Senior Datalinks Engineer

Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville, AL 35801, USA

Description

Offset Strategic Services (OSS) is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama. We are focused on “Making a Difference” in the lives of our customers, employees, and communities. Our greatest strength is our people. We value competence and character, and we seek skilled, passionate individuals who share our commitment to the mission.

We take great care of our employees through a benefits package that includes health insurance, additional coverage options through Principal, and a 401(k) plan with an employer match and eligibility beginning on the first day of employment. OSS pays 75% of the cost of health insurance coverage. If you are interested in supporting an important mission alongside a growing team, we would like to hear from you.

Position Overview

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

This senior technical leadership position requires someone who can work with significant autonomy across engineering and acquisition disciplines, solve complex and sometimes ambiguous technical problems, and represent PM UAS technical strategy to internal and external stakeholders.

The position is full-time and primarily on-site, with limited telework eligibility. The selected candidate is expected to begin as soon as practical and transition responsibilities from the current subject matter expert over several months.

Primary Role

The Senior Datalinks Engineer will serve as the primary division-level datalinks subject matter expert for PM UAS, supporting the Chief Engineer and providing technical leadership across the PM UAS enterprise.

The individual will provide technical oversight and 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 and datalink standards
• Software, firmware, and waveforms
• Frequency management
• EMI/EMC 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) and transmission security (TRANSEC)

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

Expected Areas of Emphasis

Approximately 40%: Enterprise Datalink Strategy, Frequency Management, and External Coordination

• Support frequency management activities across the PM UAS enterprise.
• Lead or support the JSIL Interface Control Working Group (ICWG) for datalinks.
• Develop, maintain, and communicate an overarching PM UAS datalink strategy and technical roadmap.
• Coordinate with government laboratories, agencies, military organizations, development organizations, and other stakeholders.
• Coordinate, as applicable, with organizations such as AvMC, C5ISR, NSA, NATO, OSW, and C2N.
• Maintain awareness of Army, joint, partner service, coalition, and government investments and activities that may affect UAS datalink capabilities.
• Represent PM UAS/TMD datalink strategy in internal and external technical and programmatic forums.

Approximately 50%: Product Office Technical Support

Provide datalink engineering expertise and direct support across PM UAS Product Offices, including Small UAS (SUAS), Tactical UAS (TUAS), UAS Launched Effects and related portfolios, Long Endurance and applicable UAS portfolios, and emerging UAS and future product portfolios.

Activities may include:

• System architecture and design reviews
• Requirements development and assessment
• RF and communications engineering
• Integration and qualification
• System upgrades and modernization
• Field issue investigation and resolution
• Engineering trade studies and technical risk assessments
• Acquisition planning
• Government-furnished equipment and information coordination
• Contractor technical oversight
• Sustainment engineering and datalink interoperability

Approximately 10%: Chief Engineer and Special Project Support

• Support technical issues and special projects assigned by the Chief Engineer, division leadership, or branch leadership.
• Investigate emerging technical issues promptly and provide technically defensible recommendations.
• Support cross-functional engineering and acquisition activities outside the traditional datalinks portfolio when needed.
• Apply broad systems engineering judgment to new or evolving PM UAS challenges.

Responsibilities

• 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 related technologies.
• Assess relevant threat environments and their potential effects on UAS RF and communications systems.
• Evaluate datalink resiliency, interoperability, spectrum, encryption, COMSEC, TRANSEC, EMI/EMC, and EW considerations.
• Assess 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.
• Recommend technical direction, architectures, standards, policies, and investments to improve UAS mission effectiveness and survivability.
• Represent PM UAS in external forums and communicate technical and programmatic considerations effectively.
• Coordinate with peer organizations on government-furnished equipment and information, development, production, integration, and sustainment activities.
• Plan, coordinate, and execute changes that address critical system upgrades, modernization efforts, obsolescence issues, and field problems.
• Develop and review Performance Work Statements, Statements of Work, technical requirements, evaluation criteria, and other acquisition documentation associated with datalink development and modification.
• Evaluate competing technical approaches and recommend solutions based on performance, integration risk, schedule, cost, sustainment, and mission requirements.
• Communicate effectively with government personnel, contractors, engineers, logisticians, program managers, acquisition professionals, business personnel, and senior leadership.
• Work through differing technical opinions and organizational priorities to develop executable technical approaches.
• Perform additional technical and systems engineering activities as assigned by the Team Lead, Branch Chief, Division Lead, or Chief Engineer.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, physics, mathematics, or another relevant technical discipline.
• 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, including the ability to communicate with technical personnel and nontechnical 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%.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret security clearance.

Highly Desired Qualifications

• More than five years of directly relevant professional experience; substantially greater experience is preferred for this senior-level role.
• Experience with a Product Management Office, Program Management Office, or equivalent acquisition organization.
• 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 one.
• 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 coordination.
• Experience supporting EMI/EMC 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 documents.
• 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 engineering forums involving multiple organizations.

Desired Professional Attributes

The successful candidate will be a technically credible, adaptable senior engineer who can work effectively across a broad range of challenges. Desired attributes include:

• Technical depth: Strong understanding of RF, datalinks, communications, encryption, standards, COMSEC, TRANSEC, and related technologies.
• Technical curiosity: Willingness to investigate unfamiliar areas, identify unknowns, ask useful questions, and quickly 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 address individual technical issues while developing an enterprise-level strategy and roadmap.
• Sound technical judgment: Ability to prioritize critical issues and focus investigations where they will have the greatest value.
• Autonomy: Ability to engage stakeholders, work through problems, and operate across engineering and acquisition functions with limited supervision.
• Executive communication: Ability to explain technical strategies, risks, recommendations, and decisions clearly to senior leaders and external organizations.
• Interpersonal skills: Ability to work effectively with people who have different organizational interests, technical opinions, and priorities.
• Team building: Ability to establish productive relationships and build consensus while maintaining technical rigor.
• Professional conviction: Ability to develop and explain a technically supportable position, consider competing perspectives, and adjust when the evidence warrants.
• Results orientation: Focus on delivering executable solutions and advancing program objectives.
• Problem solving: Ability to work through ambiguous, complex, cross-functional technical challenges.
• Initiative: Willingness to identify issues early and take ownership of solutions.
• Adaptability: Ability to support an evolving UAS mission, technology, acquisition, and threat environment.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described below are representative of those required to perform the essential functions of this 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 routinely lift and/or move up to 10 pounds 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.

OSS is proud to employ professionals who bring excellence, integrity, and commitment to every engagement. The responsibilities and qualifications listed here represent the expected scope of the role and may evolve to meet customer needs or organizational growth.

Offset Strategic Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to supporting our employees and reflecting the values of service, professionalism, and continuous improvement. We welcome qualified applicants who share our dedication to serving the warfighter and advancing national defense capabilities.

Qualifications

Behaviors

Required

Functional Expert

: Considered a thought leader on a subject

Team Player

: Works well as a member of a group

Detail Oriented

: Capable of carrying out a given task with all details necessary to get the task done well

Motivations

Required

Ability to Make an Impact

: Inspired to perform well by the ability to contribute to the success of a project or the organization

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.