Principal Investigator for Undersea Systems

Woburn, MA. Posted a month ago

The role

You will lead research and development in advanced undersea sensing and robotic systems. This includes defining research agendas, architecting system-level solutions, and leading multidisciplinary teams from concept to at-sea demonstration.

What you will do

Define and lead a research agenda in advanced undersea sensing and robotics
Architect system-level solutions for uncrewed undersea vehicles, sensor payloads, and command-and-control systems
Provide technical direction to electrical, mechanical, software, and systems engineers
Generate new concepts and technology approaches for undersea mission needs
Lead the development of white papers, proposals, and briefings
Serve as the primary technical interface to customers
Translate concepts into executable technical plans and collaborate with a Program Manager
Lead technical teams through design, implementation, integration, and test
Mentor and develop early-career engineers and researchers
Provide technical expertise in undersea research areas

Required qualifications

Active clearance with special access eligibility
U.S. citizenship is needed by the U.S government
Advanced degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Ocean Engineering, Acoustics, Robotics, or a closely related field
5-12+ years of experience in undersea systems, sensing, or robotics, or equivalent combination of education and experience
Experience as a technical lead on a complex R&D program
Deep hands-on experience in at least one core area: Acoustic underwater sensing and signal processing, Counter-UUV or undersea defense systems, Undersea robotics and autonomy, or Noise control / signa
Ability to develop innovative technical concepts and architectures
Ability to write and win competitive proposals or lead major technical captures
Ability to plan and manage technical execution for multidisciplinary teams
Strong systems-engineering mindset
Practical familiarity with embedded systems and real-time control
Experience with modeling, simulation, or analytical tools

Nice to have

Experience with non-linear acoustics including parametric acoustic arrays
Prior experience as a Principal Investigator or Chief Engineer on undersea robotics, UUV, advanced sensing, or complex R&D programs
Experience designing electronics and systems for marine or other harsh environments
Familiarity with robotic and autonomy frameworks (e.g., ROS, MOOS-IvP, UMAA)
Experience with advanced acoustic signal processing
Background in control systems, sensor fusion, and their implications for hardware design
Experience with hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) test setups, system-level simulation, and at-sea test campaigns
Experience interacting with the U.S. Navy or other U.S. Government organizations
Active Top Secret security clearance and prior special access program experience
Experience with agile development methodologies and modern configuration management

About the company

STR is a technology company specializing in advanced research and development for defense, intelligence, and national security. They focus on cyber, next generation sensors, radar, sonar, communications, electronic warfare, and artificial intelligence algorithms.