Requisition Number: 29312
Required Travel: 11 - 25%
Employment Type: Full Time/Salaried/Exempt
Anticipated Salary Range: $72,181.00 - $155,000.00
Security Clearance: Top Secret
Level of Experience: Mid HI
Who We AreHII - Mission Technologies is seeking a Communications (SATCOM) Engineer. The Satellite Communications Engineer provides advanced SATCOM engineering support to U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) by designing, analyzing, integrating, and sustaining satellite communications architectures that enable beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) connectivity for mission-critical operations. This position supports the full lifecycle of SATCOM systems used by forward-deployed units and SOCOM operations centers, ensuring reliable, secure, and resilient communications in demanding environments. The engineer applies DoD SATCOM standards, RF engineering principles, and cybersecurity requirements to maintain high-performance, accredited SATCOM capabilities aligned with SOCOM mission needs.
This requisition supports hiring multiple positions and experience levels. Final placement will be determined based on the selected applicant's qualifications, experience, and skill sets.
What You Will Do- Design, analyze, and sustain SATCOM architectures supporting BLOS connectivity for Rapid Reaction and SOCOM operational missions.
- Perform link budget analysis for X-band, Ku-band, commercial SATCOM, and military SATCOM systems (including DAMA) to ensure reliable data throughput.
- Integrate ground terminals, satellite payloads, modems, and user equipment to support real-time data flow into SOCOM operations centers.
- Troubleshoot RF performance issues such as signal degradation, interference, modem synchronization failures, and atmospheric loss conditions.
- Conduct laboratory and field testing of SATCOM terminals to validate performance prior to operational deployment.
- Develop technical documentation including Interface Control Documents (ICDs), link budget models, test plans, as-built drawings, and engineering reports.
- Evaluate emerging SATCOM technologies, including Low Earth Orbit (LEO) constellations, for application in contested or degraded environments.
- Collaborate with cybersecurity teams to implement TRANSEC/COMSEC protections for encrypted SATCOM links in accordance with NSA Type 1 requirements.
- Provide engineering recommendations to improve system reliability, coverage, throughput, and resilience under mission-critical conditions.
- Support upgrades, integration efforts, field deployments, and sustainment activities for SOCOM SATCOM systems.
What We Are Looking For- Level 2: 2 years relevant experience with Bachelors in related field; 0 years experience with Masters in related field; or High School Diploma or equivalent and 6 years relevant experience.
- Level 3: 5 years relevant experience with Bachelors in related field; 3 years relevant experience with Masters in related field; or High School Diploma or equivalent and 9 years relevant experience.
- Level 4: 9 years relevant experience with Bachelors in related field; 7 years relevant experience with Masters in related field; or High School Diploma or equivalent and 13 years relevant experience.
- Level 5: 15 years relevant experience with Bachelors in related field; 13 years relevant experience with Masters in related field; or High School Diploma or equivalent and 19 years relevant experience.
- Experience supporting SOCOM, DoD SATCOM programs, tactical communications, or other federal defense mission areas.
- Strong understanding of SATCOM engineering principles including link budgets, RF propagation, modulation schemes, and bandwidth management.
- Experience with X-band, Ku-band, commercial, and military SATCOM (DAMA, IW, TDMA, FDMA).
- Hands-on experience configuring and troubleshooting SATCOM modems, terminals, antennas, and RF equipment.
- Ability to conduct RF diagnostics and resolve performance issues related to interference, environmental effects, or hardware faults.
- Experience developing SATCOM technical documentation, including ICDs, link budget spreadsheets, test plans, and engineering diagrams.
- Knowledge of TRANSEC, COMSEC, and secure SATCOM architectures aligned with NSA and DoD requirements.
- Ability to assess emerging SATCOM technologies such as LEO/MEO systems and recommend improvements or integration strategies.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to present technical findings to government and contractor audiences. Ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary engineering teams, cybersecurity personnel, and SOCOM stakeholders.
- Clearance: Must possess and maintain a Top-Secret clearance.
Preferred: Bonus Points For...- Experience supporting special operations mission systems or forward-deployed communication architectures.
- Familiarity with DoD SATCOM systems such as WGS, CBSP, commercial GEO solutions, or tactical SATCOM terminals.
- Experience conducting field evaluations, site surveys, installation support, or SATCOM certification activities.
- Working knowledge of modeling tools used for link analysis or RF propagation modeling.
- Professional certifications such as Security+, Network+, CCNA, or satellite communications-specific credentials.
- Experience developing sustainment strategies or performing lifecycle engineering for SATCOM systems.
Physical RequirementsMay require working in an office, industrial, shipboard, or laboratory environment. Capable of climbing ladders and tolerating confined spaces and extreme temperature variances.
The listed salary range for this role is intended as a good faith estimate based on the role's location, expectations, and responsibilities. When extending an offer, HII's Mission Technologies division takes a variety of factors into consideration which include, but are not limited to, the role's function and a candidate's education or training, work experience, and key skills.
