Tactical Data Link Engineer

Canvas; Town of Florida (NY); On-site; USD 150,000 - 185,000; Full time

Job summary

Canvas in New York is seeking a hardware integration engineer to operate HITL simulations and integrate real tactical data-link hardware with virtual platforms.

You will work with Link-16, RF systems, and navigation algorithms, supporting NAVWAR testing and jamming threat assessments. Master’s degree and Top Secret clearance with 10+ years' experience are required.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree required.
• 10+ years of experience.
• Top Secret clearance required.
• Experience with LVC architectures and HITL emulators is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Operate and monitor real tactical hardware within HITL simulation environments.
• Integrate hardware with Live-Virtual-Constructive architectures for interaction with virtual platforms.
• Configure, initialize, and monitor LVC-integrated TDL networks during tests.
• Troubleshoot hardware/software interfaces, timing, synchronization.
• Operate and analyze Link-16 and related data link systems.
• Develop and modernize HITL emulators for interoperability with modernized TDL systems.
• Build, decode, and evaluate TDL messages and network architectures.
• Support gateway operations, network initialization, and real-time monitoring.
• Present technical findings and recommend design improvements.
• Assess proposals and documentation for navigation/TSPI requirements.

Skills

Link-16 experience

Wireshark

RF transceiver design

Oscilloscopes

COMSEC handling

C++ coding

Kalman filtering

NAVWAR considerations

Education

Master’s degree in relevant field

Tools

MATLAB

Oscilloscopes

Job description

Key Responsibilities

• Operate and monitor real tactical hardware (data link radios, GPS/INS units, RF front‑ends) within HITL simulation environments.
• Integrate hardware with Live‑Virtual‑Constructive (LVC) architectures, enabling real equipment to interact with virtual platforms.
• Configure, initialize, and monitor LVC‑integrated TDL networks during simulation test events.
• Troubleshoot hardware/software interfaces, timing, synchronization.
• Operate and analyze Link‑16 and similar or related tactical data link systems.
• Research, develop and modernize existing TDL HITL emulators to ensure continued relevance and interoperability with emerging, modernized TDL‑enabled weapon systems and UAS platforms.
• Build, decode, and evaluate TDL messages and network architectures.
• Support gateway operations, network initialization, and real‑time monitoring during events.
• Present technical findings and recommend improvements to system designs.
• Assess proposals, requirements, and system documentation for technical feasibility and proper allocation of navigation/TSPI requirements.
• Support NAVWAR‑related testing, jamming threat assessments, and degraded‑environment navigation evaluations.

Required Qualifications

• Working knowledge of Link‑16 and other tactical data link systems.
• Proficiency with Wireshark and networking protocols (TCP/IP, UDP, HTTP).
• Strong understanding of RF transceiver design, propagation modeling, and link budgets.
• Experience with oscilloscopes, spectrum/network analyzers, logic analyzers, and signal generators.
• Familiarity with COMSEC handling and Simple Key Loaders (SKL).
• Experience with MATLAB, or similar modeling/simulation tools.

Desired Additional Experience

• Familiarity with GNSS/INS systems, Alt-Nav, Kalman filtering, and navigation algorithms.
• Knowledge of anti-jam techniques, NAVWAR considerations, and jamming threat environments.
• Familiarity with C++ coding for algorithm development, simulation integration, or hardware‑interface support.

Education / Experience / Clearance Requirements

• Master’s degree in relevant field.
• 10+ years’ experience.
• Top Secret clearance.