Communications Systems Engineer

VTG; Chantilly (VA); On-site; USD 165,000 - 195,000; Full time

Job summary

VTG in Chantilly, VA seeks a Communications Systems Engineer to support optical and quantum communications for IC/DoW customers. You will assist with analysis, design, and operations for next‑gen national security systems across Defense, Intelligence, and Space communities.

The role requires SE/SET A involvement, system-level documentation, and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams to advance mission-critical hardware and software solutions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with substantial experience required; advanced degrees add years of experience.
• Experience with USG program management and acquisition lifecycle processes.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and technical writing communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools.

Responsibilities

• Perform technical reviews, assessments, and risk evaluations of optical and quantum communication systems.
• Evaluate designs including optical terminals, free-space optical links, photonic components, and quantum architectures.
• Assess gaps in high-bandwidth space links, modulation formats, pointing/tracking systems, and secure transport.
• Support roadmaps, requirements, specifications, verification, and transition strategies for modernization.
• Conduct outreach with mission users to capture needs and assess capabilities.
• Prepare system engineering documents, analyses, and program-level briefings.
• Support programmatic activities including source selections and lifecycle planning.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Verbal communication

Technical writing

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering/physics

Master's degree in engineering/physics

PhD or JD

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Overview

VTG is seeking an Communications Systems Engineer, located in Chantilly, Va.

What will you do?

VTG is seeking a Communications Systems Engineerwith strong optical and quantum communications engineering experience to support specialized analysis, engineering, design, and operations for Intelligence Community (IC) and Department of War (DoW) customers. We support development of next‑generation and far‑future national security systems across Defense, Intelligence, and Space Communities.

We are hiring a Communications Systems Engineer to provide systems engineering and technical advisory (SETA) support to an IC Research & Development (R&D) customer developing advanced hardware, software, and architectural solutions for mission‑critical optical and quantum communication systems.

Responsibilities

• Perform technical reviews, assessments, and risk evaluations of optical and quantum communication system development efforts at the component, subsystem, system, and architecture levels.
• Evaluate designs and technologies including optical terminals, free‑space optical links, photonic components, entanglement‑based communication architectures, and quantum‑enhanced optical subsystems.
• Assess emerging technologies and identify gaps related to high‑bandwidth space links, advanced modulation formats, pointing/tracking systems, link budgets, networking performance, and secure quantum‑enabled transport architectures.
• Support development of technology roadmaps, requirements, specifications, verification approaches, and transition strategies for optical and quantum system modernization.
• Conduct technical outreach with mission users to capture needs and evaluate applicability of emerging optical and quantum capabilities.
• Prepare system engineering documentation, technical analyses, and program‑level briefings to communicate findings and strategic recommendations.
• Provide support to programmatic and acquisition activities, including source selections, lifecycle documentation, and system integration planning.

Do you have what it takes?

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physics, or related discipline and nine (9) years or more experience; Masters and seven (7) years or more experience ; PhD or JD and four (4) years or more experience
• Experience with USG program management and acquisition lifecycle processes and documentation.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and technical writing communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools.

Desired Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in engineering, physics, or related discipline.
• 12+ years of relevant experience, including at least 4 years in optical or quantum communication systems.
• 1+ year of experience supporting USG R&D acquisition processes and documentation.
• Experience with space‑based optical terminals, quantum optical payloads, photonic systems, or advanced quantum‑enhanced communication architectures

Pay Range: VTG’s estimated starting pay range is $165,000 - $195,000 annually, which is a general guideline for the geographic location. When extending an offer, VTG also considers work experience, education, skill level, market considerations and may possibly include contractual requirements which may cause an offer to fall outside of this range.