Communications Jobs in Virginia

Communications Systems Engineer – Product Development

Communications-Applied Technology (C-AT)
Part-Time

C-AT is looking for a Communications Systems Engineer who enjoys seeing the whole picture and helping turn good ideas into working products.

For more than 30 years, C-AT has developed communications equipment used by public safety, emergency response, government, and defense organizations. We are a small, established company where engineering decisions are made close to the customer and where the right person can have a meaningful impact on what we build next.

This is not a traditional network engineering position, and we are not looking for someone focused on only one technical discipline.

We are looking for a practical systems thinker who understands communications technology, is comfortable with software, and knows how to bring hardware, software, and communications systems together into a finished solution.

You will work directly with C-AT leadership and our existing engineering team on product development and systems integration.

Some days that may mean working through the architecture of a new capability. Other days it may mean building a prototype, evaluating a commercial technology, working with an outside developer, or helping determine the most practical way to solve a customer requirement.

We value people who can get into the technical details when necessary but also know when to come back up and ask, “What are we actually trying to accomplish?”

The person who does well here will be curious, resourceful, comfortable making decisions, and interested in getting useful products into the hands of people doing important work.

The right candidate can:

• Help define and develop new communications products and capabilities.
• Look at customer and operational requirements from a complete systems perspective.
• Bring together communications hardware, embedded computing, software, and IP-based technologies.
• Develop prototypes and proofs of concept.
• Write software when appropriate and be comfortable reviewing and evaluating software developed by others.
• Identify existing commercial technologies that can shorten development time or improve a solution.
• Help determine what should be developed internally and what should be sourced externally.
• Work closely with C-AT's engineering team on system integration and product development.
• Develop clear requirements for software developers and outside engineering resources.
• Help identify, select, and oversee specialized developers or contractors when additional expertise is needed.
• Support testing, troubleshooting, and the transition from prototype to production.
• Keep development efforts focused on practical customer and product objectives.

At C-AT, we are more interested in what you have built and how you think than in a particular job title.

A strong candidate will have experience in several of these areas:

• Communications systems engineering
• Software development
• Embedded systems or embedded Linux
• Systems integration
• IP-based communications
• APIs and software integration
• Radio or wireless communications
• Real-time voice communications
• Hardware/software product development
• Cybersecurity for connected systems
• Public safety, government, defense, or mission-focused communications

Experience with land mobile radio, public safety communications, or interoperability is especially helpful.

You do not need to be the deepest expert in every area. You should be able to understand how the pieces fit together, recognize when specialized expertise is needed, and work effectively with the people who provide it.

Pay: $50.00-$70.00 per hour. Compensation within the range will be based on experience, technical breadth, and fit for the role..

A Good Fit for This Role

You may be someone who has spent years in engineering and would now enjoy a role where you can have more influence over the finished product.

You may have worked for a communications manufacturer, technology company, systems integrator, government contractor, or public safety technology organization.

You might also be an experienced engineer or technical leader who is interested in a meaningful part-time role rather than another traditional full-time position.

What matters most is that you can take a problem that is not completely defined, ask the right questions, develop a sensible technical approach, and help carry it through to a working result.

Why C-AT

C-AT is small enough that good ideas do not have to travel through layers of management before something happens.

You will work with people who understand the customers, know the communications environment, and have spent years building equipment for demanding operational users.

We also recognize that no one person knows everything. We are looking for someone who enjoys working with other capable people, respects specialized expertise, and can help bring those different areas of knowledge together.

This is an opportunity to contribute to established products, help shape future development, and see the results of your work move from an idea on a table to equipment being used in the field.

Position: Part-Time
Schedule: Flexible, based on experience and availability
Location: Reston, VA / hybrid
Travel: Limited travel may be required for testing, customer interaction, or industry events.

If your background is broader than your current title and this sounds like the type of work you enjoy, we would like to hear from you.

Pay: $50.00 - $70.00 per hour

Expected hours: 5.0 – 20.0 per week

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Reston, VA 20190