Subsea Telecommunications Engineer

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory•Richland, WA

About The Position

At PNNL, our core capabilities are divided among major departments that we refer to as Directorates within the Lab, focused on a specific area of scientific research or other function, with its own leadership team and dedicated budget. Our Science & Technology directorates include National Security, Earth and Biological Sciences, Physical and Computational Sciences, and Energy and Environment. In addition, we have an Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, a Department of Energy, Office of Science user facility housed on the PNNL campus. The National Security Directorate (NSD) drives science-based, mission-focused solutions to take on complex, real-world threats to our nation and the world. The Emerging Threats and Technologies Division, part of the National Security Directorate, consists of over 400 scientists, engineers, and analysts with backgrounds in cyber, nuclear, intelligence, policy, data science, and other fields. We work in interdisciplinary project teams to provide innovative concepts that integrate policy, analytics, science, and technology into unique solutions. PNNL is looking for a mid-career Subsea Telecommunications Engineer with specialized experience in critical telecommunications infrastructure, particularly DWDM optical transport systems, subsea cable networks, and related control systems. The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience with Ciena 6500 platforms, subsea cable systems, and operational technology (OT) environments unique to telecommunications infrastructure. A passion for securing critical infrastructure and being able to communicate both vulnerabilities and practical mitigations to various stakeholders is essential. This position is expected to take on task leadership for infrastructure security assessments, help mentor junior engineers, and advise project leadership on novel directions for protecting critical communications assets.

Requirements

BS/BA and 5+ years of relevant work experience -OR- MS/MA and 3+ years of relevant work experience -OR- PhD with 1+ year of relevant experience
U.S. Citizenship
Background Investigation: Applicants selected will be subject to a Federal background investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified matter in accordance with 10 CFR 710, Appendix B.
Drug Testing: All Security Clearance positions are Testing Designated Positions, which means that the applicant selected for hire is subject to pre-employment drug testing, and post-employment random drug testing. In addition, applicants must be able to demonstrate non-use of illegal drugs, including marijuana, for the 12 consecutive months preceding completion of the requisite Questionnaire for National Security Positions (QNSP).
Note: Applicants will be considered ineligible for security clearance processing by the U.S. Department of Energy if non-use of illegal drugs, including marijuana, for 12 months cannot be demonstrated.
Mandatory Requirements: Please be aware that the Department of Energy (DOE) prohibits DOE employees and contractors from having any affiliation with the foreign government of a country DOE has identified as a “country of risk” without explicit approval by DOE and Battelle. If you are offered a position at PNNL and currently have any affiliation with the government of one of these countries, you will be required to disclose this information and recuse yourself of that affiliation or receive approval from DOE and Battelle prior to your first day of employment.

Nice To Haves

Direct experience with Ciena 6500 packet-optical platforms, SAOS/MCP operating systems, and associated management software.
Experience with DWDM (Dense Wave Division Multiplexing) systems, optical transport networks (OTN), and related protocols.
Familiarity with subsea cable systems, submarine line terminal equipment (SLTE), and cable landing station operations (SubCom, ASN, or similar systems).
Experience securing telecommunications operational technology (OT) environments and industrial control systems.
Current Top Secret Clearance.

Responsibilities

Designs, deploys, and operates security solutions for telecommunications systems, optical networks, subsea cable infrastructure, and associated management platforms.
Provides integration of hardware, software, and security controls specific to DWDM, optical transport networks (OTN), and submarine cable terminal equipment.
Engineers and deploys security and defensive countermeasures tailored to telecommunications operational technology environments.
Ensures system security requirements are assessed, established, and included in design and development of telecommunications infrastructure; executes security requirements definition, systems analysis, systems design, security hardening, security test and evaluation, and certification and accreditation.
Conducts vulnerability assessments, penetration testing, and security configuration reviews of optical transport equipment, submarine cable landing stations, and associated control systems.
Designs architecture and implements new approaches, methods, and techniques for cyber defense and resiliency specific to telecommunications infrastructure and optical networking systems.
Analyzes threats specific to undersea cable systems, optical networks, and telecommunications supply chains.
Develops security monitoring and incident response capabilities for telecommunications OT environments.
May interface with external entities including telecommunications providers, equipment vendors, law enforcement, intelligence and other government organizations and agencies.