Communications Systems Engineer - Optical & Quantum Communicatio

Job Description

BOAB Ventures is seeking a Communications Systems Engineer with strong optical and quantum communications experience to support advanced research and development efforts within the national security community.

This position provides Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA) supporting the development of next-generation hardware, software, and architectures for mission-critical optical and quantum communication systems.

What You'll Do

• Perform technical reviews, assessments, and risk evaluations of optical and quantum communication technologies at the component, subsystem, system, and architecture levels.
• Evaluate technologies including optical terminals, free-space optical links, photonic components, entanglement-based communication architectures, and quantum-enhanced optical subsystems.
• Assess emerging technologies and identify technical gaps involving high-bandwidth space links, advanced modulation, pointing and tracking systems, link budgets, network performance, and secure quantum-enabled transport architectures.
• Develop and evaluate technology roadmaps, requirements, specifications, verification approaches, and transition strategies for optical and quantum system modernization.
• Engage with mission users to understand operational needs and evaluate emerging optical and quantum capabilities.
• Prepare systems engineering documentation, technical analyses, and program-level briefings with findings and recommendations.
• Support program and acquisition activities, including source selections, lifecycle documentation, and system integration planning.

Required Skills

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Physics, or a related discipline with 9+ years of relevant experience; Master's with 7+ years; or PhD/JD with 4+ years.
• Experience supporting U.S. Government program management and acquisition lifecycle processes and documentation.
• Strong interpersonal, verbal, and technical writing skills.
• Ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary technical teams.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools.
• Active TS/SCI with CI Polygraph required.

Desired Skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Engineering, Physics, or a related discipline.
• 12+ years of relevant experience, including at least 4 years supporting optical or quantum communication systems.
• 1+ year supporting U.S. Government R&D acquisition processes and documentation.
• Experience with space-based optical terminals, quantum optical payloads, photonic systems, or advanced quantum-enhanced communication architectures.