What are the responsibilities and job description for the Tactical Data Link Engineer position at Canvas?
Key Responsibilities
- Operate and monitor real tactical hardware (data link radios, GPS/INS units, RF front‑ends) within HITL simulation environments.
- Integrate hardware with Live‑Virtual‑Constructive (LVC) architectures, enabling real equipment to interact with virtual platforms.
- Configure, initialize, and monitor LVC‑integrated TDL networks during simulation test events.
- Troubleshoot hardware/software interfaces, timing, synchronization.
- Operate and analyze Link‑16 and similar or related tactical data link systems.
- Research, develop and modernize existing TDL HITL emulators to ensure continued relevance and interoperability with emerging, modernized TDL‑enabled weapon systems and UAS platforms
- Build, decode, and evaluate TDL messages and network architectures.
- Support gateway operations, network initialization, and real‑time monitoring during events.
- Present technical findings and recommend improvements to system designs.
- Assess proposals, requirements, and system documentation for technical feasibility and proper allocation of navigation/TSPI requirements.
- Support NAVWAR‑related testing, jamming threat assessments, and degraded‑environment navigation evaluations.
- Working knowledge of Link‑16 and other tactical data link systems.
- Proficiency with Wireshark and networking protocols (TCP/IP, UDP, HTTP).
- Strong understanding of RF transceiver design, propagation modeling, and link budgets.
- Experience with oscilloscopes, spectrum/network analyzers, logic analyzers, and signal generators.
- Familiarity with COMSEC handling and Simple Key Loaders (SKL).
- Experience with MATLAB, or similar modeling/simulation tools.
- Familiarity with GNSS/INS systems, Alt-Nav, Kalman filtering, and navigation algorithms.
- Knowledge of anti-jam techniques, NAVWAR considerations, and jamming threat environments.
- Familiarity with C coding for algorithm development, simulation integration, or hardware‑interface support.
- Master’s degree in relevant field.
- 10 years' experience.
- Top Secret clearance