Communications Standards Engineer

themarlinalliance; San Diego (CA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The Marlin Alliance, Inc. is seeking a Communications Standards Engineer to join our San Diego team. This role blends DoD tactical communications expertise with modern software and systems engineering practices in a hybrid environment.

You will analyze interoperability, contribute to standards modernization, and work with industry groups to shape technical solutions. Active DoD Secret clearance and US citizenship required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical/Computer/Systems Engineering or CS.
• 4–7 years in DoD communications, software or systems engineering with SDRs, military waveforms, standards, or C4ISR.
• Familiarity with open architecture frameworks for communications systems.
• Ability to analyze integration challenges and contribute to solutions.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Must be a U.S. citizen with active DoD Secret clearance.

Responsibilities

• Support analysis of tactical communications standards, waveforms, SDR architectures, and systems integration.
• Analyze interoperability, interfaces, data formats, and network integration; propose technical solutions.
• Participate in technical working groups and industry consortia with senior team members.
• Develop and modernize technical specs, interface standards, and reference implementations; apply modern data serialization and middleware to update legacy interfaces and APIs.
• Produce analyses, architectural assessments, and integration guides to support government decisions.
• Use AI/ML, scripting, MBSE, and modern software practices to accelerate analysis and team processes.
• Collaborate with government and industry stakeholders in a vendor-neutral role.

Skills

SDRs

Waveforms

C4ISR

Open architecture

Python

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, Computer Science

Tools

MBSE

Containerization

CI/CD pipelines

Protobuf

JSON

Job description

The Marlin Alliance, Inc. is seeking a Communications Standards Engineer to work in San Diego, CA. The successful candidate will bring a solid technical foundation in communications systems, software engineering, or systems engineering, combined with hands-on proficiency in modern tools and technologies. This role is ideal for an engineer who thrives at the intersection of established DoD tactical communications practices and emerging technology areas, and who is eager to grow domain expertise while contributing meaningfully to complex interoperability and integration challenges across the joint force.

Incorporated in 2002, The Marlin Alliance is a digital transformation company dedicated to ensuring our clients compete and win in tomorrow's digital world. We specialize in creating technical solutions that allow for seamless execution of automated business processes and the generation of governed, machine-consumable data. From strategic planning to advanced analytics and cybersecurity, our team provides cutting-edge, cross-disciplinary solutions. We are seeking motivated professionals who share our agile, solution-oriented mindset and are ready to deliver the real, practical results relied upon by our clients.

Location: San Diego, CA - Hybrid 3 day's/week on-site - NAVWAR
Clearance: Active DoD Secret clearance, with the ability to obtain Top Secret/SCI clearance
Travel: Up to 25% travel may be required

Responsibilities:

Support technical analysis and engineering efforts related to tactical communications standards, waveforms, software-defined radio (SDR) architectures, and systems integration.

Assist in analyzing system-of-systems interoperability challenges, focusing on interfaces, data exchange formats, and network integration patterns, and contribute to the development of technical solutions and recommendations.

Participate in technical working groups, industry consortia, and stakeholder engagements alongside senior team members.

Support the development, review, and modernization of technical specifications, interface standards, and reference implementations, including applying modern data serialization and middleware technologies to update legacy interfaces and APIs.

Contribute to technical analyses, architectural assessments, integration guides, and written recommendations that support government decision‑making.

Apply modern tools and technologies, including AI/ML, scripting and automation, model‑based systems engineering (MBSE), and contemporary software development practices, to accelerate engineering analysis and improve team processes.

Support technical collaboration among diverse government and industry stakeholders in a vendor‑neutral capacity.

Required Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical discipline.

Four (4) to seven (7) years of experience in DoD communications, software engineering, or systems engineering, with exposure to one or more of the following: software‑defined radios (SDRs), military communications waveforms, communications standards, or C4ISR systems.

Familiarity with open architecture frameworks for communications systems.

Ability to analyze technical integration challenges and contribute to effective solutions in a team environment.

Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey technical concepts to diverse audiences.

Must be a U.S. citizen and possess an active DoD Secret security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications:

Master's degree in a relevant technical discipline.

Hands‑on experience applying modern tools and technologies to engineering workflows, such as AI/ML for analysis or automation, scripting languages (e.g., Python), model‑based systems engineering (MBSE), containerization, CI/CD pipelines, or modern data serialization formats (e.g., Protobuf, JSON, XML).

Experience with or knowledge of Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) concepts and relevant industry standards or consortia (e.g., SOSA, CMOSS, FACE).

Familiarity with emerging technology domains relevant to the joint force, such as Joint All‑Domain Command and Control (JADC2), artificial intelligence / machine learning (AI/ML), tactical data links, or communications for autonomous systems.

Awareness of cybersecurity considerations for tactical communications systems.

Experience participating in technical working groups or collaborative engineering efforts.

INCOSE Associate Systems Engineering Professional (ASEP) or equivalent certification.

Ability to obtain a Top Secret/SCI clearance.

Work Environment and Mental/Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.

• Typical office environment with no unusual hazards.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• Constant sitting while using the computer terminal.
• Constant use of sight abilities while reviewing documents.
• Constant use of speech/hearing abilities for communication.
• Occasional reaching, stooping, kneeling, or crouching may be required.
• Occasional lifting up to 20 pounds.
• Constant use of mental alertness.
• Frequent work under deadlines.

Job Classification:

Associate II
$110,000 - $150,000

Disclaimer:

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job‑related instructions and to perform any other job‑related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments. All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

To perform this job successfully, the incumbents will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities.

This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at-will" relationship.

An Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities.