Communications Systems Engineer

Overview

For more than 50 years, ENSCO has provided leading‑edge engineering, science and advanced technology solutions to governments and private industries worldwide. ENSCO prides itself in creating and applying advanced technologies for mission success, offering systems engineering, integration, and advanced technology services to transform the future safety, security, and resiliency of critical missions on the ground, in the air, in space, and in the information systems that connect these domains.

ENSCO Inc. seeks an experienced Communications Systems Engineer with a strong background in RF systems for satellite, ground terminal, and military user equipment applications. The role focuses on detailed link‑budget analysis, complex communication scenario development, and integration/interoperability of military user terminals for mission‑critical performance.

• Elicit, analyze, define, and manage technical requirements for satellite communication systems and ground terminals, translating high‑level operational needs into detailed, verifiable system specifications.
• Conduct comprehensive technical analyses and trade studies to evaluate design alternatives, assess performance feasibility, and make data‑driven recommendations for optimal system solutions.
• Design and analyze end‑to‑end RF communication systems, including satellite payloads and ground terminals, to meet mission requirements, focusing on seamless integration with military user equipment.
• Develop and maintain detailed link budgets for satellite communication links, performing margin assessments and optimizing performance based on modulation schemes, coding, and environmental factors.
• Create and simulate realistic communication scenarios to evaluate system performance under various conditions, including signal impairments, interference, and atmospheric effects.
• 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.
• Analyze and evaluate the performance of various military user terminals (airborne, ground, maritime), ensuring interoperability and compatibility within the overall communication architecture.
• Support the integration, verification, and validation of communication equipment and software, developing and executing test plans for lab and field evaluations.
• Provide technical expertise on ground terminal architecture and design, including antennas, RF front‑ends, modems, and data processing.
• 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.
• Investigate and resolve system anomalies, performance discrepancies, and technical issues throughout the system lifecycle.
• Produce and maintain comprehensive technical documentation, including system specifications, test procedures, interface control documents (ICDs), and analysis reports.
• Work collaboratively with cross‑functional teams, including hardware and software engineers, mission planners, and military end‑users, to deliver integrated system solutions.

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field.
• 12+ years of experience in communications systems engineering with a focus on RF satellite communication systems.
• Strong understanding of RF principles, antenna systems, digital signal processing (DSP), and modulation/demodulation techniques.
• Proven experience with the systems engineering lifecycle, including requirements definition, decomposition, verification, and validation.
• Demonstrated ability to perform complex technical analysis, trade studies, and generate data‑driven recommendations.
• Proficiency with link budget and RF simulation and modeling tools, such as STK (Systems Tool Kit), MATLAB, or custom scripts.
• Experience with both MILSATCOM and COMSATCOM systems, protocols, and architectures (LEO, MEO, GEO).
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret security clearance (U.S. citizenship required).

• Direct experience with…