Senior Datalinks Engineer

PeopleTec is currently seeking a Senior Datalinks Engineer to support our Huntsvile, AL location.

We are seeking a highly capable Senior Datalinks Engineer to support the PM UAS Technical Management Division (TMD) and serve as the primary Division-level technical expert for UAS datalinks. This individual will work in direct support of the Chief Engineer, the PM UAS Product Offices, the Component Technology Branch, and special projects aligned with the PM UAS mission.

The Senior Datalinks Engineer will serve as the primary datalinks subject matter expert for PM UAS at the Division level, supporting the Chief Engineer and providing technical leadership across the PM UAS enterprise. The individual will provide technical oversight and subject matter expertise for UAS datalink system development, integration, qualification, fielding, sustainment, modernization, and issue resolution. Relevant technologies include:

• Modems and radio frequency (RF) equipment
• Antennas and radomes
• RF interfaces and architectures
• Communication protocols
• Datalink standards
• Software and firmware
• Waveforms
• Frequency management
• EMI/EMV design and qualification
• Electronic warfare (EW) hardening and resiliency
• RF modeling and analysis
• Encryption, including AES-256 and Type 1 encryption concepts
• Communications Security (COMSEC)
• Transmission Security (TRANSEC)

The ideal candidate will combine significant RF/datalink technical expertise with strong systems engineering judgment, strategic thinking, acquisition awareness, communication skills, and the ability to lead through complex technical and organizational challenges.

Duties:

• Develop and coordinate a comprehensive UAS datalink strategy consistent with PM UAS objectives, missions, architectures, and future capabilities.
• Serve as the principal datalink technical advisor to the Chief Engineer, TMD leadership, Product Offices, and other PM UAS stakeholders.
• Provide technical oversight for datalink system development, integration, qualification, production, fielding, modernization, and sustainment.
• Evaluate systems, subsystems, and components involving RF equipment, antennas, modems, radomes, communications protocols, interfaces, software, waveforms, and associated technologies.
• Assess relevant threat environments and evaluate potential impacts to UAS RF and communications systems.
• Evaluate datalink resiliency, interoperability, spectrum, encryption, COMSEC, TRANSEC, EMI/EMV, and EW considerations.
• Support technical assessments of current and emerging datalink capabilities, technologies, standards, and architectures.
• Maintain awareness of relevant government, military service, laboratory, industry, and coalition datalink initiatives.
• Lead and participate in technical working groups, interface control working groups, engineering reviews, and acquisition forums.
• Coordinate with government laboratories, development organizations, contractors, other Product Offices, and external stakeholders.
• Make recommendations concerning technical direction, architectures, standards, policies, and investments to improve UAS mission effectiveness and survivability.
• Represent PM UAS in external forums and effectively communicate both technical and programmatic considerations.
• Coordinate with peer organizations for government-furnished equipment, government-furnished information, development, production, integration, and sustainment activities.
• Plan, coordinate, and execute changes required to address critical system upgrades, modernization efforts, obsolescence issues, and field problems.
• Develop, author, and review Performance Work Statements, Statements of Work, technical requirements, evaluation criteria, and other acquisition documentation associated with datalink development and modification efforts.
• Evaluate competing technical approaches and provide recommendations regarding the most appropriate solution based on performance, integration risk, schedule, cost, sustainment, and mission requirements.
• Communicate directly and effectively with government personnel, contractors, engineers, logisticians, program managers, acquisition professionals, business personnel, and senior leadership.
• Work through conflicting technical opinions and organizational priorities to develop executable technical paths forward.
• Perform additional technical and systems engineering activities as assigned by the Team Lead, Branch Chief, Division Lead, or Chief Engineer.

Required Skills/Experience:

• Demonstrated experience supporting complex technical systems, engineering programs, or acquisition programs.
• Strong understanding of RF, communications, datalink, or related mission-system technologies.
• Ability to independently investigate complex technical issues and develop technically sound recommendations.
• Ability to develop and present technical reports, briefings, assessments, and recommendations to management and senior leadership.
• Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with both deeply technical personnel and non-technical/programmatic stakeholders.
• Proficiency with Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and Outlook.
• Ability to work primarily on-site with limited telework eligibility.
• Ability to travel up to 25%.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• An active Secret security clearance 

Education Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, physics, mathematics, or another relevant technical discipline

Prefered Qualifications:

• 10-12+ years of directly relevant professional experience
• Previous Product Management Office, Program Management Office, or equivalent acquisition organization experience.
• Army Aviation, UAS, aviation systems, or related DoD acquisition experience.
• Industry experience supporting RF, communications, networking, datalinks, EW, or UAS systems.
• Current TS/SCI clearance or demonstrated ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI clearance.
• Significant experience with UAS datalink systems, RF systems, tactical communications systems, or related mission systems.
• Experience with RF system architecture, link budgets, RF modeling, antennas, modems, waveforms, or spectrum management.
• Understanding of AES-256 and Type 1 encryption concepts and their application to tactical communications.
• Working knowledge of COMSEC and TRANSEC principles and implementation considerations.
• Experience interpreting, applying, developing, or maintaining communications and datalink standards.
• Experience with frequency management and spectrum-related coordination.
• Experience supporting EMI/EMV qualification, EW resiliency, electronic protection, or communications-system hardening.
• Experience coordinating with government laboratories, C5ISR organizations, other government agencies, military services, coalition partners, NATO organizations, and industry.
• Experience developing or reviewing Performance Work Statements, Statements of Work, technical requirements, source-selection documentation, or other technical acquisition documentation.
• Experience supporting system development, integration, qualification, production, sustainment, modernization, upgrades, and field issue resolution.
• Experience leading technical working groups, interface control working groups, or similar cross-organizational engineering forums.

• This position requires more than a narrow technical specialist. The desired candidate should be a technically credible, adaptable senior engineer who can operate effectively across a broad range of challenges.

  The individual should demonstrate:

  • Technical depth: Strong understanding of RF, datalinks, communications, encryption, standards, COMSEC, TRANSEC, and related technologies.
  • Technical curiosity: Willingness and ability to investigate unfamiliar technical areas, identify unknowns, ask the right questions, and rapidly build understanding.
  • Systems thinking: Ability to understand how technical decisions affect platforms, networks, acquisition programs, operations, logistics, sustainment, interoperability, and mission outcomes.
  • Strategic thinking: Ability to move beyond individual technical issues and develop an enterprise-level strategy and roadmap.
  • Sound technical judgment: Ability to distinguish critical technical issues from lower-value areas of investigation and avoid unnecessary technical “rabbit holes.”
  • Autonomy: Ability to independently engage stakeholders, work through problems, and operate across engineering and acquisition functions with limited supervision.
  • Executive communication: Ability to clearly articulate technical strategies, risks, recommendations, and decisions to senior leaders and external organizations.
  • Emotional intelligence: Ability to work effectively with individuals who have differing personalities, organizational interests, technical opinions, or priorities.
  • Team building: Ability to establish productive relationships and develop consensus while maintaining technical rigor.
  • Professional conviction: Ability to develop a technically supportable position, clearly communicate the rationale, listen to competing perspectives, and adjust when evidence warrants without unnecessarily wavering.
  • Results orientation: Strong focus on delivering executable solutions and advancing program objectives.
  • Problem solving: Ability to work effectively through ambiguous, complex, and cross-functional technical challenges.
  • Initiative: Willingness to identify issues before they become critical and take ownership of developing solutions.
  • Adaptability: Ability to support a rapidly evolving UAS mission, technology, acquisition, and threat environment.

Physical Requirements:

• The physical demands described below are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of the position.
• The employee will regularly be required to communicate verbally and listen; frequently stand, walk, handle objects, and reach with hands and arms; and occasionally sit, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• The employee must be able to lift and/or move up to 10 pounds routinely and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Required vision abilities may include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Regular and punctual attendance is required. Additional hours may occasionally be necessary based on mission and program requirements.

People First. Technology Always.

PeopleTec, Inc. is an employee-owned small business founded in Huntsville, AL that provides exceptional customer support by employing and retaining a highly skilled workforce.

Culture: The name "PeopleTec" was deliberately chosen to remind us of our core value system - our people. Our company's foundation was built on placing our employees and customers first. With an award-winning atmosphere, we have matured into a company that boasts the best and brightest across multiple technical fields.

Career: At PeopleTec, we value your long-term goals. Whether it's through our continuing-education opportunities, our robust training programs, or our "People First" benefits package, PeopleTec truly believes that our best investments are our people.

Come Experience It.

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EEO Statement

PeopleTec, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and provides reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in its job application procedures. If you have any difficulty using our online system and you need an accommodation due to a disability, you may use the following email address, applicationhelp@peopletec.com and/or phone number (256.319.3800) to contact us about your interest in employment with PeopleTec, Inc.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, citizenship, ancestry, marital status, protected veteran status, disability status or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law. PeopleTec, Inc. participates in E-Verify.