{"id":3396296,"url":"https://alion.io/job/red-cat-holdings-communications-engineer","title":"Communications Engineer","company":{"id":176597,"name":"Red Cat Holdings","domain":"redcat.red","url":"https://alion.io/company/red-cat-holdings","size_band":"201-500","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Paycom","truth_index":null},"role":"Industrial Engineering","role_family":"Industrial Engineering","seniority":"middle","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Fort Pierce, United States"],"countries":["US"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":71000,"max_usd":131000,"period":"year","method":"role_seniority_country_remote_cell","sample_n":4330},"experience_years_min":3,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":true,"technologies":[{"name":"DHCP","optional":false},{"name":"Linux","optional":false},{"name":"TCP/IP","optional":false},{"name":"Tcpdump","optional":false},{"name":"Wireshark","optional":false},{"name":"MAVLink","optional":true},{"name":"Python","optional":true}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-10-28T12:33:48Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-10-28","last_verified_at":"2026-11-01T11:03:05Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":4,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":4},"description":"Position Summary\nBlue Ops designs, builds, and fields autonomous unmanned surface vessels (USVs) for defense and national security customers. We are seeking a hands-on, mid-level Communications Engineer to support the design, integration, troubleshooting, testing, and fielding of vessel and ground-control communications systems.\nThis role is well suited for an engineer with an electrical engineering, RF communications, networking, or related technical background who enjoys working across wireless links, IP networks, embedded computers, and physical hardware. The successful candidate will work directly with RF radios, antennas, satellite terminals, cellular modems, routers, managed switches, and onboard communications equipment.\nThe focus of this position is reliable connectivity between vessels, ground-control stations, and supporting infrastructure. This engineer will configure and validate communications paths for command and control, telemetry, video, radar, and other payload data; isolate failures across RF links and network interfaces; and drive issues through verification and resolution.\nThis is a hands-on role. The engineer should be equally comfortable configuring a router, analyzing packet captures, reviewing Linux logs, and evaluating RF performance as they are inspecting antenna installations, testing cables, or working aboard a vessel during integration and sea trials. The engineer will independently execute assigned integration and troubleshooting tasks while collaborating with senior engineers on architecture, requirements, and design decisions.\nKey Responsibilities\nIntegrate, configure, and troubleshoot vessel and ground-control communications systems, including RF radios, satellite terminals, cellular connections, routers, switches, and antennas. \nConfigure and validate IP addressing, subnets, VLANs, routing, DHCP, firewall rules, VPNs, and multicast or broadcast traffic handling. \nSupport implementation and testing of multi-WAN connectivity, link failover, traffic prioritization, and bandwidth aggregation. \nEvaluate communications performance using throughput, latency, jitter, packet loss, signal quality, and link availability measurements. \nDevelop and review RF link budgets, antenna placement, cable-loss estimates, and installation considerations such as polarization, isolation, and interference. \nDiagnose connectivity and performance issues using packet captures, router diagnostics, Linux tools, RF test equipment, and system logs. \nIntegrate communications paths for command and control, telemetry, video, radar, and other onboard payload interfaces. \nSupport dockside checkout, sea trials, demonstrations, deliveries, and customer events; verify communications readiness before deployment. \nExecute test procedures to validate coverage, failover behavior, recovery after outages, and performance under representative operating conditions. \nInspect and troubleshoot communications wiring, Ethernet and RF cabling, connectors, grounding, and equipment power. \nMaintain network diagrams, IP address plans, equipment configurations, test results, and installation and troubleshooting procedures. \nIdentify recurring issues and work with autonomy, software, electrical, and systems engineering teams to implement durable corrective actions. \nRequired Qualifications\n3-7 years of experience in communications engineering, RF systems, network engineering, systems integration, or a related technical role. \nHands-on experience integrating and troubleshooting RF or wireless communications equipment and IP networks. \nWorking knowledge of RF fundamentals, including link budgets, antenna gain, polarization, cable loss, line of sight, and interference. \nWorking knowledge of TCP/IP, UDP, Ethernet, subnetting, VLANs, routing, DHCP, VPNs, and network security fundamentals. \nExperience configuring routers, managed switches, and wireless communications equipment. \nFamiliarity with Linux, SSH, command-line utilities, logs, and basic system services. \nExperience using Wireshark, tcpdump, iperf, or equivalent network diagnostic tools. \nAbility to use a multimeter and appropriate RF test equipment to troubleshoot installed communications systems. \nAbility to read and produce network diagrams, wiring diagrams, test procedures, and technical documentation. \nAbility to independently troubleshoot assigned problems, communicate findings clearly, and coordinate corrective actions across engineering teams. \nU.S. citizenship and ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance. \nAbility to travel up to 50%. \nPreferred Qualifications\nBachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Telecommunications, Systems Engineering, or a related technical discipline. \nExperience with USVs, UAS, UGVs, robotics, marine electronics, defense, aerospace, or other complex integrated systems. \nExperience with Peplink routers, SpeedFusion, SD-WAN, satellite communications, Starlink, or cellular networking. \nExperience with tactical or industrial mesh radios. \nExperience with spectrum analyzers, vector network analyzers, RF power meters, or cable and antenna analyzers. \nFamiliarity with NVIDIA Jetson or other embedded Linux computers. \nFamiliarity with MAVLink, NMEA 2000, CAN, serial interfaces, or maritime sensor integration. \nExperience transporting video, radar, or telemetry across bandwidth-constrained or intermittent links. \nExperience with Python or shell scripting for diagnostics, monitoring, configuration, or test automation. \nExperience with field testing, sea trials, commissioning, or deployed communications systems. \nTravel & Working Conditions\nUp to 50% travel, including customer sites, test ranges, partner locations, and potential OCONUS travel. \nEarly starts, extended days, and occasional weekend work may be required around test events. \nMust be comfortable working aboard vessels, outdoors, dockside, and in shop/test environments. \nMust be able to kneel, crouch, climb, access installed equipment, and lift approximately 25 lbs. \nPhysical Requirements and Working Environment\nThis role combines office and laboratory work with hands-on vessel integration and outdoor testing.\n• Ability to manually lift and carry equipment and materials weighing up to 50 pounds.\n• Ability to crawl, kneel, crouch, bend, climb, and work in confined or awkward spaces while installing, inspecting, and servicing equipment on and around vessels.\n• Ability to safely board and move around boats, docks, and uneven or wet surfaces.\n• Comfortable working outdoors and in marine environments, including dockside activities and on-water testing.\n• Occasional travel and schedule flexibility may be required to support trials and demonstrations.\nBackground Check\nThis position will require successfully completing a post-offer background check. Qualified candidates with a criminal history will be considered and are not automatically disqualified, consistent with federal and state law.\nEEO and ITAR/EAR Work Authorization Disclosure\nRed Cat Holdings provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This position requires direct or indirect access to hardware, software, technology or technical data controlled under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Successful candidates for positions subject to ITAR/EAR restrictions must provide proof of U.S. Citizenship or Permanent Residence and must not require sponsorship for export-restricted work authorization.\nE-Verify\nThe company participates E-Verify ensure eligibility for employment and compliance with Right to Work rules.\nCompensation: Base pay, plus generous annual equity package and potential bonuses.","description_format":"text","description_chars":8049,"description_truncated":false,"requirements":{"experience_years_min":3,"management_years_min":null,"team_size_min":null,"manages_managers":false,"education":{"level":"bachelor","optional":true},"security_clearance":true,"languages":[]},"benefits":["Equity"],"hiring_locations":[{"name":"United States","iso":"US","kind":"country"}],"hiring_excludes":[],"relocation_offered":false,"industries":["Military","Robotics","Drones & UAVs","Military Drones"],"lifecycle":[{"event":"open","at":"2026-10-28T12:33:48Z"}],"visa":[],"liveness":{"score":80,"band":"hot","label":"Hiring now","p_open":1,"p_active":0.848,"p_room":0.945,"age_days":3,"expected_fill_days":10,"reasons":["conf:8","win:mid"],"computed_at":"2026-11-01T06:10:25Z"},"pay":null,"html_url":"https://alion.io/job/red-cat-holdings-communications-engineer","json_url":"https://alion.io/job/red-cat-holdings-communications-engineer.json","meta":{"generated_at":"2026-11-01T16:54:43Z","cache_seconds":300,"methodology":"https://alion.io/methodology","terms":"https://alion.io/terms","contact":"https://alion.io/contact","api":"https://alion.io/developers","about":"Alion is a live layer of people, companies and AI agents: who they are, whether they are real and active right now, what they do and how to work with them, readable by people and by agents and paid per call.","catalog":"https://alion.io/catalog.json","usage":{"tier":"crawler_verified","counted_by":"address","units_charged":1,"used_today":25882,"day_limit":null,"remaining_today":null,"minute_limit":300,"resets_at":"2026-11-02T00:00:00Z"}},"offers":[{"id":"company.slices","title":"One company in depth, by slice","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002,"plus_per_slice":{"credits":0.05,"usd":0.005}},"unit":"per company, plus each slice with data","note":"the employer in depth","call":{"mcp_tool":"get_company","arguments":{"id":176597},"rest":"https://alion.io/mcp/rest/get_company?id=176597"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.slices&for=job%2Fred-cat-holdings-communications-engineer"},{"id":"market.stats","title":"A market slice: pay, demand and time to fill","status":"live","price":{"credits":1,"usd":0.1},"unit":"per slice","note":"pay, demand and time to fill for this role and place","call":{"mcp_tool":"market_stats"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=market.stats&for=job%2Fred-cat-holdings-communications-engineer"},{"id":"job.search","title":"Open jobs by role, technology, place, pay and visa","status":"live","price":{"credits":0.02,"usd":0.002},"unit":"per posting in a list","note":"similar open postings","call":{"mcp_tool":"search_jobs"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=job.search&for=job%2Fred-cat-holdings-communications-engineer"},{"id":"company.verify","title":"Is this company real and active right now","status":"pilot","price":null,"unit":"per company","request":{"url":"https://alion.io/catalog/request","method":"POST","body":"{\"offer\": \"company.verify\", \"for\": \"job/red-cat-holdings-communications-engineer\", \"note\": \"what you need it for\"}"},"human":"https://alion.io/catalog?offer=company.verify&for=job%2Fred-cat-holdings-communications-engineer"}],"agent":{"mcp":"https://alion.io/mcp/jobs","mcp_open":"https://alion.io/mcp/open","next":[{"tool":"get_job","arguments":{"id":3396296}},{"tool":"search_jobs","arguments":{"company":"redcat.red","detail":"compact"}},{"tool":"match_people","arguments":{"job_id":3396296},"note":"people open to offers who fit this vacancy"}],"note":"The same data through MCP tools: https://alion.io/mcp/open needs no sign-in (compact searches, postings, people); https://alion.io/mcp with an Alion account has everything. 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