Subject Matter Expert III (ISEA)

About the Role

The In-Service Engineering Agent (ISEA) SME provides technical, engineering, and lifecycle support to ensure operational readiness, reliability, and maintainability of systems throughout their service life. Specifically for external communications. This position is based in Chesapeake, VA and will require travel up to 50% CONUS/OCONUS.

Responsibilities

Essential Job Duties:

• System Maintenance and Support: Monitor the health and performance of radio communication systems, perform preventive and corrective maintenance, troubleshoot hardware, software, and network issues, coordinate repairs and equipment replacements, and verify systems return to full operational status after maintenance.
• Technical Troubleshooting: Diagnose communication failures and signal degradation, analyze fault logs and system alarms, resolve RF interference and coverage issues, support field technicians during complex repairs, and escalate unresolved issues to engineering specialists or vendors.
• Configuration Management: Maintain configuration baselines for radio equipment, update firmware and software, configure frequencies, talk groups, encryption keys (where authorized), and network parameters, and document configuration changes according to change management procedures.
• Lifecycle Management: Track equipment age, performance, and reliability, recommend upgrades or replacement of obsolete equipment, support modernization projects, and evaluate new technologies for compatibility with existing systems.
• Performance Monitoring: Analyze system performance metrics, conduct coverage and signal quality assessments, identify recurring faults and recommend improvements, and produce reliability and availability reports.
• Training and Technical Support: Train operators and maintenance personnel, develop technical procedures and job aids, provide technical advice during operational incidents, and mentor junior technicians and engineers.

Requirements

Mandatory:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Must have High School diploma
• Must have expertise in VHF, UHF & HF radio systems and ancillary equipment
• Must have knowledge of Digital Modular Radios and/or ARC-210 radios
• Must have minimum 10 years of experience in DOD/Navy communications systems
• Must have SECRET Security Clearance
• Must have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation
• Must have experience with shipboard communication center work
• Must be willing to travel CONUS/OCONUS
• Must be willing to work extended hours including weekends and holidays
• Good oral and written communication skills
• Must be able to successfully pass a pre-employment background check and pre-hire drug screening

Preferred:

• Prior military training A-school, C-school
• Technical training for HF/UHF OJT or other
• DMR or ARC-210 factory training
• Provide expertise in repair alignment and overhaul of all variants of URC-109 and SINGARS
• Background in shipboard communication, knowledge/expertise with one or more systems listed: AN/URT-23C, D, E AN/USQ-155 Tactical Variant Switch (TVS) SA-2112 BAS & SAS AN/WSC-3 (all variants) UHF Couplers (OA-9123, 9277, 9277A) AN/URC-93 HF Couplers (AN/SRA-56/7/8, AN/URA-38, RF-2601, CU-2475, etc.) AN/URC-109 LHD Communications System Antenna Tilt Groups (OA-9242, 9242A, 9243, 9243A, CA-1307, PF-109) Shipboard Antenna systems (whips, fans, SATCOM, MCCP, etc.) AN/URC-141 (HFSAR) AN/USC-42 (MINI-DAMA) TD-1271 High/Ultra/Very High Frequency (HF/UHF/VHF) Systems

Working Conditions

Must be able to work outdoors, in labs and onboard ships worldwide, tolerate heat/cold, and be comfortable working around exposures to hazards in shipyard type environments. Ability to work in low-lit areas for long periods of time and respond to emerging requirements which may involve travel and/or extended work hours.

Physical Requirements

Must be able to safely lift 40lbs, carry tools and test equipment, and move around freely onboard ships and shore sites.