MAINSAIL Group is in search of multiple Data Links and Communication Engineer SMEs to support the Engineering, Professional, and Administrative Support Services (EPASS) contract and provides program management support to Program Executive Officer for Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence and Networks (C3I&N). This position is hybrid with 3 days a week at Hanscom AFB.

The Contractor shall have the following knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience in performing all tasks defined below:

Provide knowledge and experience in the development, integration, testing, and deployment of Air Force systems and their associated data links, to include definition of data link interoperability, interfaces, and verification and test assessment requirements. This includes interfacing with the Federal, Department of Defense (DoD), United States Air Force (USAF), United States Army, and Joint communities to ensure the data link communications capability complies with the applicable Federal Aviation Administration, Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), National Security Agency (NSA), Service Acquisition Executive, Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS), Damage Assessment and Casualty Report business and technical rules. The Contractor shall provide resources with knowledge and experience in Developmental and Operational test and Evaluation at the sub-system and system level. This includes interface with Air Combat Command, Air Force Command and Control Integration Center, Joint Interoperability Test Command, Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, and all levels of the organizations that develop and manage the C3 and encryption key distribution infrastructure for controlling a networked system, providing technical advice on C4 issues, including pre-launch conditioning and planning, aircraft-weapon pre- and post-release communications, and real-time targeting. The Contractor shall advise and assist the program Chief Engineer, Integrated Product Team (IPT) Leads, Program Managers (PMs), and joint combined test team customers on performance, schedule, and cost issues with respect to planning, communications, and control.

The Contractor shall provide knowledge and experience in the specific areas of:

•Combat Net Radio (CNR): includes defining and documenting a set of CNR networking parameter configurations to be used by Air Force (AF) weapon systems and controllers that will provide the best balance between flexible implementation of capability and implementation impact on both existing controllers and emerging weapon systems.

•Test and Demonstration includes engineering support for interoperability testing weapon configurations with Threshold and Objective launch platforms/controllers and ground Joint Terminal Attack Controllers over Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) CNR and Link 16 communications.

•Joint Concept of Employment (CONEMP): includes developing, documenting, and presenting a Joint CONEMP that is vetted by Combatant Commands and responsible for Department of Defense (DoD)/Joint Chiefs of Staff/Service agencies, is flexible and scalable across conflict intensity and Joint/single-service command architectures, supports third-party targeting and handoff of control, is compatible with communications via Military tactical data exchange networks, such as LINK-16 and UHF/CNR, is aligned with weapon and controller system capabilities, and is transferrable to warfighter training environments.

•Cryptologic Systems: includes the development of a Joint approach whereby Communication Security (COMSEC) cryptologic data can be passed from its source to weapons and its controllers.

•Link 16 Networking: includes developing and documenting Joint Service approaches for integrating weapons into existing tactical data link (TDL) environments that support effective weapon capability across a broad range of warfare intensity and force architectures, while minimizing negative impact on existing users and usage of those environments.

•Interface Control: includes completing the development and documentation of Link-16J11.X messages, within the construct of a Joint Service Configuration management (CM)strategy that will maintain interoperability between weapon systems and controllers, while supporting a flexible CONEMPS, and allowing for rapid, responsive evolution of the weapon system capability.

•Implementation: includes defining and documenting specifications for network enabled weapon systems, Threshold and Objective launch/control aircraft and ground control

systems (e.g., the F-15E, F-35 B&C, the USAF Tactical Air Control Party (TACP) Close Air Support System, and the United States Marine Corps Target Location Designation Handoff System) to ensure Link-16 J11.X message interoperability with applicable weapon systems.

• Digitally Aided Close Air Support (DACAS): includes completing and documenting the Joint “Doctrine, Organization, Training, Leadership Awareness, Personnel, Facilities” Change Recommendation (DCR) to establish the manpower, training, equipment, and infrastructure requirements and procedures to enable war fighters to plan, disseminate, and manage networking parameters via applicable datalinks. Also includes coordination and approval of the DCR package through required staffing procedures and continuing the development and documentation of weapon system specifications.

• United States Message Text Format (USMTF): includes completing and documenting USMTF formats to support weapon operations to plan and promulgate network parameters and facilitate machine-to-machine mission planning via Joint Mission Planning System (JMPS). Also includes providing technical knowledge on Network Enabled Weapon (NEW) interfaces and engineering support to USMTF representatives to integrate weapon information exchange requirements into national and international standards and publications.

• Support agile communications initiative and activities

• Joint Interoperability of Tactical Command and Control Systems (JINTACCS): The Contractor shall advise and assist in providing weapon systems engineering support to DoD TDL agencies to ensure weapon interoperability among the tactical aircraft and command-and-control systems used in joint and combined military operations. JINTACCS forums relevant to weapon system employment include, but are not limited to:

o DISA CNR Working Group

o DISA USMTF Community of Interest

o Air Force Tactical Data Network Requirements Group

o Air Force Joint Tactical Information Distribution System Network Managers Working Group

o Joint Staff DACAS Configuration Control Board

o Variable Message Format (VMF) Interoperability Summit

o TACP – Modernization Interface Control Working Group

o NEW Interoperability Working Group

o Joint Interface Control Officer Symposium

Minimum Education/Experience Requirements

Master’s degree in engineering and 15 years of experience which must be Data Links and Communication engineering experience, 5 years of which must be in Department of Defense