Senior Communications Systems Engineer

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

AsaCommunications Systems Engineer you will own the connectivity backbone of CHAOSs fielded systems 5G/cellular SATCOM () point-to-point wireless and tactical mesh radios. You will bring rigorous systems engineering practice to the comms domain: verifiable requirements with traceability defined architectures and interfaces disciplined trade studies and verification from factory test through field deployment. Your mission is to ensure everycommunicationssolutionis selected qualified validated and ready forfield deployment.

You will also keep CHAOS ahead of the pace of commercial and tactical comms innovation continuously scanning the landscape for emerging technologies new radios waveforms multi-orbit SATCOM constellations and software-defined networking approaches and driving the most promising into the product baseline. This role is full-time onsite at our office in Hawthorne CA.

Responsibilities

Systems Engineering

• Translate mission customer and business needs into verifiable traceable system and subsystem requirements for connectivity

• Develop andmaintainconnectivity architectures interfaces design descriptions and ICDs across cellular/5G SATCOM (LEO/MEO/GEO) point-to-point wireless and tactical mesh networks

• Perform design analysis and verification RF link budgets key performance parameters (EIRP G/T C/N₀ Eb/N₀ throughput) antenna placement and pointing handover behavior and regulatory compliance

• Lead trade studies weighing performance size/weight/power cost availability and compliance including forward-looking needs such as non-line-of-sight links elevated relays and GPS-denied synchronization

Hardware Selection & Qualification

• Evaluate select and qualify comms hardware (cell modems SATCOM terminals P2P dishes mesh radios) for field robustness and regional compatibility verifying RF bands regulatory suitability and export/AT compliance before purchase or baseline and managing regional variants in the product BOM

• Collaborate with suppliers satellite operators and service providers to develop and integrate connectivity solutions

Integration & Test

• Integrate comms equipment into factory test plans with clear pass/fail criteria andestablishpre-ship verification on representative system hardware with in-country SIMs and bands

• Support system integration troubleshooting and root-cause analysis from lab through field deployment driving corrective actions into the baseline;participatein technical reviews and embed with product scrums to verify baseline compatibility

Deployment & Field Support

• Own the tested connectivity matrix across deployment countries (cellular bands SATCOM legality and plans spectrum constraints validated fallbacks) along with configuration baselines and runbooks for all comms peripherals in partnership with FDE Mission and IT

• Provide reach-back support to deployed teams during international demos and operations with occasional travel to deployment sites

MinimumRequirements

• Bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering Aerospace Engineering Systems Engineering Computer Engineering or related technical discipline

• 7 years of experience in systems engineering supporting SATCOM wireless communications tactical networking or connectivity products

• Experience developing managing and verifying system subsystem and interface requirements throughout the product lifecycle

• Working knowledge of SATCOM and RF communications systems including satellite link analysis antenna systems and modem/RF chain fundamentals

• Working knowledge of cellular technologies and international band plans (LTE/5G NR) and practical experience with satellite internet terminals (e.g. Starlink)

• Strong understanding of IP networking concepts including routing switching network protocols VPNs failover and connectivity architectures

• ExperienceperformingRF linkbudget analysis antenna placementoptimization and line-of-sight/NLOS analysis in complex terrain

• Experience developing hardware test procedures and pass/fail criteria for production or integration environments

• Experience collaborating with customers suppliers and cross-functional engineering teams on complex technical programs

• Excellent problem-solving skills and a bias toward root cause over workaround

Preferred Requirements

• Masters degree in Electrical Engineering Aerospace Engineering Systems Engineering Computer Engineering or related technical discipline

• Experience with tactical mesh radios (e.g. MPU5/Wave Relay) and 60 GHz / 5 GHz P2P systems

• Familiarity with multi-orbit constellations (LEO/MEO/GEO) beam/satellite handover and ground network integration

• Experience designing or integrating secure communications architectures including authentication encryption VPNs certificate management and secure remote connectivity

• Experience analyzing communications performance in contested degraded or denied environments including multi-path interference jamming and dynamic network topology

• Experience with requirements management Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) and/or Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) tools such as Cameo including multi-level requirements sets and traceability

• Familiarity with export control and supply-chain compliance considerations for communications hardware (e.g. country-of-origin restrictions)

• Scripting for test automation and network validation (Python Bash)

• INCOSE certification ordemonstratedapplication of systems engineering best practices

• Experience in a rapid-iteration hardware production environment

• Experience supporting international deployments of communications equipment including regional regulatory and spectrum considerations

• Active or eligible U.S. security clearance

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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