About Careertakes

👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, IT (Defense Technology).

Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.

---

Overview

Confidential Client is seeking entry-level Systems Engineers to join a team focused on command-and-control (C2) networking for unmanned systems. This is a remote-friendly, clearance-eligible role based in Costa Mesa, CA. You'll work on resilient network design, test and validate networking hardware and software, and help enable reliable C2 and sensor-data flows for distributed systems.

---

What You’ll Do

• Enable UAS C2 capabilities through resilient network design and testing
• Derive system, subsystem and component-level requirements for networking and C2 flows
• Design, develop, and maintain system components within complex, distributed environments
• Document engineering processes and networking best practices
• Deploy, configure, and maintain lab and flight-test networking hardware (tactical radios, switches, routers, edge compute nodes)
• Support hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) integration and bench testing to validate reliability and throughput for C2 and sensor data
• Build and maintain physical and virtual testbeds to simulate contested, high-latency, or bandwidth-constrained networks

---

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline (Electrical, Mechanical, Aerospace, Physics, Computer Science, or similar)
• Demonstrated passion for networking, system design, and engineering
• Familiarity with basic networking concepts (routing, switching, TCP/IP, UDP)
• Evidence of ownership and impact (internships, projects, coursework, or equivalent)
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Commitment to a positive, inclusive, and collaborative team culture
• Ability to travel up to 25% as required
• Ability to obtain a DoD security clearance (clearance sponsorship provided as appropriate)

---

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior hands-on network engineering or lab test experience
• Experience with Linux-based systems
• Test script development using Python, MATLAB, or similar languages
• Familiarity with RF integration and tactical radios, especially in unmanned systems contexts

---

Compensation & Benefits

• US base salary range: $100,000 — $145,000 USD (base salary only; final offer may vary based on experience and other factors)
• Competitive equity grants are typically included with full-time offers
• Comprehensive benefits package (health, recovery, and other core benefits) — details provided by the hiring organization

---

Additional Information

• This role is remote-friendly (telecommute) with a primary location in Costa Mesa, CA. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. and able to obtain the required security clearance.
• Careertakes and our client maintain hiring integrity. Any legitimate recruiter outreach will identify their agency or use an official domain. Do not provide payment or sensitive financial information during recruitment.
• By applying you may be subject to standard pre-employment screening processes (background, integrity, sanctions/watchlist checks) conducted by authorized third-party providers.

---

Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency

Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.

If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.