Tactical Communications and Field Systems Engineer (Defense)

Location: Austin, Texas; on-site when not deployed. Travel up to 50%, including international travel and deployments to combat zones. The role requires work at night and on weekends as needed and lifting up to 60 pounds in demanding field conditions.

Company

hirify.global is a veteran-owned, venture-backed technology company developing autonomous orchestration solutions for heterogeneous unmanned systems across air, sea, land, and space for defense, intelligence, and commercial applications.

What you will do

• Develop mission communications plans covering radio and satellite links, mesh networks, IP addressing, encryption, antenna placement and separation, backhaul, and PACE options.
• Configure, test, maintain, and troubleshoot communications between unmanned platforms, ground control stations, relay sites, and retransmission systems for beyond-line-of-sight connectivity.
• Diagnose faults in radios, antennas, cabling, power systems, and IP networks, and identify and mitigate interference, including jamming.
• Coordinate frequency and satellite access with range, military, and host-nation authorities; manage COMSEC key loading and accountability and apply TRANSEC procedures.
• Establish and verify field sites, integrate command-and-control, telemetry, video, and link-health data into customer systems, and maintain readiness records and technical documentation.
• Evaluate radios, waveforms, and antennas; maintain inventories, configurations, diagrams, frequency records, communications plans, and after-action reports; train teammates and customers.

Requirements

• At least five years of experience planning, installing, operating, and maintaining tactical communications as a military communicator or field service representative, including deployments with combat or combat support units.
• Hands-on experience with HF, VHF, UHF, SATCOM, and mobile ad hoc or mesh networks, including configuration, encryption, link testing, and retransmission. Relevant systems include L3Harris AN/PRC-117G, AN/PRC-152, AN/PRC-163, Motorola, TACSAT/MUOS, MPU5, Silvus, Doodle Labs, and Microhard.
• Working knowledge of RF propagation, antenna theory, and electromagnetic interference, plus practical skills in RF cabling, connectors, grounding, field power, and soldering.
• Experience using spectrum analyzers, power and standing wave ratio meters, and multimeters.
• Proficiency in IP networking, including subnetting, DHCP, VLANs, routing, firewalls, VPNs, and Ethernet connections between radios, ground control stations, and payloads.
• Experience with COMSEC key handling and accountability, TRANSEC, emission control, spectrum coordination, and PACE planning in environments affected by electronic warfare or jamming.
• U.S. citizenship with an active DoD Secret clearance or eligibility for reinstatement. A valid U.S. passport or the ability to obtain one, and the ability to meet deployment medical and processing requirements.
• Ability to travel up to 50%, including internationally and to combat zones. Ability to work nights and weekends as required and lift up to 60 pounds in demanding field conditions.
• Eligibility under U.S. export control regulations: U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, protected individual under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or otherwise eligible to obtain required U.S. Department of State or Commerce authorizations.

Nice to have

• CompTIA Security+, Network+, Linux+, Cisco CCNA, or a certification applicable to DoD 8140 workforce requirements.
• Military tactical communications experience such as Army 18E/25C/25S/25U, Marine Corps 0621/0629, Air Force combat communications or TACP, Navy IT/ET, Coast Guard IT, or equivalent contractor experience.
• Integration or testing of unmanned aircraft and ground, surface, or underwater vehicles, including ground control station datalinks and counter-UAS systems.
• RF spectrum monitoring and signals analysis, including 4G/LTE or satellite backhaul systems such as Starlink, Iridium, or VSAT.
• Experience using Python for automation, equipment configuration, or log and telemetry analysis.
• Experience with Linux command-line tools, Raspberry Pi or other single-board computers, and Wireshark for network diagnostics.
• Experience with Jira and Confluence.

Culture & Benefits

• Collaborative, respectful, and trust-based work environment focused on innovation, rapid iteration, and cross-team collaboration.
• Premium medical, dental, and vision coverage with zero paycheck premiums for employees and families.
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match, equity grants, FSA, DCFSA, and HSA.
• Unlimited PTO, 11 paid holidays, an extended company holiday calendar, generous parental leave, and military leave.
• Professional development opportunities, mental health resources, One Medical access, and free legal and financial support.
• Potential progression into advanced systems integration, communications leadership, and operations management based on performance, capabilities, and organizational needs.