Systems Engineer (Network and Communications)

SubSea Craft; Virginia Beach (VA); On-site; USD 105,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO 10 days

Sick leave 7 days

401(k)

Health insurance

Dental & Vision

Disability insurance

EAP

Professional development

Inclusive culture

Job summary

SubSea Craft in the United States is seeking a Systems Engineer – Network and Communications to deliver robust, secure connectivity for autonomous vessels and shore interfaces.

You will design and implement resilient network architectures, configure routers, VPNs, firewalls, and support field deployments while ensuring safety, cyber security, and regulatory requirements. Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams to enable reliable operations.

Qualifications

• Strong practical knowledge of IP networking (TCP/IP, VLANs, routing, switching, DHCP, DNS, NAT, multicast).
• Experience designing resilient network architectures with redundancy and QoS.
• Experience with wireless/radio communications (MANET, cellular, satellite, maritime).
• Understanding RF fundamentals: antenna selection, link budgets, propagation, interference, bandwidth, spectrum.
• Experience configuring routers, switches, firewalls, VPNs, and network management systems.
• Strong troubleshooting across physical, network, and application layers.
• Awareness of cybersecurity: segmentation, access controls, encryption, monitoring.
• Experience in safety-critical or regulated engineering environments.
• Knowledge of systems engineering principles and requirements/configuration management.
• Experience integrating comms networks with autonomy, C2, sensors, and vehicle systems.

Responsibilities

• Design and architect resilient network and communications systems for autonomous maritime platforms.
• Implement and integrate network infrastructure including VPNs, firewalls, gateways, and routing/switching gear.
• Engineer for resilience, considering bandwidth, latency, and connectivity loss scenarios.
• Diagnose and resolve complex network issues across hardware, software, and RF layers.
• Support integration and commissioning of network systems on operational vessels.
• Ensure architectures meet customer, regulatory, information assurance, and safety requirements.

Skills

IP networking

Network design

Wireless & RF

Cyber-security

Systems engineering

Autonomy integration

Maritime ops

Troubleshooting

Security compliance

Job description

Who we are: SubSea Craft, is a fast-growing, privately funded, UK-founded innovative maritime technology company specialising in next-generation, high-performance watercraft and systems. As we expand internationally, we are establishing a presence in the United States and are seeking US-based talent to support this growth. Operating at the intersection of advanced engineering, cutting‑edge design, and user‑centric innovation, we deliver safe, effective, and enabling solutions for both defence and commercial applications.

What we offer:

• Paid Time Off (PTO) – 10 days of paid time off annually, plus public holidays.
• Sick Leave – 7 days of paid sick leave per year.
• 401(k) Retirement Plan – Access to a 401(k) plan to support your long‑term financial wellbeing.
• Health Insurance – Comprehensive medical coverage to support your overall wellbeing.
• Dental & Vision Insurance – Additional coverage for routine and specialist care.
• Disability Insurance – Short‑term and long‑term disability cover to provide financial protection if you’re unable to work.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – Access to confidential support services for personal, financial, and mental wellbeing.
• Professional Development – Commitment to ongoing learning and career growth.
• Inclusive Culture – A professional environment that values diversity, innovation, and collaboration.

Position Summary

The Systems Engineer – Network and Communications Engineer is responsible for delivering robust, secure and predictable command, control and data connectivity for our autonomous vessels in all customer‑facing opportunities. The role owns all vessel and shore communications and electronic systems, including networks, communications links and interfaces between sensors, autonomy systems and operator consoles.

Working as part of the Mission Success team, the engineer configures and validates communications for each deployment, rapidly resolves connectivity and electronic issues in the field, and provides structured technical feedback to engineering teams to continuously improve link reliability and supportability.

Responsibilities will include:

• Design and architect resilient network and communications systems for autonomous maritime platforms, spanning onboard, platform-to-platform, and remote control environments.
• Implement, configure and integrate network infrastructure including; communications bearers, routing and switching hardware, VPNs, firewalls, virtual gateways and other associated communications hardware.
• Engineer for resilience and availability, considering bandwidth, latency, coverage, interference, failover and loss of connectivity scenarios.
• Diagnose and resolve complex network and communications issues across hardware, software and RF/network layers, using structured fault‑finding and appropriate test and diagnosis tooling.
• Support integration and commissioning of network and communications systems on operational vessels, supporting wider platform systems.
• Manage operational, safety, and security constraints, ensuring architectures meet relevant customer, regulatory, information assurance, cyber security and platform safety requirements.
• Translate operational requirements into technical network and communications solutions.
• Develop and maintain configuration baselines, technical documentation, and system diagrams to support the full platform lifecycle.
• Work across multi‑disciplinary engineering teams, integrating networking and communications with autonomy, command‑and‑control, sensors, navigation and vehicle systems.
• Support testing, verification and validation, building credible test criteria in controlled and representative maritime environments.
• Provide technical support, including remote diagnosis and hand‑on intervention when required.

Desirable Skills & Experience

• Strong practical knowledge of IP networking, including TCP/IP, VLANs, routing, switching, DHCP, DNS, NAT and multicast.
• Experience designing and supporting resilient network architectures, including redundancy, failover, QoS and degraded‑connectivity operation.
• Experience with wireless and radio communications, including MANET, point‑to‑point, cellular, satellite and/or maritime communications systems.
• Understanding of RF fundamentals, including antenna selection, link budgets, propagation, interference, bandwidth and spectrum considerations.
• Experience configuring and troubleshooting routers, switches, firewalls, VPNs and network management systems.
• Strong network troubleshooting and diagnostic skills, with the ability to systematically isolate faults across physical, network and application layers.
• Understanding of cyber‑security principles, including network segmentation, access control, secure configuration, encryption and security monitoring.
• Experience working within safety‑critical, security‑sensitive or regulated engineering environments.
• Understanding of systems engineering principles, requirements management, configuration management and verification & validation.
• Experience integrating communications networks with autonomy, command‑and‑control, C2, sensor and vehicle systems.
• Familiarity with maritime operational environments, including the challenges of saltwater, vibration, shock, weather, RF interference and intermittent connectivity.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving ability, with a pragmatic approach to resolving issues under operational pressure.

Note: Please note: Due to the nature of the work undertaken, the selected candidate must be able to meet the security requirements of the position. This includes, at a minimum, having the legal right to work in the United States and the ability to successfully complete applicable background checks.

For certain roles, candidates may also be required to obtain and maintain a US Government security clearance. In the majority of cases, eligibility for clearance will require US citizenship and will be subject to applicable federal laws and regulations.

Values: Our people are our greatest asset, we continually strive to provide an excellent working environment to enable our team to do their best work. We have an agile professional workforce: weare founded on the belief that our people are valued and our business is trusted, inclusive and commercially‑adept.

What we expect from you:

• Teamwork, mutual respect and collaboration
• Initiative and independent working
• Honesty and integrity
• Business and commercial awareness
• Agility, adaptability and continuous development

We are committed to building an inclusive, diverse workplace where everyone can thrive. If you require any support or adjustments to interact with us, please let us know.

Please note that all offers of employment are conditional and subject to satisfactory background screening, employment verification, and, where applicable, driving record checks. For certain roles, additional security or clearance requirements may apply in line with US defense regulations.

A criminal record will not automatically disqualify candidates from employment. Any criminal history will be considered in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws, and in the context of the role, alongside the broader information gathered throughout the application, interview, and pre‑employment screening process.

In the event of a high number of applications, , we may be unable to respond to everyone. If you are shortlisted, we will aim to contact you within 14 days of your application or the closing date (if stated). We may retain your details for future suitable roles unless you advise us otherwise.

Compensation Range: $105,000 - $130,000