Communications Systems Engineer Jobs

Communications Systems EngineerLocation: Chantilly, VAJob Code: 1629# of Openings: 1Employee Referral Bonus Eligible: YesFTS International, LLC (FTS) is committed to providing the Federal Government with quality consultants and support. To ensure mission success we focus on putting our customers first while minimizing corporate bureaucracy on our staff. We provide Subject Matter Experts (SME) free of Organizational Conflicts of Interest (OCI) focused on independent analysis and mission support services within the disciplines of Engineering, Counter Terrorism Operations, Management, Information Technology, Signals Analysis, Administration, Cyber Security and Linguistics. FTS has an opportunity for a Communications Systems Engineer in Chantilly, VA. The Communications Systems Engineer will support specialized analysis, engineering, design, and operations for Intelligence Community (IC) and Department of War (DoW) customers.Responsibilities:Support development of next-generation and far-future national security systems across land, sea, air, and space domainsProvide systems engineering and technical advisory (SETA) support to an IC Research & Development (R&D) customer developing advanced hardware, software, and architectural solutions for mission-critical optical and quantum communication systemsPerform technical reviews, assessments, and risk evaluations of optical and quantum communication system development efforts at the component, subsystem, system, and architecture levelsEvaluate designs and technologies including optical terminals, free-space optical links, photonic components, entanglement-based communication architectures, and quantum-enhanced optical subsystemsAssess emerging technologies and identify gaps related to high-bandwidth space links, advanced modulation formats, pointing/tracking systems, link budgets, networking performance, and secure quantum-enabled transport architecturesSupport development of technology roadmaps, requirements, specifications, verification approaches, and transition strategies for optical and quantum system modernizationConduct technical outreach with mission users to capture needs and evaluate applicability of emerging optical and quantum capabilitiesPrepare system engineering documentation, technical analyses, and program-level briefings to communicate findings and strategic recommendationsProvide support to programmatic and acquisition activities, including source selections, lifecycle documentation, and system integration planningRequired Skills/Qualifications:TS/SCI with polygraphBS STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math) in engineering discipline12+ years' relevant experience with at least 4 years in optical or quantum communication systemsExperience with USG program management and acquisition lifecycle processes and documentationStrong interpersonal, verbal, and technical writing communication skillsDemonstrated ability to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teamsProficiency with Microsoft Office toolsDesired Skills/Qualifications:MS STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math) in engineering discipline1+ year of experience supporting USG R&D acquisition processes and documentationExperience with space-based optical terminals, quantum optical payloads, photonic systems, or advanced quantum-enhanced communication architecturesExpected Salary Range: $165,000 - $195,000 per year. Placement within the range is determined by qualifications, job-related criteria, experience, internal equity and market considerations. In addition, FTS International, LLC has benefits offerings in addition to salary to include Health Insurance, Paid Time Off, Life Insurance, Short Term and Long-Term Disability, Retirement and Savings, Learning and Development opportunities, wellness programs as well as other optional benefit elections. FTS International, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer – vets/disabled.