SATCOM Engineering Analyst Job Listing at SPA in Norfolk, VA (Job ID 22508)

Description

Overview

Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. (SPA) delivers high-impact, technical solutions to complex national security issues. With over 50 years of business expertise and consistent growth, we are known for continuous innovation for our government customers, in both the US and abroad. Our exceptionally talented team is highly collaborative in spirit and practice, producing Results that Matter. Come work with the best! We offer opportunity, unique challenges, and clear-sighted commitment to the mission. SPA: Objective. Responsive. Trusted.  

The Joint, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Interagency Division provides expert support services to a range of customers spanning across the Department of War, Federal Civilian, and international markets. JOID provides a diverse portfolio of analytical and programmatic capabilities to help our customers make informed decisions on their most challenging issues.

SPA's NATO Allied Command Transformation Group within JOID provides capability development, portfolio management, program management, quality management, cost estimation analysis, standardization, reporting, software solutions and information management, and capability management support. We also provide an improved capability requirements capture process, including the generation, documentation and tracing of user requirements, with appropriate technical scrutiny, over the entire lifecycle of the requirements from capability definition through capability realization and capability usage. 

We have an immediate need for a SATCOM Engineering Analyst to provide onsite or hybrid support out of NATO HQ SACT in Norfolk, VA.

The SATCOM Engineering Analyst will provide technical assessments of SATCOM networks, terminals, and anchoring systems across NATO strategic, operational, and tactical domains. Support system architecture definition, including integration of MILSATCOM and COMSATCOM resources. Perform trade-off and feasibility analyses addressing performance, resilience, spectrum efficiency, and cost-benefit aspects. Contribute to the development of future-oriented SATCOM system concepts, including Low Earth Orbit (LEO) integration, software-defined payloads, and multi-orbit architectures. Create Analysis of Alternative documents for different options considered. Develop and maintain system-level functional and technical requirements for future SATCOM systems and related ground infrastructure. Support interoperability and standardization activities (e.g., STANAGs, NATO interoperability profiles, SATCOM reference architectures). Provide interface control documentation (ICD) and configuration baselines for engineering reference. Contribute to modeling and simulation of SATCOM service delivery architectures and integration with existing networks. Assess the impact of emerging technologies such as AI-driven resource management, optical links, and protected waveforms. Provide recommendations for technology insertion and obsolescence mitigation. Liaise with ACT, ACO, and NCIA technical authorities, providing engineering inputs and consolidated documentation. Prepare technical briefings, reports, and data packages supporting NATO capability planning. Participate in workshops, technical meetings, and industry engagement events as required.

Required: 

• Bachelor's degree in Telecommunications, Electronics, or a related field, with at least 2 years of post-related experience; or Higher Vocational Training with a minimum of 5 years of post-related experience.
• 3+ years of practical experience in SATCOM systems, including UHF and SHF.
• Familiarity with modern military communication networks, including interfaces, protocols, and experience with SATCOM Operations.
• Deep knowledge of SATCOM architecture principles, including link budget analysis, modulation schemes, error correction coding, and satellite network topologies.
• Strong understanding of RF engineering, antenna systems, propagation modeling in SATCOM bands, and cybersecurity architecture for SATCOM, including encryption.
• Familiarity with SATCOM related standards, such as DVB-S2, DVB-S2X, MIL-STD-188, and experience in Software Defined Networking (SDN) in SATCOM.
• Familiarity in service management (incident, problem management, etc.) and a customer-focused approach in a control center environment.
• Prior experience working in a NATO or multinational military setting, with a solid understanding of NATO operational standards and protocols.
• Active NATO Secret or national equivalent clearance.

Required: 

• Bachelor's degree in Telecommunications, Electronics, or a related field, with at least 2 years of post-related experience; or Higher Vocational Training with a minimum of 5 years of post-related experience.
• 3+ years of practical experience in SATCOM systems, including UHF and SHF.
• Familiarity with modern military communication networks, including interfaces, protocols, and experience with SATCOM Operations.
• Deep knowledge of SATCOM architecture principles, including link budget analysis, modulation schemes, error correction coding, and satellite network topologies.
• Strong understanding of RF engineering, antenna systems, propagation modeling in SATCOM bands, and cybersecurity architecture for SATCOM, including encryption.
• Familiarity with SATCOM related standards, such as DVB-S2, DVB-S2X, MIL-STD-188, and experience in Software Defined Networking (SDN) in SATCOM.
• Familiarity in service management (incident, problem management, etc.) and a customer-focused approach in a control center environment.
• Prior experience working in a NATO or multinational military setting, with a solid understanding of NATO operational standards and protocols.
• Active NATO Secret or national equivalent clearance.

The SATCOM Engineering Analyst will provide technical assessments of SATCOM networks, terminals, and anchoring systems across NATO strategic, operational, and tactical domains. Support system architecture definition, including integration of MILSATCOM and COMSATCOM resources. Perform trade-off and feasibility analyses addressing performance, resilience, spectrum efficiency, and cost-benefit aspects. Contribute to the development of future-oriented SATCOM system concepts, including Low Earth Orbit (LEO) integration, software-defined payloads, and multi-orbit architectures. Create Analysis of Alternative documents for different options considered. Develop and maintain system-level functional and technical requirements for future SATCOM systems and related ground infrastructure. Support interoperability and standardization activities (e.g., STANAGs, NATO interoperability profiles, SATCOM reference architectures). Provide interface control documentation (ICD) and configuration baselines for engineering reference. Contribute to modeling and simulation of SATCOM service delivery architectures and integration with existing networks. Assess the impact of emerging technologies such as AI-driven resource management, optical links, and protected waveforms. Provide recommendations for technology insertion and obsolescence mitigation. Liaise with ACT, ACO, and NCIA technical authorities, providing engineering inputs and consolidated documentation. Prepare technical briefings, reports, and data packages supporting NATO capability planning. Participate in workshops, technical meetings, and industry engagement events as required.