Astek is hiring: Radio Communications Engineer (LMR) in Columbia

About the Role

We’re looking for a hands-on Radio Communications Engineer for an onsite role in Columbia, MD, supporting the deployment, integration, and maintenance of Land Mobile Radio (LMR) systems in a mission-critical environment.

This is a field-oriented position, ideal for someone who enjoys working close to the equipment, troubleshooting real-world RF issues, and collaborating with technical teams on active systems.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Support the installation, configuration, and testing of LMR systems (Motorola, L3Harris, Kenwood)
• Assist with system integration activities and ensure radios and networks communicate properly
• Perform field troubleshooting on RF systems (coverage issues, interference, hardware faults)
• Work on radio infrastructure: antennas, repeaters, base stations, combiners
• Participate in system testing and validation before deployment
• Help diagnose issues and contribute to root cause analysis and fixes
• Collaborate with network teams, engineers, and field technicians
• Maintain clear technical documentation and test records
• Support ongoing maintenance and system upgrades

What We’re Looking For

• ~5+ years of experience working with LMR / radio communication systems
• Hands-on experience with at least one major vendor:
• Motorola (P25 / ASTRO)
• L3Harris
• Kenwood
• Solid understanding of:
• RF fundamentals and troubleshooting
• Trunked radio systems and P25 (nice to have, not mandatory expert level)
• Basic networking concepts (IP-based systems)
• Comfortable working on-site / in the field when needed
• Ability to troubleshoot and solve practical, real-world issues

Nice to Have

• Experience in public safety or transportation projects
• Familiarity with RF test equipment (spectrum analyzer, etc.)
• Experience with radio system deployments or upgrades

Why This Role

• Great opportunity for a mid-level engineer or strong technician stepping up
• Exposure to large-scale communication systems
• Hands-on, impactful work in a mission-critical environment