Telecommunications and Radio Frequency Engineer

Responsibilities

The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 established the First Responder Network Authority (First Net Authority) as an independent authority within NTIA under the Department of Commerce, charging it with building, deploying, and operating a Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN). First Net provides emergency responders with a dedicated nationwide high-speed broadband network to increase collaboration between emergency responders, helping to save lives, solve crimes, and keep communities safer.

The network fulfills a fundamental need of the public safety community and a key recommendation of the 9/11 Commission, enabling local, state, territory, tribal, and federal emergency responders to communicate during natural disasters, security threats, or other emergencies.

The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 established the First Responder Network Authority (First Net Authority) as an independent authority within NTIA under the Department of Commerce, charging it with building, deploying, and operating a Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network (NPSBN). First Net provides emergency responders with a dedicated nationwide high-speed broadband network to increase collaboration between emergency responders, helping to save lives, solve crimes, and keep communities safer.

The network fulfills a fundamental need of the public safety community and a key recommendation of the 9/11 Commission, enabling local, state, territory, tribal, and federal emergency responders to communicate during natural disasters, security threats, or other emergencies.

We are seeking an experienced Telecommunications Lab Subject Matter Expert (SME) to support the design, setup, maintenance, and operation of a wireless telecommunications test laboratory. This role will be responsible for establishing and maintaining a lab environment that enables accurate testing, measurement, analysis, and troubleshooting of 4G/5G radio frequency (RF) equipment and network components. The ideal candidate will possess extensive hands‑on experience with wireless telecommunications infrastructure, RF test equipment, and laboratory operations.

• Design, build, and maintain wireless telecommunications test lab environments supporting 4G LTE and 5G technologies.
• Configure and support wireless telecommunications test benches for product validation, RF performance testing, and system integration.
• Perform installation, configuration, maintenance, and troubleshooting of wireless telecommunications equipment, including:
  • Remote Radio Head (RRH) Units
  • Baseband Units (BBUs)
  • Cell Site Routers
• Execute test plans, collect and analyze test data, and identify root causes of performance issues.
• Set up, calibrate, and maintain RF laboratory equipment, including spectrum analyzers, signal generators, and audio quality test platforms.
• Support calibration schedules, preventative maintenance, and inventory management of laboratory capital equipment.
• Develop and maintain cabling diagrams, lab connectivity documentation, equipment configurations, and user manuals.
• Document laboratory procedures, equipment interconnections, and system configurations to ensure repeatability and operational consistency.
• Review test plans, validate test procedures, and analyze test results to ensure compliance with technical requirements.
• Troubleshoot RF, hardware, connectivity, and interoperability issues across laboratory environments.
• Collaborate with engineering and test teams to support product development, validation, and troubleshooting activities.
• Ensure laboratory equipment and testing environments meet quality, safety, and operational standards.

This position requires…