# F-35 Communications Engineer, Senior at ACT1 Federal > United States · Senior · Software engineering · open. Source: https://alderhq.app/jobs/greenhouse%3Aact1federal%3A4453386009 (read 2026-11-12). ## Facts (observed) - Company: [ACT1 Federal](https://alderhq.app/companies/act1-federal) - Location text: Arlington, VA; Arlington - Where it can be done from (inferred): United States (evidence: "Location: Arlington, VA; Arlington") - Posted: 2026-10-15 (28 days ago) - First seen by alder: 2026-11-04 · last verified: 2026-11-12 - Reposted: 0 times · edited: 0 times - Apply on the employer's site: https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/act1federal/jobs/4453386009 ## Pay and sponsorship - Posted pay: $130k–$148k per year (from the description) - Market band for similar posted roles (Washington DC, n 203): p25 $144k, median $180k, p75 $198k ## Description (the employer's text) JOB TITLE: F-35 Communications Engineer, Senior Location: Arlington, VA (Crystal City) Category: Funded Schedule (FT/PT): FT Travel Required: N/A Shift: Day Remote Type: On-site Clearance required: Active Secret Clearance Division: Aviation Salary: $130,000-$148,000 ### Job Description The F-35 Communications Engineer serves as one of the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office (JPO) Interoperability (IO) Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) with a primary focus in providing tactical datalinks and intra-flight communications IO-related analytical and design expertise. The F-35 JPO develops, tests, produces, fields, and sustains F-35 Fifth-Generation combat capability for the United States Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps along with Partner and Foreign Military Sales nations around the world. This position supports the F-35 IO Government Lead and serves as the primary IO-related requirements oversight lead for the F-35 IO Team. ### Responsibilities - Orchestrating interface development, implementation, and sustainment upgrades to the F-35 airborne communications capabilities - Coordinating F-35 airborne communications IO (joint tactical datalinks/ communications) implementation positions with the U.S. Military Services, Partner Nations, and all FMS cases -- includes establishing specific military standards compliant Link-16 as well as F-35-unique Multi-function Advanced Data Link (MADL) message sets with minimum data link implementation recommendations - Validating F-35 airborne communications-related Information Exchange Requirements (IERs) and associated external IO architecture development -- Includes systems-level IO interface assessments and technical inputs to ensure F-35 information exchanges and the associated communications interface design will satisfy U.S. Military Services and Partner Nation IO requirements within the F-35 joint/coalition operational environment - Managing F-35 IO-related requirements documents and Proposed Specification Change Notices (PSCNs) inputs to ensure properly integration of IO-related capabilities -- Works directly with the F-35 Prime Contractor engineering staff to update/maintain the F-35 Operational Requirements Specification (ORS) - Assisting in addressing airborne communications IO assessments of U.S. Military Services/Partner Nation IO-related Concepts of Operations (CONOPs) to ensure airborne communications IO interface requirements are properly integrated in associated F-35 requirements documents/contract specifications and that the planned/implemented F-35 communications IO interface design implementation meets joint and coalition force needs - Supporting airborne communications IO verification test planning and execution to ensure IO-related requirements are adequately verified. Provides IO-related verification requirements and associated C4I support inputs to the F-35 Test and Evaluation Master Plan (TEMP) - Preparing and/or contributes to presentations on IO-related program status/accomplishments, issues identification/resolution, and verification support requirements to F-35 Operational Advisory Group, Requirements Working Group, Senior Warfighters Group, and JSF Executive Steering Board (JSEB) deliberations as well as during IO Advisory Group (IAG) and Lockheed Martin IO-related reviews - Participating in joint and Military Service-specific tactical data link governing bodies and represents the F-35 JPO in U.S. Government working group deliberations tied to establishing joint/commercial tactical communications policy ### Requirements - SECRET Clearance with eligibility for SAR - BA/BS degree - 10 years of systems-to-systems level interface analysis experience in an engineering or technical position of which: - Four years were in a test and evaluation (developmental and/or operational) environment supporting a DoD ACAT-I Acquisition Program - Six years involved technical analysis/support of C4I digital datalinks and intra-flight communications to include Link-16/Variable Message Format (VMF) with emphasis on tactical datalink communications \[Command and Control (C2), Electronic Warfare (EW), or Fighter platform communications\] as well as the associated mission planning/operational coordination --- Data: alder (https://alderhq.app). Cite https://alderhq.app/jobs/greenhouse%3Aact1federal%3A4453386009 and the date you read it. Observed facts come from the employer's own listing; location reach, level, family and skills are inferences.