[Hiring] Director of Tactical Communications and Networking @PDW

Role Description

Now, we’re entering a new phase of growth and are looking for a Director of Tactical Communications and Networking to join the Advanced Mission Group (AMG). This individual will serve as PDW's internal and external subject-matter expert for tactical communications, data transport, network interoperability, and the integration of unmanned systems into joint and coalition command-and-control ecosystems.

The ideal candidate is a former operational communicator who understands how networks are planned, built, secured, operated, and repaired under real mission conditions. Preferred backgrounds include service as a SOCOM RTO, Special Forces Communications Sergeant, joint tactical communications specialist, or a conventional military signal leader responsible for large tactical or operational networks.

This is not an enterprise information-technology role or a radio-maintenance position. The Director will anticipate changes in the tactical networking market, shape PDW's connectivity strategy, evaluate partners and emerging technologies, and ensure PDW aircraft, payloads, autonomy, and mission applications can exchange the right information across tactical and strategic networks. The role will work closely with AMG's Fires and Electronic Warfare leaders and the Field Software Engineer to turn operational needs and interface standards into field-demonstrable capability.

Qualifications

• 10 or more years of operational tactical communications, network operations, C5ISR integration, military signal, or closely related defense-industry experience.
• Hands-on experience planning, configuring, operating, and troubleshooting tactical voice and data networks in field, deployed, airborne, or expeditionary environments.
• Strong understanding of tactical and operational network architectures spanning dismounted users, vehicles, aircraft, command posts, and higher-echelon or enterprise services.
• Working knowledge of fires, mission-command, and tactical-data-link ecosystems, including AFATDS, Link 16, Variable Message Format, TAK or ATAK, Cursor on Target, and related gateway or translation requirements.
• Strong understanding of Internet Protocol networking, including IPv4 and IPv6, subnetting, routing, multicast, quality of service, virtual local-area networks, tunneling, network security, and packet-level troubleshooting.
• Experience with line-of-sight, non-line-of-sight, and beyond-line-of-sight communications; MANET concepts; tactical radio networks; SATCOM; and resilient multi-path transport architectures.
• Practical understanding of radio-frequency propagation, antennas, link budgets, waveform behavior, spectrum management, electromagnetic interference, and the effects of terrain, mobility, and contested spectrum on network performance.
• Understanding of COMSEC and TRANSEC principles, encryption, key-management concepts, controlled cryptographic items, and communications security procedures.
• Ability to analyze tactical data flows and interfaces, including message formats, data models, addressing, discovery, time synchronization, position-location information, metadata, prioritization, and bandwidth management.
• Ability to evaluate complex vendor solutions, identify integration risks, and communicate clear recommendations to operators, engineers, executives, and acquisition stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional work without relying on direct authority and to translate operational experience into product and engineering decisions.
• Strong written, verbal, briefing, and technical-documentation skills.
• U.S. Citizenship and ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Top Secret security clearance or higher, as required.
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 50 percent.

Requirements

• Prior service as a SOCOM RTO, Special Forces Communications Sergeant, Joint Communications Unit member, SOF communicator, signal officer or noncommissioned officer, or equivalent tactical communications professional.
• Experience designing or operating major conventional, joint, special operations, or coalition networks at brigade, division, corps, component, task-force, or theater level.
• Experience with Multi-Tactical Data Link networks, Joint Data Networks, Mission Partner Environments, JREAP, MIL-STD-6016, MIL-STD-6017, and joint or coalition tactical gateways.
• Experience with UAS command-and-control and payload-data architectures, aerial-tier relay, Common Data Link concepts, STANAG 4586 interoperability, software-defined radios, or tactical MANET waveforms.
• Experience integrating TAK ecosystems, mission-command systems, fires networks, ISR feeds, full-motion video, position-location information, or sensor-to-effector workflows.
• Experience operating across NIPRNet, SIPRNet, Mission Partner Environment, and encrypted unclassified enclaves, with working knowledge of cross-domain, releasability, zero-trust, and Risk Management Framework considerations.
• Experience with network and spectrum analysis, packet capture, radio-frequency test equipment, network-management systems, and field-expedient troubleshooting.
• Experience supporting rapid capability organizations, program executive offices, operational test organizations, or field experimentation such as Project Convergence, NetModX, or service-level exercises.

Benefits

• Comprehensive BCBS medical, dental, and vision coverage; 80% sponsored by the company.
• Safe Harbor 401(K) with company match.
• Paid Parental Leave.
• A work environment that encourages teamwork and innovation.
• On-site gym at our Huntsville, AL and Denver, CO locations.
• Employer provided life insurance.
• Robust Employee Assistant Program (EAP).
• Competitive salary, generous paid time off (PTO), and flexible leave options.