Senior Datalinks Engineer

Senior Datalinks Engineer

Full Time onsite

Position Overview

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

The position is full-time and primarily on-site, with limited telework eligibility.

Primary Role

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

The individual will provide technical oversight and subject matter 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
• Datalink standards
• Software and firmware
• Waveforms
• Frequency management
• EMI/EMV 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)
• Transmission Security (TRANSEC)

The ideal candidate will combine significant RF/datalink technical expertise with strong systems engineering judgment, strategic thinking, acquisition awareness, 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, other government agencies, military organizations, development organizations, and other stakeholders.
• Coordinate, as applicable, with organizations such as AvMC, C5ISR, NSA, NATO, OSW, C2N, and other relevant technical organizations.
• 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 the PM UAS Product Offices, including:

• Small UAS (SUAS)
• Tactical UAS (TUAS)
• UAS Launched Effects / related product portfolios
• Long Endurance / applicable UAS portfolios
• Emerging UAS / applicable 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
• Technical risk assessments
• Acquisition planning
• Government-furnished equipment and information coordination
• Contractor technical oversight
• Sustainment engineering
• 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.
• Rapidly investigate emerging technical issues 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 associated technologies.
• Assess relevant threat environments and evaluate potential impacts to UAS RF and communications systems.
• Evaluate datalink resiliency, interoperability, spectrum, encryption, COMSEC, TRANSEC, EMI/EMV, and EW considerations.
• Support technical assessments of 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.
• Make recommendations concerning technical direction, architectures, standards, policies, and investments to improve UAS mission effectiveness and survivability.
• Represent PM UAS in external forums and effectively communicate both technical and programmatic considerations.
• Coordinate with peer organizations for government-furnished equipment, government-furnished information, development, production, integration, and sustainment activities.
• Plan, coordinate, and execute changes required to address critical system upgrades, modernization efforts, obsolescence issues, and field problems.
• Develop, author, and review Performance Work Statements, Statements of Work, technical requirements, evaluation criteria, and other acquisition documentation associated with datalink development and modification efforts.
• Evaluate competing technical approaches and provide recommendations regarding the most appropriate solution based on performance, integration risk, schedule, cost, sustainment, and mission requirements.
• Communicate directly and effectively with government personnel, contractors, engineers, logisticians, program managers, acquisition professionals, business personnel, and senior leadership.
• Work through conflicting technical opinions and organizational priorities to develop executable technical paths forward.
• 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.
• Demonstrated 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.
• Ability to communicate effectively with both deeply technical personnel and non-technical/programmatic 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%.
• U.S. citizenship.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret security clearance.

Highly Desired Qualifications

• More than five (5) years of directly relevant professional experience; significantly greater experience is preferred for this senior-level role.
• Previous Product Management Office, Program Management Office, or equivalent acquisition organization experience.
• 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 a TS/SCI clearance.
• 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-related coordination.
• Experience supporting EMI/EMV 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 documentation.
• 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 cross-organizational engineering forums.

Desired Professional Attributes

This position requires more than a narrow technical specialist. The desired candidate should be a technically credible, adaptable senior engineer who can operate effectively across a broad range of challenges.

The individual should demonstrate:

• Technical depth: Strong understanding of RF, datalinks, communications, encryption, standards, COMSEC, TRANSEC, and related technologies.
• Technical curiosity: Willingness and ability to investigate unfamiliar technical areas, identify unknowns, ask the right questions, and rapidly 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 move beyond individual technical issues and develop an enterprise-level strategy and roadmap.
• Sound technical judgment: Ability to distinguish critical technical issues from lower-value areas of investigation and avoid unnecessary technical "rabbit holes."

Autonomy: Ability to independently engage stakeholders, work through problems

Why join Thompson Gray?

Thompson Gray is a multi-year winner of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber Best Places to Work, recognized for our exceptional company culture that values employees and customers alike.

Here's what makes Thompson Gray special:

Competitive pay based on your qualifications Excellent benefits, including:

Health, Dental, Vision, Life, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability insurance 401(k) plan with employer match

Additional perks:

TG Swag – receive company-branded items during onboarding and seasonal shipments to your home Dependent Scholarship Program – supporting the education of employees' children

Tuition Assistance for furthering your own education Professional Development opportunities

Generous time-off policies, including 18 days of paid time off, 10 Federal Holidays, and flexible scheduling Annual donation to the charity of your choice

Regular team-building events, such as lunches, after-hours gatherings, seasonal family-friendly events, and our memorable annual holiday party

 

Join Thompson Gray and become part of a dynamic team committed to excellence, innovation, and community.

Thompson Gray is an Equal Opportunity Employer and VEVRAA Federal Contractor. This contractor and subcontractor shall abide by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-1.4(a), 60-300.5(a) and 60-741.5(a). These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or national origin. Moreover, these regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation national origin, or protected veteran status. Thompson Gray, Inc. welcomes minority and veteran applicants.