RF and Datalink Engineer; Engineer - RF

RF and Datalink Engineer

Location: Hurlburt Field, FL

Requisition Number: 28784

Required Travel: 0 - 10%

Employment Type: Full Time/Salaried/Exempt

Anticipated Salary Range: $ - $

Security Clearance: Secret

Level of

Experience:

SeniorHI

RF and Datalink Engineer responsible for the design, deployment, maintenance, and troubleshooting of secure, resilient, and highly available communications networks in primarily garrison environments, with potential support in austere deployed environments. Duties include ensuring seamless data, voice, and video transmission across tactical platforms, integrating Line-of-sight (LOS), Beyond-Line-of-sight (BLOS), and satellite communication (SATCOM) systems to support mission‑critical command and control (C2) operations, and providing tier‑2/3 troubleshooting for network outages.

• Work closely with the government to support and develop the Special Warfare Technology Integration Support Cooperative (SW TISC) RF/DL initiatives in support of SOF operations globally.
• Lead a team of RF/DL engineers and serve as the government stakeholder interface to prioritize and manage Innovation, Assessment, & Evaluation (IA&E) activities.
• Design and implement tactical routing, switching, and transport solutions; configure OSPF, BGP, GRE, and IPsec protocols for tactical edge networks.
• Conduct development, engineering evaluation, and testing of new and emerging technologies to advance SOF missions.
• Integrate tactical radios (e.g., Harris, Thales) and SATCOM terminals (e.g., VSAT, BGAN) into enterprise network architectures; manage RF propagation, transmission planning, and frequency allocations.
• Collaborate with the Network team to support integration of RF/Datalink capabilities with unique networking components and design IP‑over‑RF solutions.
• Perform tier‑2/tier‑3 troubleshooting for network outages in high‑stress, time‑sensitive operational environments.
• Ensure interoperability across mission nodes (operations centers, airborne weapon systems, ground teams, etc.) via mission networks.
• Provide data links and networking engineering support for design, development, integration, testing, and deployment of air‑to‑air and air‑to‑ground communication systems, including J‑Series, K‑Series, and VMF messages per MIL‑STD‑6016 and 6017.
• Support integration of conventional, special operations, and other systems into tactical kits used in‑garrison and deployed.
• Coordinate with functional area leads to ensure full support and integration of unique components and government systems of record.
• Provide product, system, and service training fielded or supported by SW TISC.
• Assess RF and data link systems on aircraft and ground platforms to determine technical specifications, capabilities, and limitations.
• Identify gaps in data‑sharing capabilities and recommend solutions.
• Analyze spectrum allocation, availability, and potential conflicts in operational environments.
• Produce actionable reports outlining requirements to mitigate risks and improve communications.
• Review architectures, roadmaps, and government standards to identify current and future gaps.
• Manage projects and timelines, delivering high‑quality outputs under tight deadlines.
• Think critically to identify innovative solutions to complex problems.
• Coordinate among various engineering disciplines to present a unified product to project stakeholders.

• 9 years relevant experience with a Bachelor’s in a related field; 7 years relevant experience with a Master’s; 4 years with a PhD or JD; or high school diploma with 13 years relevant experience.
• Must be a U.S. citizen with a current DoD Secret security clearance and eligibility to be upgraded to TS/SCI.
• Deep understanding of RF, SATCOM, MUOS, IW, SHF, TSM, and other MANET waveforms; tactical data link systems (Link‑16, Link‑22, SINCGARS, SATCOM, etc.).
• Proficiency in RF fundamentals, including antenna gain modeling, frequency and wavelength interactions, link‑budget considerations, and decibel‑based power/ratio calculations.
• Familiarity with DoD communication system acquisition processes and standards (MIL‑STD‑6016, MIL‑STD‑188).
• Familiarity in IP networking and…