Principal RF Systems Engineer

Full Job Description

NIST's Spectrum Technology and Research Division is seeking a Principal RF Systems Engineer to lead applied research in RF front-end system design, modeling, and characterization to advance spectrum measurement science.

The incumbent will direct multidisciplinary teams, guide spectrum sharing studies, and engage government, industry, and academic stakeholders to advance NIST's mission. BASIC REQUIREMENTS: A.

Degree: Engineering.

To be acceptable, the program must: (1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET ; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.

OR B.

Combination of education and experience -- college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences nd techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering.

The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following: 1.

Professional registration or licensure -- Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT)1, or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any state, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico.

Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration.

For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions.

2.

Written Test -- Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)2 examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico.

3.

Specified academic courses -- Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A.

The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A. 4.

Related curriculum -- Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance.

Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions.

(The above examples of related curricula are not all-inclusive.) AND In addition to the basic requirements above, applicants must possess one year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-14 level (ZP-IV at NIST).

Specialized experience is defined as: - Experience designing, modeling, and characterizing RF systems, including phased array antennas, tactical antennas, RF filters, and high- power RF applications.

- Experience leading technical teams and managing projects while coordinating with external stakeholders and sponsors.

- Experience developing funding proposals, presenting technical work to government, industry, and academic audiences, and demonstrating innovation through publications or patents in RF engineering.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment.

You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. The qualification requirements in this vacancy announcement are based on the U.S.

Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook.

If requesting reconsideration of your qualification determination, please refer to the following site: Applicant Reconsideration Major Duties:

In this position, you will: - Serve as a principal authority for conceiving, directing, and executing applied research in RF system front- end design, modeling, and characterization to advance metrology principles and standardization.

- Exercise independent technical judgment to resolve complex spectrum measurement challenges with national and international impact.

Establish research direction, leads multidisciplinary teams, and oversees experimentation supporting evaluation of RF systems and advanced telecommunications infrastructure.

- Guide spectrum sharing and coexistence studies administered by NIST, influencing technical approaches and program outcomes.

- Engage senior stakeholders across government, academia, and industry to secure resources, shape collaborative initiatives, and advance agency mission objectives.