Principal Investigator for Undersea Systems

About the Team: The Sensors Division within STR focuses on the development and analysis of advanced sensor systems in the RF, acoustic, and electro-optical domains. This includes the design and development of novel sensors and advanced information processing techniques from ideation to prototype implementations. The Subsea and Seabed Systems (SSS) Group develops and delivers advanced undersea sensor and signal processing systems, including bespoke undersea vehicles to deploy those systems. We apply those products to to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and counter-ISR applications to deliver missions success to our customers. The Role: We are seeking a Principal Investigator (PI) to lead cutting‑edge research and development in advanced undersea sensing and robotic systems. This role is ideal for a technical leader who can originate innovative concepts, shape them into compelling customer‑focused proposals, architect and plan complex programs, and drive execution from initial idea through successful at‑sea demonstration. You will set the technical vision and lead multidisciplinary teams working on next‑generation Counter‑Uncrewed Underwater Vehicle (C‑UUV) technologies, acoustic underwater sensing and signal processing, noise control, undersea robotics, and other advanced undersea systems. You will engage directly with U.S. Government and industry partners, define new capabilities, and deliver operationally relevant solutions. What you will do: Technical Leadership & Vision Define and lead a research agenda in advanced undersea sensing and robotics, with emphasis on C‑UUV, acoustic sensing, signal processing, and noise control Architect system‑level solutions for uncrewed undersea vehicles, sensor payloads, and command‑and‑control (C2) systems, including sensing, processing, autonomy, and communications Provide technical direction to electrical, mechanical, software, and systems engineers; ensure integration of hardware, software, and algorithms into robust undersea systems An ideal candidate need not have depth in all areas of a system (electrical, mechanical, software, etc.), but needs to understand their system-level interplay and be able to lead a team across disciplines Innovation, Capture, and Customer Engagement Generate new concepts and technology approaches that address emerging undersea mission needs and capability gaps Lead the development of white papers, proposals, and briefings; pitch ideas and technical solutions to U.S. Government and other customers Shape program scope, technical objectives, and execution plans in collaboration with business development and program management Serve as the primary technical interface to customers, communicating trade‑offs, risks, and progress clearly and credibly Program Execution & Team Leadership Translate concepts into executable technical plans and collaborate with a Program Manager to develop work breakdown structures, schedules, risk management, and resource planning Lead technical teams through design, implementation, integration, and test of undersea systems, from lab prototypes to at‑sea demonstrations Ensure rigorous system‑level testing (HIL, lab, pool, and at‑sea), and drive iterative improvement based on test data and operational feedback Mentor and develop early‑career engineers and researchers; foster a culture of technical excellence, collaboration, and hands‑on problem solving Technical Execution (Domain Expertise) Provide technical expertise in an area of undersea research.  This may include: Guide the design and integration of advanced acoustic sensing systems, including transducer arrays, front‑end electronics, and digital signal processing chains Lead research in C‑UUV detection, tracking, and defeat concepts, including sensing modalities, classification algorithms, and autonomous behaviors Direct efforts in noise control and signature management for undersea platforms and sensors Oversee embedded and real‑time processing architectures (e.g., FPGAs, GPUs, SBCs) supporting autonomy, signal processing, and C2 Maintain awareness of state‑of‑the‑art undersea technologies and incorporate relevant advances into ongoing and future programs Who you are: Active clearance with special access eligibility, for which 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, and substantial experience (typically 5-12+ years depending on degree) in undersea systems, sensing, or robotics; or equivalent combination of education and experience Experience as a technical lead on a complex R&D program, preferably in undersea or maritime domains 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 Noise control / signature management for undersea platforms Proven ability to: Develop innovative technical concepts and architectures Write and win competitive proposals or lead major technical captures Plan and manage technical execution for multidisciplinary teams Strong systems‑engineering mindset, including requirements development, architecture definition, trade studies, and verification/validation Practical familiarity with embedded systems and real‑time control (e.g., microcontrollers, FPGAs, SBCs) and their role in undersea platforms and sensing systems Experience with modeling, simulation, or analytical tools to set and assess performance expectations for UUVs or sensor systems Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to brief senior stakeholders and customers Even Better: Experience with non-linear acoustics including parametric acoustic arrays is highly desirable Prior experience as a Principal Investigator or Chief Engineer on undersea robotics,