How to hire a signals collector/analyst

How to hire a signals collector/analyst, step by step

Here's a step-by-step signals collector/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 collector/analyst job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new signals collector/analyst
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

Post a signals collector/analyst job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a signals collector/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

   Hiring the perfect signals collector/analyst also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   Here's a comparison of signals collector/analyst salaries for various roles:

   Type of Signals Collector/Analyst	Description	Hourly rate
   Signals Collector/Analyst		$11-51
   Military	The military is responsible for maintaining peace and order within society. Militaries conduct patrolling operations, including reporting suspicious activities in designated areas, assisting in traffic enforcement, securing public events, and attending military defense training... Show more	$11-51

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Spectrum Analyzers
   • National Security
   • MOS
   • Radio Frequency Spectrum
   • Security Clearance
   • TS/SCI
   • SIGINT
   • Technical Reports
   • Collection Management
   • Intelligence Reports
   • Communications Signals
   • Electronic Signals
   • Computer System
   • Depth Analysis

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead and train scout vehicle crews, and supervise request, receipt, storage and issue of ammunition.
   • Combine a near real-time data feed, domain area knowledge, and creative analytical techniques to prosecute specific communications externals transmitters.
   • Help to open new high-risk female adolescent correctional facility.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your signals collector/analyst job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A signals collector/analyst can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, signals collector/analysts' average salary in oregon is 50% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level signals collector/analysts 78% less than senior-level signals collector/analysts.
   • Certifications. A signals collector/analyst with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a signals collector/analyst's salary.

   Average signals collector/analyst salary

   $51,588yearly

   $24.80 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level signals collector/analyst salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 18, 2025

4. Writing a signals collector/analyst job description

   A good signals collector/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 collector/analyst job description:

   Signals collector/analyst job description example

   Accurate intel is the cornerstone of mission success, and it's up to the Signals Collector/Analyst to locate, identify, collect, and exploit enemy communications to extract this information. Using intercept devices, these Soldiers will identify hostile signals and report their findings to leadership.
   
   In this role, you will search the radio frequency spectrum to collect, identify, and record target communications and selected electro-optic or foreign instrumentation signals; install and operate electronic intelligence collection systems; acquisition, analysis, and recording of targeted communications; analyzing communications using a real-time spectrum analyzer; and using oscilloscopes to find waveforms in communication.
   Operate signal intelligence equipment and prepare logs/reports
   Perform basic signal analysis to determine signal parameters
   
   Helpful Skills
   Interest in working with radio equipment
   Finding clues that help answer questions
   Ability to remain alert doing repetitive tasks
   
   Through your training, you will develop the skills and experience to enjoy a civilian career with government agencies like the National Security Agency, the FBI, and the CIA.
   
   Earn While You Learn
   Instead of paying to learn these skills, get paid to train. In the Army National Guard, you will learn these valuable job skills while earning a regular paycheck and qualifying for tuition assistance.
   
   Job training for a Signals Collector/Analyst consists of 10 weeks of Basic Training, where you'll learn basic Soldiering skills, and 15 weeks of Advanced Individual Training (AIT) and on-the-job instruction, including practice in interpretation.
   
   Benefits/Requirements
   
   Benefits
   Paid training A monthly paycheck Montgomery GI Bill Federal and State tuition assistance Retirement benefits for part-time service Low-cost life insurance (up to $400,000 in coverage) 401(k)-type savings plan Student Loan Repayment Program (up to $50,000, for existing loans) Health care benefits available VA home loans Bonuses, if applicable Most non-prior service candidates will earn between $200 and $250 per drill weekend, subject to change
   Requirements Military enlistment in the Army National Guard Must be at least a junior in high school, or have a high school diploma or a GED certificate Must be between the ages of 17 and 35 Must be able to pass a physical exam and meet legal and moral standards Must meet citizenship requirements (see NATIONALGUARD.com for details)
   
   Requires military enlistment. Programs and benefits are subject to change. Ask your Army National Guard recruiter for the most up-to-date information. Actual MOS assignment may depend on MOS availability.
   
   Other Job Information
   
   Job Category: Intelligence
   Age Requirements: Must be between the ages of 17 and 35 computer electrical engineering IT telecommunications

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right signals collector/analyst for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit signals collector/analysts, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 collector/analyst

   Once you've found the signals collector/analyst candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   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.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new signals collector/analyst. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a signals collector/analyst?