Subsea Telecommunications Engineer

Subsea Telecommunications Engineer

At PNNL, our core capabilities are divided among major departments that we refer to as Directorates within the Lab, focused on a specific area of scientific research or other function, with its own leadership team and dedicated budget. Our Science & Technology directorates include National Security, Integrated Discovery Sciences, and Energy and Environment. In addition, we have an Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, a Department of Energy, Office of Science user facility housed on the PNNL campus.

The National Security Directorate (NSD) drives science-based, mission-focused solutions to take on complex, real-world threats to our nation and the world. The Emerging Threats and Technologies Division, part of the National Security Directorate, consists of over 400 scientists, engineers, and analysts with backgrounds in cyber, nuclear, intelligence, policy, data science, and other fields. We work in interdisciplinary project teams to provide innovative concepts that integrate policy, analytics, science, and technology into unique solutions.

PNNL is looking for a mid-career Subsea Telecommunications Engineer with specialized experience in critical telecommunications infrastructure, particularly DWDM optical transport systems, subsea cable networks, and related control systems. The ideal candidate will have hands-on experience with Ciena 6500 platforms, subsea cable systems, and operational technology (OT) environments unique to telecommunications infrastructure. A passion for securing critical infrastructure and being able to communicate both vulnerabilities and practical mitigations to various stakeholders is essential.

This position is expected to take on task leadership for infrastructure security assessments, help mentor junior engineers, and advise project leadership on novel directions for protecting critical communications assets.

Responsibilities:

• Designs, deploys, and operates security solutions for telecommunications systems, optical networks, subsea cable infrastructure, and associated management platforms.
• Provides integration of hardware, software, and security controls specific to DWDM, optical transport networks (OTN), and submarine cable terminal equipment.
• Engineers and deploys security and defensive countermeasures tailored to telecommunications operational technology environments.
• Ensures system security requirements are assessed, established, and included in design and development of telecommunications infrastructure; executes security requirements definition, systems analysis, systems design, security hardening, security test and evaluation, and certification and accreditation.
• Conducts vulnerability assessments, penetration testing, and security configuration reviews of optical transport equipment, submarine cable landing stations, and associated control systems.
• Designs architecture and implements new approaches, methods, and techniques for cyber defense and resiliency specific to telecommunications infrastructure and optical networking systems.
• Analyzes threats specific to undersea cable systems, optical networks, and telecommunications supply chains.
• Develops security monitoring and incident response capabilities for telecommunications OT environments.
• May interface with external entities including telecommunications providers, equipment vendors, law enforcement, intelligence and other government organizations and agencies.

Qualifications:

• BS/BA and 5+ years of relevant work experience
  -OR- MS/MA and 3+ years of relevant work experience
  -OR
  - PhD with 1+ year of relevant experience
• Direct experience with Ciena 6500 packet-optical platforms, SAOS/MCP operating systems, and associated management software.
• Experience with DWDM (Dense Wave Division Multiplexing) systems, optical transport networks (OTN), and related protocols.
• Familiarity with subsea cable systems, submarine line terminal equipment (SLTE), and cable landing station operations (Sub Com, ASN, or similar systems).
• Experience securing telecommunications operational technology (OT) environments and industrial control systems.
• Current Top Secret Clearance.

This position requires the ability…