Tactical Data Link (TDL) Subject Matter Expert

International Business Machines Corporation; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

IBM Consulting in Ottawa is seeking an experienced Tactical Data Link (TDL) Subject Matter Expert to support design, development, and integration of mission-critical defence communications systems. You will provide technical leadership across the full lifecycle and work with engineers and leadership to ensure evolvable, verifiable solutions, while mentoring team members.

This role requires a Government security clearance, eligibility for Secret, NATO and Controlled Goods clearances, and onsite

Qualifications

• Experience with Tactical Data Link environments and related standards.
• Ability to lead technical efforts across full system lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Act as the primary TDL SME for development, support, and modernization programs.
• Provide technical guidance on Link‑16, Link‑22, JREAP and related standards.
• Interpret NATO STANAGs and interoperability requirements in system designs.
• Lead requirements analysis, decomposition, traceability and verification activities.
• Mentor developers and team members to foster architectural understanding.

Skills

TDL expertise

Technical leadership

Security clearance

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Job description

IntroductionA career in IBM Consulting is built on long‑term client relationships and close collaboration worldwide. You'll work with leading companies across industries, helping them shape their hybrid cloud and AI journeys. With support from our strategic partners, robust IBM technology, and Red Hat, you'll have the tools to drive meaningful change and accelerate client impact. At IBM Consulting, curiosity fuels success. You'll be encouraged to challenge the norm, explore new ideas, and create innovative solutions that deliver real results. Our culture of growth and empathy focuses on your long‑term career development while valuing your unique skills and experiences.

IntroductionA career in IBM Consulting is built on long‑term client relationships and close collaboration worldwide. You'll work with leading companies across industries, helping them shape their hybrid cloud and AI journeys. With support from our strategic partners, robust IBM technology, and Red Hat, you'll have the tools to drive meaningful change and accelerate client impact. At IBM Consulting, curiosity fuels success. You'll be encouraged to challenge the norm, explore new ideas, and create innovative solutions that deliver real results. Our culture of growth and empathy focuses on your long‑term career development while valuing your unique skills and experiences.

Your Role And Responsibilities

We are seeking an experienced Tactical Data Link (TDL) Subject Matter Expert to support the design, development, integration, testing, and evolution of mission‑critical defence communication systems. The successful candidate will provide technical leadership across the full system lifecycle, with particular focus on Link‑16, Link‑22, JREAP, interoperability standards, and tactical command and control systems. You will work closely with systems engineers, software engineers, and technical leadership to ensure applications remain understandable, evolvable, and verifiable, while acting as a mentor and collaborator with developers and team members at various levels.

Preferred Education

Bachelor's Degree

Required Technical And Professional Expertise

Pre Requests

Pre Requirements

Government of Canada Security Clearance is a requirement for this role. You must be eligible to obtain Secret, NATO and Controlled Goods Clearances

• Must be either a Canadian Citizen or Canadian Permanent Resident
• Must have resided in Canada for a minimum of 10 consecutive years, without leaving Canada (for any reason) for more than 30 days at a time OR traveling abroad to any non‑NATO countries for any period
• Must have a clean criminal and credit history

This role involves examination, possession or transfer of controlled goods and technology as defined under the Canadian Controlled Goods Program and ITAR data/technology. To be eligible for employment in this role, you must be a Canadian citizen or Canadian Permanent Resident. Canadian citizens and permanent residents must be security assessed under the Canadian controlled goods program. If you hold dual or third nationality, in addition to being either a Canadian citizen or Canadian Permanent Resident the nationality must be from one of the following countries in order to be eligible for employment in this role: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom, United States of America. All applicants will also be required to undergo an additional security assessment conducted by an IBM designated Controlled Goods Program official as a condition of employment.

This role is onsite in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada only.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the primary Tactical Data Link (TDL) Subject Matter Expert for development, support, and modernization programs.
• Act as a trusted advisor to project leadership and customers.
• Provide technical guidance on Link‑16, Link‑22, JREAP, and related tactical communications.
• Interpret and apply NATO STANAGs, interoperability requirements, and military communications standards.
• Support operational analysis, capability assessments, and customer technical discussions.
• Develop and review system architectures, interface designs, data flows, and integration strategies.
• Translate operational requirements into technical solutions and software requirements.
• Evaluate impacts of new capabilities, standards updates, and platform integrations.
• Support architecture governance and technical decision‑making throughout the project lifecycle.
• Lead requirements analysis, decomposition, traceability, and verification activities.
• Provide leadership to mentor and guide developers and team members across varying experience levels to foster technical growth and architectural understanding.
• Ensure designs meet security standards and comply with regulatory and standards requirements relevant to high‑assurance environments (e.g., NIST guidelines)
• Assess technical investigations, cost‑benefit trade‑offs, and impact analysis for architectural changes to ensure informed decision‑making.
• Assist in business development, solution costing, and technical bid responses.

Required Qualifications

• Military or defence sector experience.
• Experience with Tactical Data Link environments.
• Experience with technical leadership.

Preferred Technical And Professional Experience

• Degree in Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent experience.
• Experience supporting system integration, verification, validation, and acceptance testing.
• Experience guiding teams through refactoring and architectural recovery.
• Interest in architectural modelling, system behaviour, and correctness.
• Experience in model‑based system engineering