Principal Data Links and Communications Engineer

Astrion • Bedford, MA

7d • Onsite

About The Position

Astrion is hiring a Principal Data Links and Communications Engineer for the EPASS Cyber and Networks Directorate (EPASS HN II) contract, supporting the Aerial Networks Division (AFLCMC/HNA) at Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts. The role supports the development, integration, testing, and deployment of Air Force systems and associated data links, as well as interoperability and communications planning for network-enabled weapon systems. The position requires a Top Secret/SCI clearance and limited travel as needed.

Requirements

• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Must have and be able to maintain a Top Secret/SCI clearance.
• Either a master's or doctorate degree in a related field and at least 20 years of experience in the relevant technical or professional discipline, including 12 years in the DoD; or a bachelor's degree in a related field and 25 years of experience in the relevant discipline, including 15 years in the DoD.
• Knowledge and experience in developing, integrating, testing, and deploying Air Force systems and their associated data links.
• Knowledge and experience in DoD Test & Evaluation at the subsystem and system levels.
• Experience with DecSecOps, cloud, model-based systems engineering (MBSE), JIRA, Confluence, GIT, and the Cameo tool.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge and experience in Tactical Platform Open Mission Systems (OMS) architectures, hardware/software processing environments, and the limits of current OMS architectures.
• Knowledge and experience in DoD enterprise communications activities, such as DARPA DyNAMO/Comat Cloud.
• Knowledge and experience with J-Series and UCI message sets, schemas, and protocols, including interoperability needs.
• Knowledge and experience in communications planning for tactical platforms.
• Knowledge of beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) waveforms, including AEHF/WGS, Protected Tactical Waveform, and civil waveforms.

Responsibilities

• Support defining and documenting specifications for network-enabled weapon systems to ensure Link 16 J11.X message interoperability.
• Interface with DoD and non-DoD federal agencies to ensure data link communications capabilities comply with applicable regulations.
• Interface with the Air Force, other services, and agencies to support development of communications equipment and management of encryption infrastructure for controlling networked systems.
• Provide technical advice on Command, Control and Communications (C3) issues, including pre-launch conditioning and planning, networked weapons, and real-time targeting.
• Advise and assist staff engineers, IPT members, PMs, and test team customers on performance, schedule, and cost issues related to planning, communications, and control.
• Support defining and documenting Combat Net Radio (CNR) networking parameter configurations that balance flexible capability implementation with implementation impact on existing and emerging weapon systems.
• Provide engineering support for interoperability testing of weapon configurations over UHF CNR and Link 16.
• Support development, documentation, and presentation of a Joint Concept of Employment (CONEMP) that is flexible, scalable, and compatible with communications via the Military tactical data exchange network.
• Support development and documentation of Joint Service approaches for integrating weapons into existing TDL environments.
• Support development and documentation of Link 16 J11.X messages within a Joint Service CM strategy that maintains interoperability between weapon systems and controllers while supporting a flexible CONEMP.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal