Principal Underwater Acoustics Engineer

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The Maritime and Acoustics Department in MITRE’s Signals and Electronics Division is a cross-domain team of engineers and scientists working at the intersection of underwater acoustics, HF propagation, sonar analysis, acoustic communications, and prototype sensing systems. We work on some of the most technically demanding problems in undersea and maritime defense, designing and testing prototype systems, developing propagation models and sensing algorithms, and advancing acoustic communications for contested environments, all in direct support of government sponsors with real-world mission impact.

Our work spans physics-based modeling and algorithm development, hands-on hardware prototyping and evaluation in the Blue Tech Lab, and field testing of systems in operational environments.

Job Description:

We are seeking a Principal Underwater Acoustics Engineer to provide technical leadership and advance maritime capabilities that address critical government mission needs in support of national maritime public sector and defense priorities. You will independently lead multidisciplinary technical efforts spanning algorithm development, modeling and simulation, data analysis, rapid prototyping, system integration, laboratory evaluation, and field testing. You will apply deep technical expertise and engineering judgment to define challenging undersea and maritime problems, assess engineering tradeoffs, and translate this work into capabilities and recommendations that help government sponsors advance the development, evaluation, and deployment of maritime systems.

The ideal candidate brings a strong foundation in applied mathematics, physics, and engineering, along with demonstrated technical leadership in established areas of expertise and the ability to lead and contribute to projects beyond those areas. Relevant experience may include acoustic sensing, acoustic communications, sonar and radar signal processing, uncrewed underwater vehicles, maritime autonomy, oceanography, or related technical areas. You will also contribute to workforce development, program development, and the department’s technical vision and roadmap.

Roles & Responsibilities :

Independently lead multidisciplinary teams addressing complex undersea and maritime problems, using advanced analytical methods and engineering judgment to identify innovative technical approaches.

Lead the design, development, and evaluation of signal processing algorithms for underwater sensing and acoustic communication systems.

Direct and conduct physics-based and empirical modeling of acoustic propagation and undersea sensor system performance.

Lead the development and integration of sensor, communication, and embedded-system prototypes, advancing hardware and software from concept through laboratory and field evaluation.

Lead the planning and execution of field testing and Blue Tech Lab evaluations, translating…