Principal RF System Engineer

Leidos seeks a Principal RF System Engineer to lead the design and integration of advanced RF solutions for mission-critical IT and national security programs. In this senior role, you will own RF system architecture, define requirements, and perform detailed modeling, link budgets, and trade studies. You'll guide antenna and RF chain integration, develop and execute lab test plans, and resolve complex performance issues. Partnering closely with cross-functional teams, you'll drive technical direction, support proposals and customer reviews, and mentor engineers in a collaborative, mission-driven environment focused on innovation and real-world impact.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end RF system architecture, design, modeling, and analysis for complex IT and mission systems
• Define RF system requirements, performance budgets, and interface specifications
• Develop simulations, link budgets, and trade studies to optimize RF performance and reliability
• Guide component selection and integration of antennas, receivers, transmitters, and signal processing chains
• Oversee lab test plans, validation, and troubleshooting of RF subsystems and prototypes
• Collaborate with cross-functional hardware, software, and systems teams to deliver integrated solutions
• Support proposals, technical reports, and customer presentations for government and commercial clients
• Mentor junior engineers and promote best practices in RF design and systems engineering

Required Skills

• RF system architecture and requirements definition
• RF circuit and subsystem design (receivers, transmitters, front-ends)
• Link budget analysis and RF performance modeling
• RF simulation tools (HFSS, ADS, CST, or similar)
• MATLAB, Python, or similar for modeling and data analysis
• Antenna theory, propagation, and EMI/EMC considerations
• RF lab test and measurement (spectrum/network analyzers, signal generators)
• System integration and troubleshooting of RF chains
• Technical documentation, proposals, and customer briefings
• Leadership and mentoring of engineering teams