Senior RF Engineer / Space Communications

Peraton is seeking a Sr. RF Engineer to join our team and support our Space Exploration Network Services and Evolution (SENSE) contract based out of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in Greenbelt, MD. This position will be primarily remote but will require a person who is local to the National capital region and can commute to the GSFC in Greenbelt when necessary for customer meetings or work requirements.  

As prime contractor on the SENSE contract, Peraton is responsible for the operation, maintenance, sustainment, and systems engineering of NASA’s worldwide satellite communication networks. You will work in a dynamic, team-based development environment for the NASA Near Space Network (NSN) space communications and navigation (SCaN) systems. 

In this position, you will understand, maintain, augment, test, document, and manage communication assets across multiple functional areas, including the following:

• Working with systems, software, and DevOps engineers to deploy software updates to support an evolving and diverse set of satellite missions (remote sensing & celestial observation, among other types)
• Identifying technical problems and solutions with receiver hardware and associated networks
• Working with the receiver hardware vendor to evaluate datasets, data acquisition, data processing and data handling from the edge of the NSN environment to mission platforms.
• Supporting test events that address verification of formal requirements and validation of system performance for specific operational satellite missions
• Collaborate with technical engineering teams to identify, resolve, and mitigate system anomalies and complex system/software and cybersecurity issues
• Collaborate with the Operations, IT Security, Mission Assurance and Task Order Leads to support Task Order requirements and deliverables across the program functional elements.

Required Experience: 

• Education/Experience: degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Physics, Math, or other related technical field and related experience is required as follows: 6+ years’ experience with MS/MA degree, 8+ years’ experience with BS/BA degree, 10+ years’ experience with AS/AA.
• 6+ years’ experience of working with other RF engineers and other IT colleagues to contribute changes to new software releases, and supporting operational software systems. 
• Space or ground station antenna systems, and satellite communications networks
• Experience with running network security scans, applying patches, and network programming
• Knowledge of ground receivers, timing distribution, and network systems
• Familiarity with configuration management, best practices, and specific strategies
• Experience using Microsoft (MS) Office Tools to produce PowerPoint briefings, MS Word documents, and generate and manipulate Excel files
• Security clearance - this position requires the candidate to be able to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret security clearance, which requires US citizenship.    

Desired Experience:

• Experience with NASA, space or ground station antenna systems, and satellite communications networks
• Experience working with satellite telemetry receivers technology (e.g. Safran Cortex series high data rate receivers, etc.)
• Experience with monitoring, testing, and analyzing X and Ka frequency bands
• Experience working with Consultive Committee for Space Data Standards (CCSDS), CCSDS File Delivery Protocol (CFDP), or related standards
• Proficient professional written and verbal communication skills including briefings and presentations to leadership and customers
• Strong interpersonal skills, problem solving, multi-tasking, and attention to detail
• Ability to work with a diverse group of missions, vendors, providers, and Government employees in a mostly remote environment
• Experience working with traditional Agile, and DevOps development practices and associated testing strategies
• Experience providing technical support for a test lab, test tools, and related infrastructure

Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world’s leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, our employees do the can’t be done by solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers. Visit peraton.com to learn how we’re keeping people around the world safe and secure.