellite payloads and ground terminals, to meet mission requirements, with a focus on seamless integration with military user equipment to existing SATCOM solutions.
• Link Budget Analysis: Develop and maintain detailed link budgets for satellite communication links, performing margin assessments and optimizing system performance based on modulation schemes, coding, and environmental factors, with specific consideration for user equipment performance.
• Scenario Modeling: Create and simulate realistic communication scenarios to evaluate system performance under various conditions, including signal impairments, interference, and atmospheric effects, particularly as they impact deployed user terminals.
• MILSATCOM/COMSATCOM Expertise: Apply in-depth knowledge of military and commercial SATCOM systems, including specific constellations (e.g., WGS, AEHF, MUOS) and standards, to develop and integrate solutions, particularly with respect to the user terminal segment.
• Military User Equipment Integration: Analyze and evaluate the performance of various military user terminals (airborne, ground, maritime), ensuring interoperability and compatibility within the overall communication architecture.
• System Integration and Testing: Support the integration, verification, and validation of communication equipment and software. Develop and execute test plans for lab and field evaluations of ground and space components, including specific tests for military user equipment over satellite systems.
• Ground Terminal Support: Provide technical expertise on ground terminal architecture and design, including antennas, RF front-ends, modems, and data processing, ensuring compatibility with the military user terminal ecosystem.
• Architecture Development: Participate in the definition of system architectures and interfaces, ensuring modularity, scalability, and compatibility across system components, from the space layer to the tactical user.
• Anomalies and Troubleshooting: Investigate and resolve system anomalies, performance discrepancies, and technical issues throughout the system lifecycle, often involving user equipment in deployed scenarios.
• Technical Documentation: Produce and maintain comprehensive technical documentation, including system specifications, test procedures, interface control documents (ICDs), and analysis reports.
• Collaboration: Work collaboratively with cross-functional teams, including hardware and software engineers, mission planners, and military endusers,to deliver integrated system solutions.
  
  

Conditions Of Employment

• Must be a US Citizen.
• Must be able to pass a Federal background check
• Must be determined suitable for federal employment
  
  

The preceding functions are examples of the work performed by employees assigned to this job classification. Management reserves the right to add, modify, change or rescind work assignments and make a reasonable accommodation as needed.

Qualifications

Required Skills:

• Clearance: Able to obtain and maintain a U.S. Government security clearance.
• RF Fundamentals: Strong understanding of RF principles, antenna systems, digital signal processing (DSP), and modulation/demodulation techniques.
• Systems Engineering Principles: Proven experience with the systems engineering lifecycle, including requirements definition, decomposition, verification, and validation.
• Technical Analysis Skills: Demonstrated ability to perform complex technical analysis, trade studies, and generate data-driven recommendations.
• Link Budget Tools: Proficiency with link budget and RF simulation and modeling tools, such as STK (Systems Tool Kit), MATLAB, or custom scripts.
• SATCOM Knowledge: Experience with both MILSATCOM and COMSATCOM systems, protocols, and architectures (LEO, MEO, GEO).
  
  

Preferred Skills

• Military User Equipment (UE) Experience: Direct experience with military user terminals and ground equipment (e.g., AN/PRC, AN/MRC series, SATCOM On-The-Move systems).
• Terminal Certifications: Familiarity with the certification processes (e.g., Joint Interoperability Test Command – JITC, MIL-STD-188-164C, MIL-STD- 188-165B) for military terminals.
• Technical Leadership: Demonstrated experience leading technical efforts or small teams on complex communications projects.
• Clearance: Active Secret or Top Secret security clearance.
• Programming: Experience with programming/scripting languages like Python, C , or MATLAB for data analysis and test automation.
• Test Equipment: Hands-on experience with RF test equipment, including spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, and signal generators.
• Secure Comms: Familiarity with secure and classified communication systems, cryptographic equipment, and Information Assurance (IA) requirements.
• Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE): Experience with MBSE tools and methodologies.
  
  

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field. A Master's degree is preferred.
  
  

Years Of Experience In a Similar Role

• 12 years of experience in communications systems engineering, with a focus on RF satellite communication systems.
  
  

Physical Demands

Standing

10% per day

Sitting

60% per day

Walking

5% per day

Stooping

0% per day

Lifting

• If traveling, the ability to lift up to 50 lbs. unassisted (luggage, laptop, etc.)
• Up to 15 lbs. unassisted, several times a day (laptop, office equipment, office supplies, etc.)
  
  

Computer Work

100% per day

Telephone Work

60% per day

Reading

100% per day

Other, please specify

• Travel unassisted less up to 10% per year, via aircraft or privately owned vehicle.
  
  

SBG, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer

If you need an accommodation seeking employment with SBG, Inc., please email recruiting@sbgts.com or call (703) 299-9093. Accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis.