RD
Counter-Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) RDT&E Electronic Engineer
Accepting applicationsRed Drum Labs · Northern Virginia, VA
Full-Time Mid RF
Posted
5d ago
Category
Test
Experience
Mid
Country
United States
POSITION SUMMARY
RDL is seeking an Electronic Engineer to support a federal Counter-Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) effort at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
The Electronic Engineer will apply hands-on electronics and microelectronics expertise to the design, development, integration, testing, and evaluation of hardware and systems supporting emerging CWMD detection, characterization, and related mission capabilities.
This is not a purely theoretical or desk-based engineering position. The successful candidate will work directly with hardware, prototypes, test articles, laboratory equipment, and operational systems while collaborating with scientists, engineers, technicians, program personnel, and operational subject matter experts.
The position sits at the intersection of engineering, experimentation, and operational mission need—helping translate complex technical concepts into systems that can be evaluated under realistic conditions and ultimately transitioned into fielded capability.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Design, develop, prototype, and test electronic circuits, systems, and components in support of CWMD RDT&E efforts, with particular emphasis on microelectronics and component-level engineering.
Conduct component-level analysis, hardware characterization, failure analysis, and authorized reverse engineering of electronic systems to support technical understanding, threat characterization, and countermeasure development.
Evaluate electronic components, circuit architectures, sensors, communications interfaces, power systems, and supporting hardware for potential integration into prototype capabilities.
Develop test methodologies and plans, construct test fixtures and instrumentation, and execute laboratory and field testing to validate electronic system performance, reliability, and operational suitability.
Support the integration of electronic and microelectronic subsystems into prototype and experimental capabilities in coordination with scientists, engineers, technicians, and operational stakeholders.
Translate operational requirements and mission gaps into technically precise hardware requirements, specifications, and test objectives.
Perform troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, and technical problem solving during prototype development, laboratory testing, field experimentation, and operational exercises.
Collect, analyze, and document technical test data to identify system limitations, performance characteristics, failure mechanisms, and opportunities for design improvement.
Prepare and maintain technical documentation, including schematics, engineering drawings, test plans, test reports, design packages, technical assessments, and configuration documentation.
Participate in technical reviews, design reviews, test readiness reviews, experimentation events, and other program activities supporting capability development and transition.
Provide engineering insight regarding the technical maturity, feasibility, scalability, and operational viability of emerging technologies under consideration for CWMD applications.
Work directly with operational subject matter experts to understand the environments, constraints, and mission conditions under which proposed technologies must perform.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Microelectronics Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a closely related technical discipline.
Demonstrated hands-on experience designing, building, modifying, testing, or troubleshooting electronic hardware and systems.
Practical experience with microelectronics, including one or more of the following areas:
Component-level circuit design and analysis
Printed circuit board (PCB) design, assembly, or troubleshooting
Semiconductor or integrated circuit technologies
Microelectronic fabrication or packaging
Embedded electronic systems
Sensor or instrumentation electronics
Hardware characterization and failure analysis
Experience using laboratory test and measurement equipment such as oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, signal generators, logic analyzers, multimeters, power supplies, and related instrumentation.
Ability to read, interpret, develop, and troubleshoot electronic schematics and technical drawings.
Demonstrated ability to diagnose complex hardware problems and conduct systematic root-cause analysis.
Experience developing and executing structured engineering test plans and documenting technical results.
Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate complex engineering concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team consisting of engineers, scientists, technicians, operational personnel, and government stakeholders.
Ability and willingness to work on-site at Fort Belvoir, Virginia and travel as required in support of experimentation, exercises, testing, and mission activities.
U.S. citizenship required.
Ability to obtain and maintain the security clearance and/or government access requirements necessary for the position.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Advanced degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Microelectronics, or a related technical field.
Prior experience supporting the Department of Defense, Department of War, Intelligence Community, federal R&D organizations, national laboratories, or other national security programs.
Previous military service or experience supporting Special Operations Forces (SOF), Special Mission Units (SMU), CWMD, CBRN, EOD, intelligence, or other specialized operational communities.
Experience supporting federal Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) programs.
Hands-on experience with component-level design, fabrication, semiconductor technologies, advanced packaging, PCB development, or microelectronic systems.
Experience with hardware reverse engineering, failure analysis, electronic system characterization, or vulnerability analysis.
Experience designing and fabricating prototype electronic systems, custom test fixtures, or experimental hardware.
Familiarity with embedded systems, microcontrollers, FPGAs, sensors, data acquisition systems, RF electronics, communications hardware, or related technologies.
Experience supporting laboratory-to-field technology transition, operational experimentation, developmental testing, or field evaluations.
Understanding of Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs), prototype development, test and evaluation processes, and technology transition within the federal R&D environment.
Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in fast-moving R&D environments where requirements evolve based on experimentation and operational feedback.
Existing active U.S. Government security clearance.
WORK ENVIRONMENT & TRAVEL
This position is based on-site at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, with regular collaboration alongside government stakeholders, technical teams, operational personnel, laboratories, and partner organizations.
Travel is a core component of the position and will be required to support field experimentation, developmental and operational testing, exercise integration, mission support, technical assessments, and stakeholder engagements.
Travel may include work at military installations, government laboratories, test ranges, partner facilities, and other locations throughout the United States and potentially overseas. Certain activities may occur in operationally demanding, field, or austere environments.
The successful candidate should be comfortable moving between the laboratory, engineering workspace, test environment, and operational field setting and be willing to work directly with the people who will ultimately employ the technologies being developed.
Show more Show less
RDL is seeking an Electronic Engineer to support a federal Counter-Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) effort at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
The Electronic Engineer will apply hands-on electronics and microelectronics expertise to the design, development, integration, testing, and evaluation of hardware and systems supporting emerging CWMD detection, characterization, and related mission capabilities.
This is not a purely theoretical or desk-based engineering position. The successful candidate will work directly with hardware, prototypes, test articles, laboratory equipment, and operational systems while collaborating with scientists, engineers, technicians, program personnel, and operational subject matter experts.
The position sits at the intersection of engineering, experimentation, and operational mission need—helping translate complex technical concepts into systems that can be evaluated under realistic conditions and ultimately transitioned into fielded capability.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Design, develop, prototype, and test electronic circuits, systems, and components in support of CWMD RDT&E efforts, with particular emphasis on microelectronics and component-level engineering.
Conduct component-level analysis, hardware characterization, failure analysis, and authorized reverse engineering of electronic systems to support technical understanding, threat characterization, and countermeasure development.
Evaluate electronic components, circuit architectures, sensors, communications interfaces, power systems, and supporting hardware for potential integration into prototype capabilities.
Develop test methodologies and plans, construct test fixtures and instrumentation, and execute laboratory and field testing to validate electronic system performance, reliability, and operational suitability.
Support the integration of electronic and microelectronic subsystems into prototype and experimental capabilities in coordination with scientists, engineers, technicians, and operational stakeholders.
Translate operational requirements and mission gaps into technically precise hardware requirements, specifications, and test objectives.
Perform troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, and technical problem solving during prototype development, laboratory testing, field experimentation, and operational exercises.
Collect, analyze, and document technical test data to identify system limitations, performance characteristics, failure mechanisms, and opportunities for design improvement.
Prepare and maintain technical documentation, including schematics, engineering drawings, test plans, test reports, design packages, technical assessments, and configuration documentation.
Participate in technical reviews, design reviews, test readiness reviews, experimentation events, and other program activities supporting capability development and transition.
Provide engineering insight regarding the technical maturity, feasibility, scalability, and operational viability of emerging technologies under consideration for CWMD applications.
Work directly with operational subject matter experts to understand the environments, constraints, and mission conditions under which proposed technologies must perform.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Microelectronics Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a closely related technical discipline.
Demonstrated hands-on experience designing, building, modifying, testing, or troubleshooting electronic hardware and systems.
Practical experience with microelectronics, including one or more of the following areas:
Component-level circuit design and analysis
Printed circuit board (PCB) design, assembly, or troubleshooting
Semiconductor or integrated circuit technologies
Microelectronic fabrication or packaging
Embedded electronic systems
Sensor or instrumentation electronics
Hardware characterization and failure analysis
Experience using laboratory test and measurement equipment such as oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, signal generators, logic analyzers, multimeters, power supplies, and related instrumentation.
Ability to read, interpret, develop, and troubleshoot electronic schematics and technical drawings.
Demonstrated ability to diagnose complex hardware problems and conduct systematic root-cause analysis.
Experience developing and executing structured engineering test plans and documenting technical results.
Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate complex engineering concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team consisting of engineers, scientists, technicians, operational personnel, and government stakeholders.
Ability and willingness to work on-site at Fort Belvoir, Virginia and travel as required in support of experimentation, exercises, testing, and mission activities.
U.S. citizenship required.
Ability to obtain and maintain the security clearance and/or government access requirements necessary for the position.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Advanced degree in Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Microelectronics, or a related technical field.
Prior experience supporting the Department of Defense, Department of War, Intelligence Community, federal R&D organizations, national laboratories, or other national security programs.
Previous military service or experience supporting Special Operations Forces (SOF), Special Mission Units (SMU), CWMD, CBRN, EOD, intelligence, or other specialized operational communities.
Experience supporting federal Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) programs.
Hands-on experience with component-level design, fabrication, semiconductor technologies, advanced packaging, PCB development, or microelectronic systems.
Experience with hardware reverse engineering, failure analysis, electronic system characterization, or vulnerability analysis.
Experience designing and fabricating prototype electronic systems, custom test fixtures, or experimental hardware.
Familiarity with embedded systems, microcontrollers, FPGAs, sensors, data acquisition systems, RF electronics, communications hardware, or related technologies.
Experience supporting laboratory-to-field technology transition, operational experimentation, developmental testing, or field evaluations.
Understanding of Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs), prototype development, test and evaluation processes, and technology transition within the federal R&D environment.
Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in fast-moving R&D environments where requirements evolve based on experimentation and operational feedback.
Existing active U.S. Government security clearance.
WORK ENVIRONMENT & TRAVEL
This position is based on-site at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, with regular collaboration alongside government stakeholders, technical teams, operational personnel, laboratories, and partner organizations.
Travel is a core component of the position and will be required to support field experimentation, developmental and operational testing, exercise integration, mission support, technical assessments, and stakeholder engagements.
Travel may include work at military installations, government laboratories, test ranges, partner facilities, and other locations throughout the United States and potentially overseas. Certain activities may occur in operationally demanding, field, or austere environments.
The successful candidate should be comfortable moving between the laboratory, engineering workspace, test environment, and operational field setting and be willing to work directly with the people who will ultimately employ the technologies being developed.
Show more Show less