Lead Aviation Spectrum Engineer Jobs

Aviation Systems Engineer

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The Integrated Transportation Future Vision and Research Department is currently seeking a motivated, experienced Aviation Systems Engineer with experience in the wireless communications and spectrum domains to design innovative solutions, make evidence-based recommendations to help the Federal Aviation Administration chart the future of aviation, and deliver high impact outcomes to sponsors across the transportation sector, particularly in support of critical infrastructure and national security missions.

As an Aviation Systems Engineer in this department, you will be working in the public interest to apply your engineering knowledge and expertise to design and evaluate new operational concepts, participate in harmonization and regulatory analyses and activities, and work in partnership with industry and government to address aviation's most challenging emerging problems. Our employees are empowered to work on multiple projects, cross-pollinate across teams, and bring forward new ideas in a continuous learning environment.

Responsibilities include:

• Passionately apply your engineering skills and experience to help shape the future of aviation with a particular focus on spectrum harmonization and Communications, Navigation, and Surveillance (CNS) systems engineering.
• Communicate results and recommendations in an intuitive, actionable manner.
• Navigate complex, consensus-driven multi-stakeholder environments where technical, regulatory, operational, economic, and national interests may be in tension, while maintaining an evidence-based engineering perspective.
• Lead technical analyses supporting domestic and international spectrum harmonization, policy, and regulatory activities, including preparation for and participation in ITU-R Study Groups and Working Parties, WRC/CPM activities, standards-development organizations, and domestic spectrum forums.
• Plan and execute compatibility, coexistence, interference, propagation, link-budget, and aggregate-interference studies to evaluate the impact of emerging wireless technologies on incumbent aviation and other critical systems, as part of domestic studies and harmonization activities.
• Assess the operational, technical, and policy implications of spectrum allocation and regulatory changes, developing technically sound recommendations that balance innovation, mission needs, and protection of safety-critical systems.
• Model potential interference from external systems into incumbent spectrum-dependent systems, quantify operational impacts and identify protection criteria and mitigation approaches.

Additionally:

• Build and validate study models using tools such as MATLAB, Visualyse, SEAMCAT, Atoll, iQ-link, HTZ, or similar tools, and clearly document assumptions, methodologies, and findings.
• Develop strong working relationships with government sponsors, industry stakeholders, standards bodies, and internal technical leaders to understand challenges, evaluate solutions and conduct impactful analyses.
• Work with Department and Division leadership to align efforts with sponsor priorities, anticipate future challenges and priorities, and apply innovative thinking to maximize impact today and in the future.

Qualifications include:

• Bachelor's degree with 10 years of related experience, Master's degree with 8 years of related experience, or PhD with 5 years of related experience in one or more of the following disciplines:
  Aerospace Engineering, Electrical Engineering, RF Engineering, Wireless Communications Engineering, Spectrum Management and Policy.
• Demonstrated success leading and delivering high-quality technical products under government-funded projects that result in meaningful sponsor outcomes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex technical concepts to both technical and executive-level audiences and operate effectively in sensitive, high-visibility,…