Senior Communications Systems Engineer

The Marlin Alliance, Inc. is seeking a Senior Communications Systems Engineer to serve as a key technical resource on its Interoperability and Systems Team. The successful candidate will bring a strong foundation in DoD tactical communications, software‑defined radios (SDRs), and communications standards, combined with the technical adaptability and intellectual curiosity to engage with rapidly evolving technology areas relevant to the joint force.

This role requires a blend of deep technical expertise with forward‑looking strategic thinking, delivering high‑value technical products, expert advisory support, and hands‑on engineering contributions that enable the rapid and effective integration of communications capabilities across the joint war fighting ecosystem.

Location: San Diego, CA – Hybrid 3 days/week on site – Pt Loma

Clearance: Active DoD Secret clearance, with the ability to obtain Top Secret/SCI clearance

Travel: Up to 25% travel may be required

• Serve as a technical subject matter expert on tactical communications standards, waveforms, software‑defined radio (SDR) architectures, and systems integration, including cybersecurity and spectrum considerations, providing expert advisory support to DoD programs and stakeholders.
• Analyze complex system‑of‑systems interoperability challenges, focusing on interfaces, data exchange formats, and network integration patterns, and propose effective technical solutions.
• Represent our DoD client in technical working groups, industry consortia, and stakeholder engagements, providing expert input and ensuring alignment with joint interoperability objectives.
• Contribute to the development, review, and modernization of technical specifications, interface standards, and reference implementations, including the modernization of legacy interfaces and APIs using contemporary data serialization and middleware technologies.
• Develop technical analyses, architectural assessments, integration guides, and written recommendations to support government decision‑making across critical technology areas.
• Apply modern digital engineering practices and explore the use of emerging technologies to accelerate analysis, improve engineering processes, and model complex system‑of‑systems interactions.
• Facilitate technical alignment and collaboration among diverse government and industry stakeholders in a vendor‑neutral capacity.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior and mid‑level engineers, fostering knowledge exchange and professional development within the team.

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical discipline, or equivalent relevant experience in systems engineering, software engineering, or DoD mission systems environments.
• Eight (8) to ten (10) years of experience supporting DoD systems engineering efforts, including experience with or exposure to tactical communications, C4
  
  ISR systems, or related mission systems, with familiarity or experience e in one or more of the following: software‑defined radios (SDRs), military communications waveforms, communications standards, or systems engineering for C4
  
  ISR systems.
• Demonstrated experience in system‑of‑systems engineering and interoperability analysis, including interfaces, data exchange formats, and network integration patterns.
• Understanding of cybersecurity principles and their application to DoD systems and system integration.
• Demonstrated knowledge of open architecture frameworks for communications systems.
• Proven ability to analyze complex integration and interoperability challenges and develop effective technical recommendations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical concepts to diverse audiences ranging from engineers to senior leadership.
• Must be a U.S. citizen and possess an active DoD Secret security clearance.

• Master’s degree in a relevant technical discipline.
• Experience with Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) concepts and familiarity with relevant industry standards or consortia (e.g., SOSA, CMOSS, FACE).
• Exper…