Principal Investigator for Undersea Systems

Job Description

Job Description

About the Team:

The Sensors Division within STR focuses on the development and analysis of advanced sensor systems in the RF, acoustic, and electro-optical domains. This includes the design and development of novel sensors and advanced information processing techniques from ideation to prototype implementations. The Subsea and Seabed Systems (SSS) Group develops and delivers advanced undersea sensor and signal processing systems, including bespoke undersea vehicles to deploy those systems. We apply those products to to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and counter-ISR applications to deliver missions success to our customers.

The Role:

We are seeking a Principal Investigator (PI) to lead cutting‑edge research and development in advanced undersea sensing and robotic systems. This role is ideal for a technical leader who can originate innovative concepts, shape them into compelling customer‑focused proposals, architect and plan complex programs, and drive execution from initial idea through successful at‑sea demonstration.

You will set the technical vision and lead multidisciplinary teams working on next‑generation Counter‑Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (C‑UUV) technologies, acoustic underwater sensing and signal processing, noise control, undersea robotics, and other advanced undersea systems. You will engage directly with U.S. Government and industry partners, define new capabilities, and deliver operationally relevant solutions.

What you will do:

Technical Leadership & Vision

• Define and lead a research agenda in advanced undersea sensing and robotics, with emphasis on C‑UUV, acoustic sensing, signal processing, and noise control
• Architect system‑level solutions for uncrewed undersea vehicles, sensor payloads, and command‑and‑control (C2) systems, including sensing, processing, autonomy, and communications
• Provide technical direction to electrical, mechanical, software, and systems engineers; ensure integration of hardware, software, and algorithms into robust undersea systems
• An ideal candidate need not have depth in all areas of a system (electrical, mechanical, software, etc.), but needs to understand their system-level interplay and be able to lead a team across disciplines

Innovation, Capture, and Customer Engagement

• Generate new concepts and technology approaches that address emerging undersea mission needs and capability gaps
• Lead the development of white papers, proposals, and briefings; pitch ideas and technical solutions to U.S. Government and other customers
• Shape program scope, technical objectives, and execution plans in collaboration with business development and program management
• Serve as the primary technical interface to customers, communicating trade‑offs, risks, and progress clearly and credibly

Program Execution & Team Leadership

• Translate concepts into executable technical plans and collaborate with a Program Manager to develop work breakdown structures, schedules, risk management, and resource planning
• Lead technical teams through design, implementation, integration, and test of undersea systems, from lab prototypes to at‑sea demonstrations
• Ensure rigorous system‑level testing (HIL, lab, pool, and at‑sea), and drive iterative improvement based on test data and operational feedback
• Mentor and develop early‑career engineers and researchers; foster a culture of technical excellence, collaboration, and hands‑on problem solving

Technical Execution (Domain Expertise)

• Provide technical expertise in an area of undersea research.  This may include:
• Guide the design and integration of advanced acoustic sensing systems, including transducer arrays, front‑end electronics, and digital signal processing chains
• Lead research in C‑UUV detection, tracking, and defeat concepts, including sensing modalities, classification algorithms, and autonomous behaviors
• Direct efforts in noise control and signature management for undersea platforms and sensors
• Oversee embedded and real‑time processing architectures (e.g., FPGAs, GPUs, SBCs) supporting autonomy, signal processing, and C2
• Maintain awareness of state‑of‑the‑art undersea technologies and incorporate relevant advances into ongoing and future programs

Who you are:

• Active clearance with special access eligibility, for which U.S citizenship is needed by the U.S government
• Advanced degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Ocean Engineering, Acoustics, Robotics, or a closely related field, and substantial experience (typically 5-12+ years depending on degree) in undersea systems, sensing, or robotics; or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Experience as a technical lead on a complex R&D program, preferably in undersea or maritime domains
• Deep hands‑on experience in at least one core area:

• • Acoustic underwater sensing and signal processing
  • Counter‑UUV or undersea defense systems
  • Undersea robotics and autonomy
  • Noise control / signature management for undersea platforms
• Proven ability to:
  • Develop innovative technical concepts and architectures
  • Write and win competitive proposals or lead major technical captures
  • Plan and manage technical execution for multidisciplinary teams
• Strong systems‑engineering mindset, including requirements development, architecture definition, trade studies, and verification/validation
• Practical familiarity with embedded systems and real‑time control (e.g., microcontrollers, FPGAs, SBCs) and their role in undersea platforms and sensing systems
• Experience with modeling, simulation, or analytical tools to set and assess performance expectations for UUVs or sensor systems
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to brief senior stakeholders and customers

Even Better:

• Experience with non-linear acoustics including parametric acoustic arrays is highly desirable
• Prior experience as a Principal Investigator or Chief Engineer on undersea robotics, UUV, advanced sensing, or complex R&D programs
• Experience designing electronics and systems for marine or other harsh environments (pressure, corrosion, moisture, vibration)
• Familiarity with robotic and autonomy frameworks (e.g., ROS, MOOS‑IvP, UMAA) and their integration with vehicle electronics and sensing systems
• Experience with advanced acoustic signal processing including array processing, detection, classification, localization, and tracking
• Background in control systems, sensor fusion, and their implications for hardware design, timing, and system architecture
• Experience with hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HIL) test setups, system‑level simulation, and at‑sea test campaigns, including deployment, operation, and recovery
• Experience interacting with the U.S. Navy or other U.S. Government organizations, including classified or special access programs
• Active Top Secret security clearance and prior special access program experience
• Experience with agile development methodologies and modern configuration management (e.g., Git) for hardware, firmware, and analysis tools

This role is suited for a technical leader who thrives at the intersection of innovation, customer engagement, and hands‑on engineering, and who wants to shape the next generation of undersea sensing and robotic capabilities.

  Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to contribute to the development of groundbreaking undersea robotic and sensing systems that will shape the future of maritime autonomy. You will work alongside a passionate and talented team, tackling some of the most challenging and rewarding problems in the field. If you are a visionary roboticist with a drive to innovate and lead, we want to hear from you.

Apply today and help us redefine what's possible beneath the waves.

Pay Information
Full-Time Salary Range: $220,000 - $260,000

The salary range listed is based on external market data. Offers are based on factors, such as but not limited to, the candidate's experience, education, training, key skills/critical skills, security clearances, and prevailing market and business conditions.

STR is a growing technology company with locations near Boston, MA, Arlington, VA, near Dayton, OH, Melbourne, FL, Carlsbad, CA, Atlanta, GA, and Denver, CO. We specialize in advanced research and development for defense, intelligence, and national security in: cyber; next generation sensors, radar, sonar, communications, and electronic warfare; and artificial intelligence algorithms and analytics to make sense of the complexity that is exploding around us.

STR is committed to creating a collaborative learning environment that supports deep technical understanding and recognizes the contributions and achievements of all team members. Our work is challenging, and we go home at night knowing that we pushed the envelope of technology and made the world safer.

STR is not just any company. Our people, culture, and attitude along with their unique set of skills, experiences, and perspectives put us on a trajectory to change the world. We can't do it alone, though - we need fellow trailblazers. If you are one, join our team and help to keep our society safe! Visit us at  for more info.

STR is an equal opportunity employer. We are fully dedicated to hiring the most qualified candidate regardless of race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

If you need a reasonable accommodation for any portion of the employment process, email us at View email address on ziprecruiter.com and provide your contact info.

Pursuant to applicable federal law and regulations, positions at STR require employees to obtain national security clearances and satisfy the requirements for compliance with export control and other applicable laws.