The Marlin Alliance, Inc. is seeking a Mid-Level Communications Standards Engineer to work in San Diego, CA. The successful candidate will bring a solid technical foundation in communications systems, software engineering, or systems engineering, combined with hands-on proficiency in modern tools and technologies. This role is ideal for an engineer who thrives at the intersection of established DoD tactical communications practices and emerging technology areas, and who is eager to grow domain expertise while contributing meaningfully to complex interoperability and integration challenges across the joint force.\n \nEstablished in 2002, The Marlin Alliance is a woman-owned small business (WOSB) seeking to hire highly skilled individuals to support mission critical projects within the Navy. We are looking for motivated individuals to lead and support digital transformation, data science and analytics, and automation projects for variety of Navy clients. Individuals must be able to function in a fast-paced work environment and able to adapt quickly to rapidly changing requirements and technologies. Using your comprehensive knowledge of various technologies, you will design, develop, and implement solutions to support Navy mission owners in their digital transformation journey.\n \nLocation: San Diego, CA - Hybrid 3 day's/week on-site NAVWAR\n \nClearance: Active DoD Secret clearance, with the ability to obtain Top Secret/SCI clearance\n \nTravel: Up to 25% travel may be required\n \nResponsibilities:\n \nSupport technical analysis and engineering efforts related to tactical communications standards, waveforms, software-defined radio (SDR) architectures, and systems integration.\n \nAssist in analyzing system-of-systems interoperability challenges, focusing on interfaces, data exchange formats, and network integration patterns, and contribute to the development of technical solutions and recommendations.\n \nParticipate in technical working groups, industry consortia, and stakeholder engagements alongside senior team members.\n \nSupport the development, review, and modernization of technical specifications, interface standards, and reference implementations, including applying modern data serialization and middleware technologies to update legacy interfaces and APIs.\n \nContribute to technical analyses, architectural assessments, integration guides, and written recommendations that support government decision-making.\n \nApply modern tools and technologies, including AI/ML, scripting and automation, model-based systems engineering (MBSE), and contemporary software development practices, to accelerate engineering analysis and improve team processes.\n \nSupport technical collaboration among diverse government and industry stakeholders in a vendor-neutral capacity.\n \nRequired Qualifications:\n \nBachelors degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical discipline.\n \nFour (4) to seven (7) years of experience in DoD communications, software engineering, or systems engineering, with exposure to one or more of the following: software-defined radios (SDRs), military communications waveforms, communications standards, or C4ISR systems.\n \nFamiliarity with open architecture frameworks for communications systems.\n \nAbility to analyze technical integration challenges and contribute to effective solutions in a team environment.\n \nStrong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey technical concepts to diverse audiences.\n \nMust be a U.S. citizen and possess an active DoD Secret security clearance.\n \nPreferred Qualifications:\n \nMasters degree in a relevant technical discipline.\n \nHands-on experience applying modern tools and technologies to engineering workflows, such as AI/ML for analysis or automation, scripting languages (e.g., Python), model-based systems engineering (MBSE), containerization, CI/CD pipelines, or modern data serialization formats (e.g., Protobuf, JSON, XML).\n \nExperience with or knowledge of Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) concepts and relevant industry standards or consortia (e.g., SOSA, CMOSS, FACE).\n \nFamiliarity with emerging technology domains relevant to the joint force, such as Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2), artificial intelligence / machine learning (AI/ML), tactical data links, or communications for autonomous systems.\n \nAwareness of cybersecurity considerations for tactical communications systems.\n \nExperience participating in technical working groups or collaborative engineering efforts.\n \nINCOSE Associate Systems Engineering Professional (ASEP) or equivalent certification.\n \nAbility to obtain a Top Secret/SCI clearance.\n \nWork Environment and Mental/Physical Demands:\n \nThe physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.\n\n Typical office environment with no unusual hazards.\n The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.\n Constant sitting while using the computer terminal.\n Constant use of sight abilities while reviewing documents.\n Constant use of speech/hearing abilities for communication.\n Occasional reaching, stooping, kneeling, or crouching may be required.\n Occasional lifting up to 20 pounds.\n Constant use of mental alertness.\n* Frequent work under deadlines.\n \nJob Classification:\n \nAssociate II\n \n$110,000 - $150,000\n \nDisclaimer:\n \nThis job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments. All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.\n \nTo perform this job successfully, the incumbents will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities.\n \nThis document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an at-will relationship.\n \nAn Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities.\n\n