Description
Chief Engineer / Technical Integration Lead
Location: San Diego, CA
Hybrid; on-site as required at Government facility
Salary $170K-190K annually, commensurate with tactical data link depth, clearance level, and directly relevant program experience
Clearance: Active Secret required; Top Secret eligibility preferred
About the Role
ActioNet is seeking a Chief Engineer / Technical Integration Lead to serve as the technical anchor for a Navy tactical systems modernization program in San Diego. This is a hands-on architect role that combines enterprise integration architecture with genuine tactical data link (TDL) and C4I domain depth. You own the program’s core technical products: the current-state assessment of a Government test and integration environment; the prioritized mission use case backlog; the C4I/JADC2 and TDL integration architecture concept; and the integration prototype plan that moves the program from planning into demonstration. You are the senior technical voice to the Government customer, the integrator of specialist inputs (cybersecurity, networking, infrastructure, mission SMEs), and the governance authority ensuring that work across all program lines of effort aligns to a common integration architecture.
Key Responsibilities
• Translate the customer’s FY27 priorities across SME and software support, workforce development, and lab modernization into a sequenced technical integration baseline. Identify interfaces, dependencies, risks, and test criteria for prioritized network, compute, tactical data link, and C4I upgrades; coordinate technical inputs with the respective line-of-effort leads.
• Lead the technical assessment of an existing Navy test and integration environment: combat systems (virtual and physical), tactical data links, networks, virtualization, storage, and enterprise architecture, including integration constraints and modernization priorities.
• Develop the C4I/JADC2 (including IAMD) and TDL integration architecture concept: protocols, interfaces, data flows, integration pathways, dependencies, test objectives, and interoperability criteria.
• Apply direct tactical data link expertise (e.g., Link 16 network design and participation groups, J-series message implementation, TDL test and stimulation approaches, integration of TDLs into modular and virtualized test environments).
• Build and maintain the prioritized mission use case backlog spanning C4I/JADC2, TDL, AI/ML, HCI/DevSecOps, cybersecurity, and network modernization candidates.
• Author the Prototype Integration Plan: environment assumptions, technical integration steps, demonstration scope, test objectives, dependencies, risks, and success criteria — and lead its execution in the follow-on integration prototype phase.
• Integrate specialist inputs (cybersecurity/IL5/Zero Trust, network engineering, infrastructure architecture, vendor-platform SMEs) into unified, decision-ready architecture products.
• Provide cross-program technical governance: ensure infrastructure, digital transformation, and training lines of effort align to the common integration architecture.
• Serve as the senior technical interface to Government engineers and stakeholders in technical exchanges, design reviews, and milestone demonstrations.
• Support development of follow-on scope: Phase 2 roadmap and ROM, technology recommendations, and prototype demonstration readiness.
Required Qualifications
• 12+ years of systems engineering/integration experience in Navy or DoW mission system environments, including senior or lead architect responsibility.
• Direct, hands-on tactical data link experience (Link 16 or equivalent TDL family): network design, message implementation, integration, or test — not merely adjacency.
• Demonstrated experience with C4I or C2 system architectures and their integration into test, lab, or operational environments.
• Working knowledge of modern infrastructure underpinnings: virtualization, hyperconverged infrastructure, enterprise networking, and DevSecOps concepts sufficient to architect their integration with mission systems.
• Experience producing Government-ready architecture products (DoDAF-style viewpoints, interface documentation, integration and test plans).
• Active DoW Secret clearance.
• Strong technical writing and briefing skills; comfortable presenting architecture decisions and tradeoffs to Government technical leadership.
Preferred Qualifications
• Prior NIWC Pacific, NAVWAR, or Navy warfare center experience; familiarity with NAVWAR Systems Engineering Process and SIPH documentation practices.
• TS/SCI clearance or eligibility.
• Experience with JADC2 and/or Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) integration concepts.
• Experience with Lab-as-a-Service, Live-Virtual-Constructive, or simulation/stimulation test environments.
• Familiarity with AI/ML integration into C2 or decision-support workflows.
• Prior military service in a TDL, C4I, or combat systems rating/designator.
Compensation and Benefits
Annual salary of $170,000–$190,000, commensurate with tactical data link depth, clearance level, and directly relevant NIWC/NAVWAR experience. Full-time employees are eligible for ActioNet’s comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), and paid time off per company policy.
ActioNet is a CMMI-DEV Level 4, CMMI-SVC Level 4, ISO 20000, ISO 27001, ISO 9001, HDI-certified, woman-owned IT Solutions Provider with strong qualifications and expertise in Agile Software Engineering, Cloud Solutions, Cyber Security and IT Managed Services. With 26+ years of stellar past performance, ActioNet is the premier Trusted Innogrator!
Core Capabilities:
Advanced and Managed IT Services
Agile Software Development
DevSecOps
Cybersecurity
Health IT
C4ISR & SIGINT
Data Center Engineering & Operations
Engineering & Installation
Why ActioNet?
At ActioNet, our Passion for Quality is at the heart of everything we do:
Commitment to Employees: We are committed to making ActioNet a great place to work and continue to invest in our ActioNeters.
Commitment to Customers: We are committed to our customers by driving and sustaining Service Delivery Excellence.
Commitment to Community: We are committed to giving back to our community, helping others, and making the world a better place for our next generation.
ActioNet is proud to be named a Top Workplace for the thirteen year in a row (2014 - 2026). We have a 98% customer retention rate. We are passionate about the inspirational missions of our customers, and we entrust our employees and teams to deliver exceptional performance to enable the safety, security, health, and well-being of our nation.
What's in It For You?
As an ActioNeter, you get to be part of an exceptional team and a corporate culture that nurtures mutual success for our customers, employees, and communities. We give you the tools to be successful; all you need to do is bring your best ideas, your energy, and a desire to develop your skills, experience, and career. Are you ready to make a difference?
Full-Time Employees are eligible to participate in our ActioNet’s Benefits Program:
Medical Insurance
Vision Insurance
Dental Insurance
Life and AD&D Insurance
401(k) Savings Plan
Education and Professional Training
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
Employee Referral and Merit Recognition Programs
Employee Assistance and Identity Theft Protection
Paid Holidays: 11 per year
Paid Time Off (PTO)
Disability Insurance
ActioNet is an equal opportunity employer and value inclusion at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
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