Senior Communications Systems Engineer

themarlinalliance; San Diego (CA); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

The Marlin Alliance, Inc. seeks a Senior Communications Systems Engineer to drive DoD interoperability and systems work on the Interoperability and Systems Team in San Diego. You will apply expertise in tactical communications, SDRs, and standards to deliver high‑value technical products and advisory support.

The role blends hands‑on engineering with strategy, mentoring junior engineers and engaging with joint force programs while navigating security clearances and evolving technologies.

Qualifications

• Bachelors or equivalent in a technical discipline or DoD mission systems experience.
• 8–10 years in DoD systems engineering, with SDRs or related waveforms.
• Experience in system‑of‑systems interoperability analysis and interfaces.
• Understanding of cybersecurity in DoD system integration.
• Knowledge of open architecture frameworks for communications systems.
• Strong written and verbal communication; able to present to leadership.
• U.S. citizen with active DoD Secret clearance.

Responsibilities

• Serve as SME on tactical communications standards, SDRs, and integration.
• Analyze complex interoperability challenges and propose solutions.
• Represent the client in technical groups and industry consortia.
• Develop specifications, interfaces, and reference implementations.
• Produce technical analyses and integration guides for government decisions.
• Apply digital engineering practices and explore emerging tech.
• Foster collaboration among government and industry stakeholders.
• Mentor junior and mid‑level engineers.

Skills

Communication skills

US citizenship

Ability to rapidly learn new domains

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Computer/Syste ms Engineering or related field

Master’s degree (preferred)

Tools

Software‑defined radios (SDRs)

C4ISR systems

MOSA, SOSA, CMOSS, FACE standards

MBSE, containers, data serialization

Job description

Senior Communications Systems Engineer

The Marlin Alliance, Inc. is seeking a Senior Communications Systems Engineer to serve as a key technical resource on its Interoperability and Systems Team. The successful candidate will bring a strong foundation in DoD tactical communications, software-defined radios (SDRs), and communications standards, combined with the technical adaptability and intellectual curiosity to engage with rapidly evolving technology areas relevant to the joint force. This role requires a blend of deep technical expertise with forward‑looking strategic thinking, delivering high-value technical products, expert advisory support, and hands‑on engineering contributions that enable the rapid and effective integration of communications capabilities across the joint warfighting ecosystem.

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 – Pt Loma
Clearance: Active DoD Secret clearance, with the ability to obtain Top Secret/SCI clearance
Travel: Up to 25% travel may be required

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a technical subject matter expert on tactical communications standards, waveforms, software‑defined radio (SDR) architectures, and systems integration, including cybersecurity and spectrum considerations, providing expert advisory support to DoD programs and stakeholders.
• Analyze complex system‑of‑systems interoperability challenges, focusing on interfaces, data exchange formats, and network integration patterns, and propose effective technical solutions.
• Represent our DoD client in technical working groups, industry consortia, and stakeholder engagements, providing expert input and ensuring alignment with joint interoperability objectives.
• Contribute to the development, review, and modernization of technical specifications, interface standards, and reference implementations, including the modernization of legacy interfaces and APIs using contemporary data serialization and middleware technologies.
• Develop technical analyses, architectural assessments, integration guides, and written recommendations to support government decision‑making across critical technology areas.
• Apply modern digital engineering practices and explore the use of emerging technologies to accelerate analysis, improve engineering processes, and model complex system‑of‑systems interactions.
• Facilitate technical alignment and collaboration among diverse government and industry stakeholders in a vendor‑neutral capacity.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to junior and mid‑level engineers, fostering knowledge exchange and professional development within the team.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical discipline, or equivalent relevant experience in systems engineering, software engineering, or DoD mission systems environments..
• Eight (8) to ten (10) years of experience supporting DoD systems engineering efforts, including experience with or exposure to tactical communications, C4ISR systems, or related mission systems, with familiarity or experience e in one or more of the following: software‑defined radios (SDRs), military communications waveforms, communications standards, or systems engineering for C4ISR systems.
• Demonstrated experience in system‑of‑systems engineering and interoperability analysis, including interfaces, data exchange formats, and network integration patterns.
• Understanding of cybersecurity principles and their application to DoD systems and system integration.
• Demonstrated knowledge of open architecture frameworks for communications systems.
• Proven ability to analyze complex integration and interoperability challenges and develop effective technical recommendations.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex technical concepts to diverse audiences ranging from engineers to senior leadership.
• Must be a U.S. citizen and possess an active DoD Secret security clearance.

Desired Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a relevant technical discipline.
• Experience with Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) concepts and familiarity with relevant industry standards or consortia (e.g., SOSA, CMOSS, FACE).
• Experience or familiarity with modern digital engineering practices, such as model‑based system engineering (MBSE), containerization, or modern data serialization formats.
• Familiarity with emerging technology domains relevant to the joint force, such as Combined Joint All‑Domain Command and Control (CJADC2), artificial intelligence / machine learning (AI/ML), tactical data links, or communications for autonomous systems.
• Experience participating in or contributing to technical working groups, standards bodies, or cross‑organizational engineering collaboration efforts.
• Understanding of cybersecurity principles and their application to tactical communications systems.
• Demonstrated ability to rapidly acquire new domain expertise and apply it to evolving mission challenges.
• INCOSE Certified Systems Engineering Profession (CSEP) or equivalent certification.
• Current 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
$130,000 - $200,000

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