How to hire a signals analyst

How to hire a signals analyst, step by step

Here's a step-by-step signals analyst hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a signals analyst job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new signals analyst
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a signals analyst, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A signals analyst's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, signals analysts from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents signals analyst salaries for various positions.

   Type of Signals Analyst	Description	Hourly rate
   Signals Analyst	Police officers protect lives and property. Detectives and criminal investigators, who are sometimes called agents or special agents, gather facts and collect evidence of possible crimes.	$21-50
   Competitive Intelligence Analyst	A competitive intelligence analyst specializes in recommending solutions to optimize a company's sales performance and business plans. They conduct extensive research and analysis to identify market trends, new business opportunities, client needs, and competitor strategies... Show more	$24-46
   Geospatial Intelligence Analyst	A geospatial intelligence analyst makes use of GIS (Geographic Information Systems), image analysis information, and any other statistical analysis software available to dissect and review data obtained from either aircraft or satellites. They design and implement strategies to assist in the gathering of geographic data and its analysis... Show more	$19-43

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Technical Analysis
   • Technical Reports
   • TS/SCI
   • MATLAB
   • Signals Analysis
   • National Security
   • Linux
   • RF
   • Intelligence Community
   • Data Analysis
   • Elint
   • SIGINT
   • Martes
   • DOD

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead basic reconnaissance operations and report enemy movements to commanding officers.
   • Collect, analyze and process data in support of the FBI and NSA.
   • Subject matter expert of course of instruction design by NSA, producing technically proficient intermediate signals analysts.
   • Perform quality control measures in accordance with standardize DoD governing regulations and reporting guidance.
   • Create and publish graphical representation presentations and maps for ISR operations' pre-mission briefings.
   • Operate automated data processing equipment for SIGINT gathering and dissemination; specialize in initial, intermediate, and fusion analysis.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your signals analyst job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A signals analyst salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, signals analysts' average salary in oklahoma is 46% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level signals analysts earn 57% less than senior-level signals analysts.
   • Certifications. A signals analyst with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a signals analyst's salary.

   Average signals analyst salary

   $68,823yearly

   $33.09 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level signals analyst salary

   $45,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 20, 2025

4. Writing a signals analyst job description

   A good signals analyst job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a signals analyst job description:

   Signals analyst job description example

   **Position Description: Technical ELINT Signals Analyst Level 2 with FS Poly**
   
   Ops Tech Alliance (OTA) is seeking a Technical ELINT Signals Analyst 2, responsible for operating ELINT signal collection, processing, and analysis equipment; analyze ELINT signals from recordings or in a live environment; collaborate with ELINT analysts throughout the Intelligence Community and maintain awareness of ELINT analysis projects being worked on the particular signal. The Technical ELINT Signals Analyst prepares complex ELINT technical reports detailing the analysis results and presents technical briefings on analysis findings to members of the intelligence community in accordance with Government direction and customer requirements.
   
   **Requirements:**
   
   -Top Secret Clearance / SCI with **Full Scope** Polygraph
   
   Provide guidance to ELINT signal teams in overall conduct of projects that are essentially ELINT related.
   
   - Oversee the development, deployment or collection, documentation and evaluation of recordings of new or previously unexploited ELINT data.
   
   - Provide analytical and operational support for tactical and strategic mission intelligence systems.
   
   - Support a range of analytical products and functions including operational support for tactical and strategic mission intelligence systems.
   
   - Maintain mission status on assigned tactical and strategic systems.
   
   - Analyze complex system integration requirements to identify mission vulnerability targets and develop multiple scenarios to resolve all mission threats.
   
   - Perform mission planning and projections to anticipate future resource requirements to counter identified threats.
   
   - Translate analytical results into briefings.
   
   - Analyze operational availability of strategic and tactical intelligence assets.
   
   Develop briefing reports that depict assessment of systems availability.
   
   **Desired Work Experience:**
   
   Ten (10) years of experience interacting with customers, deploying on ELINT collection missions, performing ELINT technical analysis, and preparing ELINT technical analytic reports to include experience in ELINT, CED, and WRANGLER databases.
   
   **OTA is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.**
   
   **All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.**
   
   This is a full time position

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find signals analysts for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your signals analyst job on Zippia to find and recruit signals analyst candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with signals analyst candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new signals analyst

   Once you have selected a candidate for the signals analyst position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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