Communications Systems & Spectrum Compliance Lead

CHAOS Industries is redefining modern defense with a multi-product portfolio that gives the ultimate advantagedomain dominance. The companys products are powered by Coherent Distributed Networks (CDN) empowering warfighters commercial air operators and border protection teams to act faster adapt rapidly and stay ahead of evolving threats.

CHAOS Industries was founded in 2022 and has raised a total of $1 billion in funding from leading investors including 8VC Accel and Valor Equity Partners. The company is headquartered in Los Angeles with offices in Washington D.C. San Francisco San Diego Seattle and London. For more information please visit .

Role Overview:

The Communications Systems & Spectrum Compliance Lead is based in El Segundo California and owns the technical performance and regulatory readiness of every data link CHAOS systems depend on from point-to-point RF dishes 5G and cellular modems and Starlink terminals to fiber network interconnects and MPU5 tactical radios. This role suits someone who is equally comfortable validating a link budget on a bench and researching a foreign ministrys spectrum licensing requirements ahead of a partner-nation demonstration.

Beyond sustaining todays communications architecture this role continuously evaluates emerging communications technology new SATCOM constellations private 5G mesh and ad hoc networking software-defined radio to strengthen the resilience of CHAOSs coherent distributed sensor and effector networks.

Youll be the single point of accountability ensuring that every communications path device-to-device device-to-internet device-to-cellular/ISP is technically functional and legally authorized before the team departs for any demonstration or contract delivery domestically or with a foreign partner.

Responsibilities:

• Own the technical performance of all communications systems connecting CHAOS-developed devices to each other and to external networks including point-to-point RF/microwave dishes 5G and cellular modems Starlink and other SATCOM terminals fiber network interconnects MPU5/tactical radios and customer mesh networks.
• Design test and validate link budgets network architecture and failover paths for each deployment configuration.
• Conduct pre-deployment communications validation confirming every link a system depends on is functional and authorized before the team travels to a site.
• Support and troubleshoot connectivity problems both in person in the field and remotely in collaboration with the rest of the team to enable continuous uptime of our systems.
• Continuously evaluate emerging communications technologies new SATCOM constellations private 5G/O-RAN mesh/ad hoc networking software-defined radio and PNT-independent comms for applicability to coherent distributed defense networks.
• Recommend and pilot new communications technology to reduce single points of failure and improve resilience in contested or denied environments.
• Identify and document acceptable communications protocols frequency bands and licensing authorities on a country-by-country basis for every location where CHAOS conducts demonstrations or deliveries.
• Research and track national cellular band allocations carrier requirements and roaming agreements required for CHAOS systems to operate abroad.
• Determine Starlink service availability mobility/roaming authorization status and any country-specific restrictions or prohibitions before scheduling a deployment.
• Identify host-nation spectrum management authority licensing and frequency coordination requirements including deconfliction with military users when operating near or alongside foreign partners.
• Track national type-approval/equipment certification requirements (e.g. CE/RED ANATEL IFT SRRC WPC-ETA NBTC and equivalent national certification bodies) applicable to RF hardware carried into a country.
• Coordinate with legal and export-control teams on ITAR/EAR classification Wassenaar Arrangement dual-use controls and national encryption import/registration requirements for radios dishes and modems.
• Manage customs and temporary import documentation for communications equipment carried into a country for demonstration or delivery.
• Support diplomatic clearance End User Certificate and foreign partner government authorization requests tied to communications equipment.
• Maintain a living reference library of country-specific communications and spectrum requirements to support rapid deployment planning.
• Coordinate with program management field engineering and foreign partner points of contact to build a complete communications plan for every demonstration and delivery.
• Interface with DoD spectrum management and frequency coordination channels for domestic and OCONUS training and test events.
• Support proposal and capture teams with technical input on communications architecture and regulatory risk for new business.
• Willing to travel (typically 3050%) to customer test and partner-nation sites for deployments and mission support both CONUS and OCONUS.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering Telecommunications RF Engineering or a related field or equivalent experience.
• At least 7 years of experience in RF/wireless communications systems engineering spectrum management or telecommunications regulatory affairs.
• Hands-on experience with tactical radios (MPU5/SRW or similar) SATCOM terminals (Starlink or comparable) point-to-point RF/microwave links and cellular/5G modem integration.
• Working knowledge of ITU Radio Regulations and how national spectrum authorities implement them.
• Familiarity with US export control regimes (ITAR EAR) as applied to communications and RF hardware.
• Experience supporting international deployments demonstrations or Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programs.
• Ability to interpret link budgets network architecture diagrams technical manuals and regulatory filings.
• Strong technical writing and cross-functional communication skills with the ability to translate regulatory findings into clear go/no-go guidance for program teams.
• Ability to satisfy customer program export-control background and drug-testing requirements applicable to assigned work.
• Must currently hold or be able to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance.
• Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally including to non-permissive or austere environments.

Preferred Requirements:

• Direct experience with L3Harris MPU5/ANW2 or equivalent tactical networking waveforms.
• Experience with Starlink mobility/enterprise terminals and their country-by-country regulatory posture.
• Prior work with DISA the Joint Spectrum Center or a service-level spectrum management office.
• Experience navigating national type-approval processes (e.g. CE/RED ANATEL SRRC WPC-ETA).
• Familiarity with encryption import/export declaration processes (e.g. Wassenaar-aligned national regimes).
• Prior service in a military or defense-contractor role involving communications planning.
• Existing relationships with foreign partner-nation telecom regulators or in-country integrators.
• Active DoD Secret or Top Secret clearance.

Required Competencies:

• Systems-level RF and network engineering judgment link-budget analysis and failure-mode thinking.
• Regulatory research discipline able to track interpret and apply country-specific telecom spectrum and customs requirements.
• Cross-functional communication with engineering legal export-control program management and foreign partner stakeholders.
• Accurate technical and compliance documentation attention to detail and composure under deployment-timeline pressure.
• Proactive technology scouting and a bias toward resilient low-single-point-of-failure network design.

Physical & Work Requirements

• Work at company facilities test ranges and customer or partner-nation sites including outdoor and field environments in variable weather and terrain.
• Set up test and troubleshoot RF and network hardware including antennas dishes radios and modems sometimes in confined or elevated positions.
• Lift or carry up to 50 pounds with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Work early mornings evenings weekends or extended deployment windows and travel for multi-day campaigns both CONUS and OCONUS.

Why CHAOS

• Health Benefits: Medical dental and vision benefits 100% paid for by the company
• Additional benefits: 401k ( 50% company match up to 6% of pay) FSA HSA life insurance and more
• Our Perks: Free daily lunch No meeting Fridays unlimited PTO casual dress code
• Compensation Components: Competitive base salaries generous pre-IPO stock option grants relocation assistance and (coming soon!) annual bonuses
• Team Growth: 350 employees and counting across 5 global offices

The stated compensation range reflects only the targeted base compensation range and excludes additional earnings such as bonus equity and benefits. If your compensation requirements fall outside of the range we still encourage you to apply. The salary range for this role is an estimate based on a range of compensation factors inclusive of base salary only. Actual salary offer may vary based on (but not limited to) work experience education and/or training critical skills and/or business considerations.

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