Principal Communications Engineer

The MITRE Corporation

$173K — $259K *
Aerospace & Defense
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 10+ years of experience in a related field, or 8 years with a Master's, or a PhD with 5 years, or a combination of education and experience.
  • Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, or Applied Math.
  • Expertise in wireless communications and transport technologies like SATCOM and 5G.
  • Proficient in transport layers including spectrum allocation and C2 data formats.
  • Ability to communicate technical concepts to diverse audiences.
  • Proven record of innovation and technical leadership.
  • Active DoD Secret clearance; ability to obtain Top Secret/SCI clearance.
  • U.S. Citizenship required.

Responsibilities

  • Coordinate with government and industry for the effective development of C2 and communications technologies.
  • Analyze Army units' operational needs and recommend swift solutions.
  • Engage with customers to identify needs and manage risks effectively.
  • Ensure timely delivery of high-quality technical products.
  • Lead engineering teams of 5-10 personnel through projects.
  • Report on project statuses, opportunities, and management challenges.
  • Manage project budgets while achieving customer satisfaction.
  • Conduct rapid assessments and prototype development for new technologies.

Benefits

  • Hybrid work environment with a minimum of 50% on-site presence.
  • Opportunity to work on critical defense and communications projects.
  • Collaborative and engaging work with military and industry partners.
  • Access to cutting-edge technologies and innovative solutions.
  • Professional development opportunities in a fast-paced, innovative environment.
Full Job Description
The MITRE Army Resilient C2 and Communications Department drives the development of innovative capabilities addressing U.S. Army sponsors' most challenging problems. The Department identifies and pursues innovative solutions through rapidly analyzing, experimenting, prototyping, applying state-of-the-art mission engineering, coupled with deep technical expertise and exquisite operational understanding. The department works across the Army and with industry to mature critical tactical and enterprise C2, network, communications, and cyber capabilities with a focus on accelerating fielded capabilities. A key part of the department's work program is enabling the successful development, experimentation, integration, and fielding of the Army's Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2).

The Resilient C2 and Communications department manages and oversees the activities of a wide range of sponsor projects. These projects are focused on providing capabilities through close collaboration with warfighters, prototyping to demonstrate concepts and refine requirements, exploring commercial and other existing government solutions that can be leveraged, integration of capabilities (e.g., sensors, EW, autonomy, C-UAS), and assisting the Army with applying agile acquisition approaches.

Roles & Responsibilities:
  • Work with government and industry to ensure successful development, testing, and fielding of innovative C2 and Communications solutions with a focus on transport technologies - (e.g., SATCOM, cellular, tactical waveforms, software defined networking, and networking)
  • Interface with Army units to understand operational needs. Rapidly identify, analyze, and recommend potential solutions.
  • Strong customer interaction and communication skills including: identifying emerging customer needs, identifying areas for acceleration or efficiency gains, proactively identifying and managing risks, and regularly communicating status to government leads
  • Accountable for rapid and timely delivery of high-quality technical products to customers
  • Build and lead 5-10 person engineering teams
  • Report status, opportunities, and challenges to internal management
  • Manage task budget while meeting customer outcomes
  • Role spans engaging with end users, rapid assessments of industry and existing government solutions, prototype development to demonstrate concepts, system-of-system integration, lab and field experimentation


Basic Qualifications:
  • Typically requires a minimum of 10 years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree; or 8years and a Master's degree; or a PhD with 5years' experience; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience.
  • Bachelor's degree in relevant field including: Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Applied Math
  • Wireless communications expertise
  • Deep expertise with one or more transport technologies - e.g., SATCOM (commercial and/or military), cellular (5G), mobile ad hoc networks (MANET), tactical waveforms, routers, software defined networking
  • Expertise in one or more transport layers (physical layer through networking layer) and relevant areas such as spectrum allocation or C2 data formats
  • Ability to clearly communicate to both internal and external audiences
  • Demonstrated track record of innovation, technical leadership, and strong technical stature
  • DoW Secret clearance with the ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI
  • U.S. Citizenship required
  • This position requires a minimum of 50% hybrid on-site presence.


Preferred Qualifications:
  • Experience with system-of-system design and integration - ability to understand technology options, analyze and recommend best options and approaches based on custom operational needs and constraints (e.g., size, weight, power, cost)
  • Experience with spectrum, RF signature management, and related technologies (e.g., MIMO, spread spectrum)
  • Experience leading large-scale modeling, simulation/emulation, lab, and field evaluations and distilling the results into clear insights and next steps
  • Demonstrated ability to lead a development and prototyping team
  • Track record of exceptional performance in fast paced environments
  • Successful track record of relationship development with customers
  • Software and AI integration experience
  • Experience with Army and Joint DoW platforms (e.g., vehicles), radios, data sources, data standards, C2 software, and capability integration
  • Master's degree in relevant field


This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):
Secret

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):
Top Secret/SCI

Salary compensation range and midpoint:
$173,200 - $216,500 - $259,800 Annual

Work Location Type:
Hybrid

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