Director, Undersea Acoustics

Boutique Recruiting; Chelmsford (MA); Hybrid; USD 175,000 - 215,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental and vision coverage

3 weeks vacation

401(k) matching

FSA plan

Hybrid schedule

Relocation assistance

Advancement to Executive Director

Job summary

The Ocean Systems Group is seeking a Director of Undersea Acoustics in Chelmsford, MA. You will lead advanced underwater sensing, develop signal processing algorithms, and manage a small team, interfacing with Navy customers and growing programs from initial proposals to multi‑million dollar efforts.

Hybrid work with relocation support offered for the right candidate; prior Navy relationships and proposal writing experience are essential.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8–10 years in undersea acoustics and signal processing.
• Established US Navy relationships and customer connections.
• Experience developing underwater acoustic signal processing algorithms for sonar, transducers, and arrays.
• Experience with Navy sonar or undersea acoustic systems, not consumer acoustics.
• Proven Navy/government proposal writing experience with strong writing skills.
• People management experience preferred.
• Background as an electrical engineer with software skills preferred.
• Experience with blind source separation and machine learning preferred.
• Experience with DSP hardware, data acquisition systems, software architecture, and embedded computing preferred.
• Ability to work onsite in Chelmsford area ~3 days/week, travel to Merrimack, NH.

Responsibilities

• Serve as technical lead for underwater sensing and sonar tech.
• Develop and document signal processing algorithms for undersea applications.
• Apply blind source separation and ML to data analysis.
• Oversee DSP hardware, data acquisition, software architecture, and embedded computing.
• Lead a team of 3–4 engineers in acoustics tech.
• Write proposals for government solicitations with technical content.
• Lead programs from prototyping to test as funding grows.
• Leverage Navy relationships to secure new underwater work.
• Grow the tech area by identifying new signal processing opportunities.

Education

Electrical engineering degree

Tools

DSP hardware

Data acquisition

Software architecture

Embedded systems

Job description

Position Title: Director, Undersea Acoustics

The Ocean Systems Group is the largest group in the company, and its Director of Undersea Acoustics will serve as the technical lead for advanced underwater acoustic sensing and sonar technology. The work blends hands‑on signal processing algorithm development with ownership of an entire technology area. It also includes leadership of programs that begin as proposals and grow, in some cases, from a couple hundred thousand dollars into multi‑million‑dollar efforts. The US Navy is the primary customer, and the Director's relationships and credibility with that community directly shape the work that comes in.

The company has built its groups through winning proposals, and several of its newer business areas started with a single writer and a strong idea. The undersea acoustics team numbers about four today and may grow to roughly eight as the Director expands into new signal processing areas and new arenas. Directors here define their own path, with an increasing focus on business development over time. The role is hybrid, based in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, with relocation support available for the right person.

Salary Range: $175,000 - $215,000 / Year DOE

Director, Undersea Acoustics Responsibilities

• Serve as technical lead for advanced underwater acoustic sensing and sonar technology within the Ocean Systems Group
• Develop and document signal processing algorithms for undersea applications, determining which approaches will and will not perform in the underwater environment
• Apply blind source separation and machine learning techniques to data acquisition and analysis across tactical acoustic data arrays
• Guide the full technical stack, including DSP hardware, data acquisition systems, software architecture, and embedded computing
• Lead and mentor a team of three to four engineers working on acoustic arrays and signal processing, delegating effectively and owning the undersea acoustics technology area
• Write proposals in response to government solicitations, presenting technical approaches, company capabilities, resumes, and supporting data
• Lead awarded programs through prototyping, fabrication, build, and test as they grow from initial funding into larger efforts
• Use established US Navy customer relationships to develop new work across underwater communications, underwater signal processing, and acoustics
• Expand the technology area by identifying new signal processing opportunities and growing the team as programs develop

Director, Undersea Acoustics Requirements

• 8 to 10 years of minimum experience in undersea acoustics and signal processing
• Established US Navy relationships and customer connections
• Experience developing underwater acoustic signal processing algorithms for sonar, transducers, and acoustic arrays
• Experience with Navy sonar, anti‑submarine warfare, or undersea acoustic systems, rather than consumer acoustics
• Proven proposal writing experience for Navy and government solicitations, with strong writing skills
• People management experience is preferred
• Background as an electrical engineer specializing in signal processing, with software skills is preferred
• Experience with blind source separation and machine learning is preferred
• Experience with DSP hardware, data acquisition systems, software architecture, and embedded computing is preferred
• Ability to work onsite in the local area approximately three days per week, with occasional travel to the Ocean Systems facility in Merrimack, NH

Benefits

• Medical coverage with three plan options, with the employer covering approximately 60% of the cost
• Dental and vision coverage
• Three weeks of vacation and a holiday package
• 401(k) plan with an employer match
• FSA plan with various reimbursement levels
• Hybrid schedule, with approximately three days onsite and flexibility negotiable for the right person
• Relocation assistance for the right candidate
• Advancement opportunity to the Executive Director level, along with the ability to grow the team as programs expand