Principal RF Engineer

Leidos

Arlington, VA, United States

Engineering
Full-time
RF Engineer
Electronic Warfare
Radar Systems

Our job summary

The Principal RF Engineer leads the design and development of advanced RF hardware systems within a multidisciplinary team focused on electronic warfare and defense technologies. This role involves serving as a technical lead and principal investigator on complex programs, developing hardware specifications, mentoring staff, and interacting with customers and suppliers. Candidates must have extensive RF design experience, security clearance, leadership skills, and a background in electronic warfare and related fields.

Description

The Advanced Warfare Technology Division is a 430-employee research and development organization in the Leidos Innovations Center (LInC). The AWT Division is at the forefront of researching, designing, and developing EW systems, directed energy systems, high speed/hypersonic weapon systems, communications/networking systems, and related technologies for our nation’s defense.

We currently have an opening for a Principal RF Engineer to work with a talented multi-disciplined design team across the division (electrical engineers, systems engineers, software/firmware engineers, scientists, etc.). The Principal RF Engineer will direct the design and development of innovative RF hardware systems. Candidate must have a strong background in RF hardware design, test and measurement in support of a fast-paced programs.

Primary Responsibilities:

Serve as Principal Investigator on complex multi-disciplinary programs that typically include field demonstration of real-time hardware systems.
Support, design, develop and test RF hardware (DC-40GHz+) as part of a highly complex integrated sensor solution. Develop and maintain requirements documents, functional specification documents, interface control documents, engineering wiring diagrams etc.
Serve as Technical Lead on complex multi-disciplinary proposals.
Generate low level front end specifications based on overarching system requirements.
Provide technical advice/input that impact strategic client outputs and Leidos business results.
Impacts functional strategy by developing new solutions, processes, standards or operational plans that position Leidos competitively in the marketplace.
Mentors and coaches other technical staff.
Work on problems of diverse scope, determining methods and procedures to be used on new assignments, and providing feedback and recommendations to other technical personnel.
Interact with outside customers, suppliers, and functional peer groups.
Some travel and work at remote sites for limited time periods may be occasionally required.
Provide status reports to project managers and/or division production manager as required.

At Leidos, we offer competitive benefits http://www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits, including 4 or more weeks Paid Time Off, 11 paid Holidays, 401K with a 6% company match and immediate vesting, Flexible Schedules, Discounted Stock Purchase Plans, Technical Upskilling, Education and Training Support, Parental Paid Leave, and much more. Join us and make a difference in Advanced Warfare Technology!

Basic Qualifications:

Bachalors with 12+ years prior relevant experience or Masters with 10+ years prior relevant experience.
Must be U.S. Citizen.
Active Secret or Top Secret clearance with ability to receive TS//SCI.
Demonstrated leadership of complex multi-disciplinary technical teams and/or projects.
Demonstrated strong oral and written communication.
Basic programing experience (e.g., Matlab)
Experience working in Electronic Warfare applications and systems, SIGINT and/or radar fields as a subject matter expert.
Demonstrated RF electronic warfare design experience and ability to apply theoretical knowledge in resolving real world problems..

Preferred Qualifications:

Active TS or TS//SCI clearance.
Doctoral degree in Electrical Engineering concentrated in Electromagnetics or related.
Idea creation and program capture experience (proposals, white papers, etc.).
Experience working in a fast-paced Research and Development (R&D) environment.
Experience with Electromagnetics software analysis tools (e.g., Ansys HFSS)
Understanding of S-parameters and Antenna Pattern measurements

AWTLINC

At Leidos, we don’t want someone who "fits the mold"—we want someone who melts it down and builds something better. This is a role for the restless, the over-caffeinated, the ones who ask, “what’s next?” before the dust settles on “what’s now.”

If you’re already scheming step 20 while everyone else is still debating step 2… good. You’ll fit right in.

Original Posting:

August 29, 2025

For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Pay Range:

Pay Range $126,100.00 - $227,950.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

About Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Pay and Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits.

Securing Your Data

Beware of fake employment opportunities using Leidos’ name. Leidos will never ask you to provide payment-related information during any part of the employment application process (i.e., ask you for money), nor will Leidos ever advance money as part of the hiring process (i.e., send you a check or money order before doing any work). Further, Leidos will only communicate with you through emails that are generated by the Leidos.com automated system – never from free commercial services (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail) or via WhatsApp, Telegram, etc. If you received an email purporting to be from Leidos that asks for payment-related information or any other personal information (e.g., about you or your previous employer), and you are concerned about its legitimacy, please make us aware immediately by emailing us at LeidosCareersFraud@leidos.com.

If you believe you are the victim of a scam, contact your local law enforcement and report the incident to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

Commitment to Non-Descrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.

About Leidos

We Are LeidosFor more than 40 years we have been tackling some of the biggest problems that face our nation and our world. Our approach is holistic, looking at all the interconnected complexities of a problem. Our brand of science is collaborative, with knowledge shared across disciplines. And our focus is always on making the real world better. OUR MISSIONThrough our culture of innovation and history of performance, we develop deep customer trust built on integrity and create enduring solutions that improve our world. Leidos is a science and technology solutions leader working to address some of the world's toughest challenges in the defense, intelligence, homeland security, civil, and healthcare markets. The Company's 33,000 employees support vital missions for our government and commercial customers. Leidos is headquartered in Reston, Virginia, and annual revenues of approximately $10 billion 2016, including the recently completed combination of Leidos with Lockheed Martin's Information Systems & Global Solutions business (IS&GS). Leidos is proud to be named to the 2017 LinkedIn Top Companies list, which represents the 50 most sought-after businesses by professionals. Leidos was cited for the meaningful work employees perform that is challenging, impactful, and aligned with our customers' missions as reasons professionals want to work and stay at our company. Employees enjoy career enrichment opportunities available through mobility and development and experience rewarding relationships with supportive supervisors and talented colleagues and customers. Employees appreciate our flexible work environment, allowing for and encouraging a true work-life balance. Our professionals are also excited about our Employee Resource Groups, like the newly launched Collaborative Outreach with Remote and Embedded Employees (CORE), which strives to create an environment where every employee, regardless of location, feels fully engaged as a valued employee of Leidos.

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