Principal RF Ground Systems & Anchor Station Engineer Job Reston Virginia USA,Engineering

Principal RF Ground Systems & Anchor Station Engineer

Location:

Reston, VA, US, 20191 Work Arrangement:
Remote Job

At SES Space & Defense, we are a trusted partner ensuring mission success for customers operating in the most demanding environments. As part of SES S.A., a global leader in satellite-enabled connectivity, we deliver multi-orbit, end-to-end satellite and technology solutions that provide secure, reliable, and high-bandwidth communications across the globe. Our differentiated multi-orbit architecture combines GEO and MEO satellite systems with integrated terrestrial and network infrastructure to deliver resilient, low-latency, high-throughput connectivity at a global scale.

With more than 120 satellites covering nearly the entire world, a global ground network, and thousands of deployed terminals supporting over 5,000 government missions annually, SES Space and Defense is a trusted partner to the U.S. Federal Government and national security community, allied governments, NATO, and agencies including NASA for mission-critical communications.

The Principal RF Ground System & Anchor Station Engineer will serve as the technical authority responsible for the design, integration, test, deployment, and sustainment of the RF ground system and anchor station infrastructure supporting a major U.S. Government GEO satellite communications program. Operating within a Government-Owned, Contractor-Operated (GOCO) environment, this role will lead the technical execution of mission-critical RF ground capabilities that enable secure, resilient, and high-availability satellite communications services.

Working closely with the Ground Segment IPT Lead, spacecraft providers, network teams, cybersecurity organizations, and mission operators, the successful candidate will own RF architecture development, feeder link connectivity, TT&C implementation, and operational readiness across the full ground segment lifecycle.

This position requires deep expertise in satellite communications systems, anchor station operations, and large-scale RF infrastructure, along with the ability to translate mission requirements into practical engineering solutions that balance performance, availability, cost, and schedule.

Serve as the principal technical authority for the RF Ground System and anchor station supporting GEO satellite communications operations. Lead engineering activities associated with the design, development, integration, and deployment of mission-critical RF ground infrastructure, including:

Large aperture antenna systems
RF chains and associated subsystems
Frequency conversion equipment
High-power amplification systems
Low-noise receive systems
Modems and waveform processing systems
Monitoring and control systems
RF monitoring and spectrum management capabilities

Develop and maintain RF ground segment architecture, requirements, interface control documents (ICDs), and technical baselines. Support the Ground Segment IPT Lead in coordinating technical execution across spacecraft, ground segment, network, cybersecurity, and operations teams. Lead engineering activities supporting satellite feeder link connectivity, including:

Link budget development and validation
RF performance analysis
Carrier planning
Spectrum coordination
Availability and resiliency assessments
End-to-end communications performance verification

Provide technical leadership for TT&C ground system implementation, including command path design, telemetry reception, tracking support, and operational interfaces. Support development and execution of ground segment integration and test activities, including:

Factory Acceptance Testing (FAT)
Site Acceptance Testing (SAT)
RF performance testing
End-to-end satellite-to-ground testing
Operational readiness demonstrations

Lead RF troubleshooting, anomaly resolution, and root cause analysis during integration, test, launch, and on-orbit operations. Coordinate with satellite manufacturer teams to ensure compatibility between spacecraft RF payload, TT&C systems, and ground infrastructure. Support development of operational procedures, maintenance plans, configuration documentation, and sustainment processes. Provide…