Senior Datalinks Engineer

PPT Solutions, Inc; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

401(k)

Paid holidays

Paid time off

Life w/AD&D

Disability insurance

Employee assistance program

Tuition assistance

Job summary

PPT Solutions, Inc. seeks a Senior Datalinks Engineer to support the PM UAS Technical Management Division (TMD) and serve as the primary division-level technical expert for UAS datalinks.

You will work with the Chief Engineer, PM UAS Product Offices, and the Component Technology Branch on mission-aligned initiatives. You will lead technical assessments, coordinate with stakeholders, and contribute to system upgrades, qualification, and field sustainment, ensuring mission effectiveness and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, physics, mathematics, or another relevant technical discipline.
• Demonstrated experience supporting complex technical systems, engineering programs, or acquisition programs.
• Strong understanding of RF, communications, datalink, or related mission‑system technologies.
• Ability to independently investigate complex technical issues and develop technically sound recommendations.
• Ability to develop and present technical reports, briefings, assessments, and recommendations to management and senior leadership.
• Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with both deeply technical personnel and non‑technical/programmatic stakeholders.
• Proficiency with Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and Outlook.
• Ability to travel up to 25% and citizenship requirement; DoD clearance eligibility.

Responsibilities

• Develop and coordinate a comprehensive UAS datalink strategy aligned with PM UAS objectives.
• Serve as principal datalink technical advisor to leadership and stakeholders.
• Provide technical oversight for datalink system development, integration, qualification, production, fielding, and sustainment.
• Evaluate RF equipment, antennas, modems, waveforms, and related technologies.
• Assess threat environments and impacts on RF and communications systems.
• Lead technical working groups and interface control activities.
• Coordinate with government labs, contractors, and other PM UAS offices.
• Develop and review performance work statements, technical requirements, and evaluation criteria.
• Represent PM UAS in external forums and communicate technical and programmatic considerations.
• Plan and execute changes addressing upgrades, obsolescence, and field issues.

Skills

RF/datalink technologies

Technical issue investigation

Technical reporting & briefings

Verbal & written communication

Cross-stakeholder communication

Travel availability

U.S. citizenship

DoD security clearance (Secret)

Acquisition/program management basics

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, physics, or mathematics

Tools

PowerPoint

Excel

Word

Outlook

Job description

PPT Solutions is seeking a highly capable Senior Datalinks Engineer to support the PM UAS Technical Management Division (TMD) and serve as the primary Division-level technical expert for UAS datalinks.

This individual will work in direct support of the Chief Engineer, the PM UAS Product Offices, the Component Technology Branch, and special projects aligned with the PM UAS mission.

Responsibilities

• Develop and coordinate a comprehensive UAS datalink strategy consistent with PM UAS objectives, missions, architectures, and future capabilities.
• Serve as the principal datalink technical advisor to the Chief Engineer, TMD leadership, Product Offices, and other PM UAS stakeholders.
• Provide technical oversight for datalink system development, integration, qualification, production, fielding, modernization, and sustainment.
• Evaluate systems, subsystems, and components involving RF equipment, antennas, modems, radomes, communications protocols, interfaces, software, waveforms, and associated technologies.
• Assess relevant threat environments and evaluate potential impacts to UAS RF and communications systems.
• Evaluate datalink resiliency, interoperability, spectrum, encryption, COMSEC, TRANSEC, EMI/EMV, and EW considerations.
• Support technical assessments of current and emerging datalink capabilities, technologies, standards, and architectures.
• Maintain awareness of relevant government, military service, laboratory, industry, and coalition datalink initiatives.
• Lead and participate in technical working groups, interface control working groups, engineering reviews, and acquisition forums.
• Coordinate with government laboratories, development organizations, contractors, other Product Offices, and external stakeholders.
• Make recommendations concerning technical direction, architectures, standards, policies, and investments to improve UAS mission effectiveness and survivability.
• Represent PM UAS in external forums and effectively communicate both technical and programmatic considerations.
• Coordinate with peer organizations for government‑furnished equipment, government‑furnished information, development, production, integration, and sustainment activities.
• Plan, coordinate, and execute changes required to address critical system upgrades, modernization efforts, obsolescence issues, and field problems.
• Develop, author, and review Performance Work Statements, Statements of Work, technical requirements, evaluation criteria, and other acquisition documentation associated with datalink development and modification efforts.
• Evaluate competing technical approaches and provide recommendations regarding the most appropriate solution based on performance, integration risk, schedule, cost, sustainment, and mission requirements.
• Communicate directly and effectively with government personnel, contractors, engineers, logisticians, program managers, acquisition professionals, business personnel, and senior leadership.
• Work through conflicting technical opinions and organizational priorities to develop executable technical paths forward.
• Perform additional technical and systems engineering activities as assigned by the Team Lead, Branch Chief, Division Lead, or Chief Engineer.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, physics, mathematics, or another relevant technical discipline.
• Demonstrated experience supporting complex technical systems, engineering programs, or acquisition programs.
• Strong understanding of RF, communications, datalink, or related mission‑system technologies.
• Ability to independently investigate complex technical issues and develop technically sound recommendations.
• Ability to develop and present technical reports, briefings, assessments, and recommendations to management and senior leadership.
• Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with both deeply technical personnel and non‑technical/programmatic stakeholders.
• Proficiency with Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and Outlook.
• Ability to work primarily on‑site with limited telework eligibility.
• Ability to travel up to 25%.
• U.S. citizenship.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret security clearance.

Highly Desired Qualifications

• More than five (5) years of directly relevant professional experience; significantly greater experience is preferred for this senior‑level role.
• Previous Product Management Office, Program Management Office, or equivalent acquisition organization experience.
• Army Aviation, UAS, aviation systems, or related DoD acquisition experience.
• Industry experience supporting RF, communications, networking, datalinks, EW, or UAS systems.
• Current TS/SCI clearance or demonstrated ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI clearance.
• Significant experience with UAS datalink systems, RF systems, tactical communications systems, or related mission systems.
• Experience with RF system architecture, link budgets, RF modeling, antennas, modems, waveforms, or spectrum management.
• Understanding of AES‑256 and Type 1 encryption concepts and their application to tactical communications.
• Working knowledge of COMSEC and TRANSEC principles and implementation considerations.
• Experience interpreting, applying, developing, or maintaining communications and datalink standards.
• Experience with frequency management and spectrum‑related coordination.
• Experience supporting EMI/EMV qualification, EW resiliency, electronic protection, or communications‑system hardening.
• Experience coordinating with government laboratories, C5ISR organizations, other government agencies, military services, coalition partners, NATO organizations, and industry.
• Experience developing or reviewing Performance Work Statements, Statements of Work, technical requirements, source‑selection documentation, or other technical acquisition documentation.
• Experience supporting system development, integration, qualification, production, sustainment, modernization, upgrades, and field issue resolution.
• Experience leading technical working groups, interface control working groups, or similar cross‑organizational engineering forums.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described below are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of the position.

The employee will regularly be required to communicate verbally and listen; frequently stand, walk, handle objects, and reach with hands and arms; and occasionally sit, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.

The employee must be able to lift and/or move up to 10 pounds routinely and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Required vision abilities may include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Regular and punctual attendance is required. Additional hours may occasionally be necessary based on mission and program requirements.

At PPT, we value our employees. You can take comfort in the fact that here you will be treated as a professional, given room to grow and compensated with a benefits package to care for you and your family. You have made the decision to do meaningful work and we believe you should be rewarded for that decision. Explore our website and learn more about what it means to be a part of PPT Solutions.

Benefits offered include

• medical
• dental
• vision
• basic life w/AD&D
• supplemental life
• short and long‑term disability
• EAP
• FSA
• 401(k)
• paid holidays
• paid time off
• employee referral award program
• reimbursable job‑related education/professional certification training

PPT Solutions, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.

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