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Leidos

Electrical Engineer/Radio Frequency (RF) Engineer at Leidos

Illinois · Posted Aug 21, 2026 · Seen live today

No pay listed; 71% of engineering (not software) postings here list pay

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About the posting

“The Spectrum Engineering Group is responsible for securing, managing, and protecting all civil aviation spectrum resources to ensure interference-free operation of FAA communications, navigation, and surveillance (CNS) systems across the National Airspace System (NAS).”

Read the full posting on Leidos' site

Seen live Oct 23, 2026; first seen Oct 12, 2026.

Pay in context

Leidos does not list pay for this role. 71 percent of engineering (not software) postings in Illinois do; their median is $113,850.

How long it has been open

Posted Aug 21, 2026, 64 days ago, and seen on Leidos' careers page today.

At 64 days old, it is over the 60-day median.

Leidos' postings we have seen close took a median of 2 days.

Leidos at a glance

Leidos has 911 open postings that we can see, 48 in engineering (not software); 2 percent list pay.

The application

Applying goes through Workday.

This employer's system needs an account on their side; we guide you through the steps.

Seniority

The posting mentions 2+ years.

Place and cost of living

On site in Illinois; prices in IL run 0 percent below the US average.

More engineering (not software) jobs in Illinois that list pay

The engineering (not software) market in Illinois

80 engineering (not software) postings in Illinois are open right now, from 32 employers.

Half of them have been open 60 days or less.

From Leidos' posting

This is Leidos' own text, as published on its job board. We last checked it on Oct 23, 2026. Apply on Leidos' site. We remove a posting when the employer closes it.

Apply on Leidos' site

Leidos’ NISC IV program seeks an Electrical Engineer/ Radio Frequency (RF) Engineer to support the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Spectrum Engineering Services Group in Chicago, Illinois.

The Spectrum Engineering Group is responsible for securing, managing, and protecting all civil aviation spectrum resources to ensure interference-free operation of FAA communications, navigation, and surveillance (CNS) systems across the National Airspace System (NAS).

The ideal candidate will have an electrical engineering degree and with at least 2 years of experience in Radio Frequency Spectrum Analysis, interference mitigation, radio direction finding, and field investigations using industry-standard text equipment. The engineer will conduct interference analysis using databases, logs, and historical patterns and conduct on-site investigations as needed. The engineer will work closely with regulatory bodies, engineering teams, and project managers to support spectrum-related initiatives across various projects to ensure mission-critical systems remain compliant and interference-free.

This position is in office in Chicago, IL with up to 50% travel as needed.

Primary Responsibilities

  • Monitor and receive reports of radio frequency interference affecting the National Air Space (NAS) operations.
  • Evaluate the urgency and impact of incoming RFI reports to prioritize responses.
  • Conduct both remote and on-site Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) investigations using historical data, databases, logs, and RF analysis tools.
  • Conduct RFI field investigation using equipment such as spectrum analyzers, direction finders, and portable antennas to pinpoint the sources of interference when a physical search is warranted.
  • Interpret technical data and apply mitigation best practices to resolve radio frequency interference issues with minimal disruption to the National Air Space (NAS) operations.
  • Coordinate and communicate with system users, engineering leads, and regional frequency managers.
  • Prepare comprehensive reports summarizing the interference issues, investigative methods used, findings, and resolutions implemented for review by senior management and other stakeholders as required.
  • Travel required for conducting on-site RFI investigations and analysis within any of the 17 states within the Central Service Area.

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or related field with course work in electromagnetics preferred.
  • 2+ years of prior relevant experience in radio frequency (RF) engineering.
  • Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
  • Ability to learn FAA-specific software and systems.
  • Active Secret clearance or ability to obtain.
  • Must be a US citizen.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience with Spectrum Analyzers and Direction Finding (DF) equipment.
  • Exposure to RF modeling, frequency assignment tools, or engineering databases.
  • Experience with aeronautical maps and chart plotting.
  • Ability to interpret technical data and apply mitigation best practices to resolve RF interference issues affecting aviation systems.
  • Ability to perform Free-Space Path Loss (FSPL) calculations, Link Budgets, dBW/dBm/Watt conversions.
  • Knowledge of roles and responsibilities of spectrum management within the National Airspace System (NAS).
  • Knowledge of frequency management practices, including engineering, assignment, and protection of radio frequencies, and the National Telecommunication and Information Administration (NTIA) Redbook.
  • Knowledge of and experience with various frequency policy organizations, including National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), Interdepartmental Radio Advisory Committee (IRAC), and associated sub-committees, and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting

August 21, 2026

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 $69,550.00 - $125,725.00

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.

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