The Leidos Research Support Team supporting the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) is seeking a RF Sensor Engineer to join our team in Pittsburgh, PA. This opportunity will allow side by side execution of research with world-class scientists and engineers using state-of-the-art equipment to contribute to new areas of basic and applied research. The successful candidate will collaborate on an interdisciplinary team spanning industry, academic, and national laboratory partners that seek to develop a wireless sensor network for infrastructure sensing. The development cycle spans conceptual development through field demonstration. Knowledge of electromagnetic propagation through materials, passive microwave sensor devices and networking methodologies demonstrated automation and testing using state-of-the-art RF/microwave techniques, and hands-on experience working with RF and microwave propagation systems are highly desired. The successful candidate is capable of leveraging analytical models, finite element modeling, and other simulation tools for device modeling, sensor network development, and instrumentation automation. Publications in high-quality scientific peer-reviewed journals, presentations at national and international technical meetings, and the development of new intellectual property are all expected outcomes of the research to be performed.

Location: This position is onsite at the NETL campus in Pittsburgh, PA 4 days a week, and 1 day a week from home office.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Design, simulate, and optimize Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) devices based on sensing stimuli of interest.
• Work with functional material scientists to design and develop devices capable of detecting pipeline environmental factors.
• Model and analyze radio wave propagation in complex pipeline environments, use results for design of high efficiency antenna.
• Use RF and microwave systems to wirelessly interrogate SAW sensors and measure changes in infrastructure conditions at desired locations.
• Implement real-time wireless data acquisition, synchronization, and secure communication protocols for SAW sensors array.
• Plan and participate in field test demonstrations of developed technologies.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary group of science researchers to accomplish project tasks.
• Create and deliver oral, poster presentations of results in meetings and at technical conferences/workshops.
• Effectively document and communicate scientific results through peer-review journal manuscripts and technical reports.

Required Qualifications:

• Masters’ degree in electrical engineering, engineering physics, or related field with 2+ years relevant experience.
• Experience with research, implementation, and evaluation of active and passive RF / microwave communication networks.
• Experience with device fabrication and testing (ideally in harsh environments).
• Experience leveraging analytical models, finite element analysis and other simulation tools for device modeling, sensor network development, and instrumentation automation.
• Hands-on familiarity with laboratory equipment such as vector network analyzers, arbitrary waveform generators, oscilloscopes, spectrum analyzers, data acquisition and processing systems using Python, LabVIEW, MATLAB, or other programming languages.
• Ability to meet the requirements for gaining access to work on the NETL campus.

Preferred Qualifications:

• PhD in electrical engineering, engineering physics, or related field
• Software Defined Radio experience
• Experience modeling and optimizing electromagnetic propagation through media and design and development expertise with surface acoustic wave sensors
• COMSOL experience

Salary Range for this position: $100K to $105K

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Original Posting:

March 6, 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 $87,100.00 - $157,450.00

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.