Actalent

Job Title: Communications Systems Engineer

Job Description

This role seeks a highly motivated and hands-on Communications Systems Engineer with a strong background in RF technology, communications equipment, and electronics. You will support full-lifecycle engineering activities, including design, development, testing, troubleshooting, integration, and maintenance of advanced communication systems. The position offers the opportunity to work onsite with multidisciplinary engineering teams in a fast-paced, challenging environment, contributing to both legacy and next-generation communication solutions and participating in new concept design and prototyping efforts.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop robust, reliable electronics and communications systems that meet mission and performance requirements.
• Analyze system requirements and translate them into detailed design specifications and technical documentation.
• Create and maintain comprehensive documentation for all stages of the design process, including requirements, design analysis, and test results.
• Develop and execute comprehensive test plans for RF and communication systems using appropriate RF test equipment.
• Identify, troubleshoot, and resolve system-level issues in a timely manner, including urgent and high-priority scenarios.
• Perform root cause analysis of failures and implement effective corrective actions to prevent recurrence.
• Integrate new systems and components into existing communications infrastructure, including radio and antenna systems.
• Perform routine maintenance, upgrades, and optimization on communications equipment, RF systems, and antenna systems.
• Work with advanced RF tools and technologies, including network analyzers, spectrum analyzers, and other RF test equipment, to validate system performance.
• Collaborate closely with a small, highly effective team to understand customer needs and provide technical support that meets their requirements.
• Partner with multi-disciplinary engineering teams, including systems, RF, and mechanical engineers, to ensure project success from concept through deployment.
• Communicate project status, technical information, and engineering findings clearly and effectively to peers and stakeholders.
• Apply solid systems engineering practices to ensure cohesive design, integration, and verification of communication systems.
• Support new concept design and prototyping builds in coordination with research and development partners.
• Use CAD and related design tools (such as SolidWorks or similar) to support mechanical and system-level design activities as needed.
• Handle and operate electrical tools and equipment safely, including crimpers, dies, multimeters, presses, connectors, contacts, and soldering tools.
• Lift and move equipment and components up to 50 pounds as required for installation, testing, and maintenance activities.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, a related technical field, or equivalent military experience.
• 10+ years of proven experience with RF and communications systems.
• Demonstrated experience with full-lifecycle engineering, including design, testing, troubleshooting, integration, and maintenance.
• Experience with technical requirements development, documentation, and design analysis.
• Hands-on experience testing and troubleshooting complex RF and communication systems.
• Strong background in RF systems engineering, focusing on radio and antenna-type products.
• Proficiency using RF test equipment, including network analyzers and spectrum analyzers.
• Experience with RF testing methodologies and tools for validating communication system performance.
• Strong understanding of electrical tools and equipment, including crimpers, dies, multimeters, presses, connectors, contacts, wire gauges and types, and soldering.
• Experience with CAD software and mechanical or system-level design tools, such as SolidWorks or similar platforms.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to interact effectively with customers and peers.
• Proven ability to work effectively in a high-stress, high-speed environment while maintaining quality and accuracy.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a multi-disciplinary engineering team.
• Active DoD Secret security clearance with the ability to obtain and maintain a DoD TS/SCI clearance.
• Ability to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience working directly with advanced communication systems in both legacy and new development environments.
• Experience in systems engineering practices, including requirements analysis, design validation, and system integration.
• Experience supporting radio and antenna systems in operational or research-focused settings.
• Familiarity with RF design concepts, radio frequency propagation, and RF systems integration.
• Exposure to new concept design and prototyping builds in collaboration with research laboratories or similar organizations.
• Comfort working closely with small, highly effective teams and multi-disciplinary engineering groups.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to perform root cause analysis on complex technical issues.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment while meeting deadlines.

Work Environment

This is a fully onsite position at a research laboratory facility in Washington, DC, working five days per week. You will operate in a fast-paced, high-stress, and technically challenging environment that focuses on advanced RF and communication systems. The role involves frequent hands-on work with RF test equipment such as network analyzers, spectrum analyzers, and related tools, as well as electrical tools including crimpers, multimeters, and soldering equipment. You will collaborate daily with other engineers and technical professionals in a laboratory and integration setting, supporting both legacy and cutting-edge communication systems, including new concept design and prototyping builds. The work may require physical activity such as lifting and moving equipment up to 50 pounds and working around installed communications and antenna systems in a lab or field-like environment.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Arlington, VA.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $65.00 - $84.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Arlington,VA.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Jun 26, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.