Tactical Communications, Networking Engineer
Noda
full-time
Posted on:
Location Type: Hybrid
Location: Austin • Texas • United States
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Tech Stack
About the role
- Design and optimize the full communication stack that keeps fleets of unmanned systems coordinated in real time.
- Physically configure and validate tactical radios, integrate communications hardware into unmanned platforms, and ensure reliable connectivity.
- Collaborate closely with autonomy and AI engineers to ensure networking becomes a force multiplier for mission planning, dynamic task allocation, and swarm-level decision-making.
- Perform physical bring-up, configuration, and validation of tactical radios.
- Configure RF link parameters to achieve reliable connectivity.
- Establish and validate communication links based on different hardware configurations.
- Design and implement software-defined networking features for constrained networks.
- Debug RF and physical layer issues including interference and connectivity loss.
- Author and maintain field networking runbooks and documentation for exercises and live events.
Requirements
- 3+ years of professional experience in networking, communications engineering, or distributed systems.
- Expertise in OSI/TCP/IP stack, multicast/unicast, and routing protocols.
- Hands-on experience physically configuring and troubleshooting radios and RF links — not limited to software or API integration.
- Experience with wireless/RF networking (mesh, ad hoc, MANET) including behavior under degraded or contested conditions.
- Experience with satellite communications (Starlink, SATCOM) and cellular networks (LTE/5G) in field or operational environments.
- Familiarity with tactical data protocols and systems such as Cursor-on-Target (CoT), TAK (ATAK/WinTAK), and TAK Server — including setup, configuration, and integration with networked platforms.
- Ability to bring up a radio-to-host communication link from scratch, including hardware connections, IP configuration, and multi-device static routing across heterogeneous platforms.
- Working knowledge of pub-sub middleware internals — understanding what goes on the wire, why, and how to reason about routing decisions relative to network state.
- Proficiency in Python and/or C++ for protocol design, scripting, and field automation.
- U.S. Citizenship with the ability to obtain a clearance.
Benefits
- Hybrid work environment
- Competitive pay
- Flexible time off and generous PTO
- Federal holidays
- 401(k)
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits
- Free One Medical membership
Applicant Tracking System Keywords
Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.
Hard Skills & Tools
networkingcommunications engineeringdistributed systemsOSI stackTCP/IProuting protocolsRF link configurationwireless networkingsatellite communicationsPython