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Job Description:

Are you a Network Engineer who thrives when the "data center" is a tactical field rig, a Starlink dish, and a multi-hop RF relay?

Airbus is looking for a hands-on Network Engineer to own the stability, security, and real-time diagnostics of the communications linking our Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) to ground control stations. In this high-impact role, you won't just be managing routine server racks—you’ll be engineering resilient VPN, firewall, and wireless architectures across Linux and Windows devices operating in unpredictable field environments.

If you bring a background in tactical/expeditionary communications, WISP field networking, or remote SCADA environments—and enjoy designing systems that don't break far from a help desk—we want to hear from you. Help us shape the future of autonomous flight connectivity!

Meet the Team:

The Airbus Helicopters Flexrotor Program offers one of the most sophisticated small tactical unmanned aerial systems (STUAS) with vertical take-off and landing (VTOL). It can be used day or night by US and allied forces for a diverse range of intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) on land and at sea.
 

Your Working Environment:
Nestled in the heart of the spectacular Columbia River Gorge in Bingen, WA, our workplace offers innovation and the ability to contribute to game-changing solutions while enjoying the flexibility to spread your wings. Whether it's solving complex challenges, or celebrating victories, you’ll be part of a cohesive crew that thrives on innovation and the beauty that the Northwest has to offer!
 

How We Care for You:

• Financial Rewards: Competitive base salary, incentive compensation which may include profit sharing schemes, retirement savings plan and the ability to participate in an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”)

• Work/Life Balance: Paid time off including personal time, holidays and a generous paid parental leave program.

• Health & Welfare: Comprehensive insurance coverage including medical (traditional and high-deductible health plans), prescription, dental, vision, life, disability, Employee Assistance Plan (“EAP”) and other supplemental benefit coverages.

Your Challenges:

Network Architecture & Infrastructure Engineering: 35%

• Lead the design and evolution of network architecture across VPNs, firewalls, RF relays, Starlink links, and Ground Control Station (GCS) connectivity as deployments scale to a larger fleet.

• Configure and maintain VPN servers and clients, firewalls, routing, and related network services across mixed Windows and Linux environments.

• Design network architecture for scalability, ensuring configurations, infrastructure, and deployment approaches remain repeatable and maintainable as the fleet grows.

• Collect, manage, and route data flows between field-deployed UAS/GCS systems and home-base or office infrastructure.

• Maintain network topology documentation, interface definitions, and configuration standards across GCS variants and deployment sites.

Network Operations, Monitoring & Field Support: 35%

• Diagnose and resolve network issues including degraded or intermittent RF and satellite links, interference, obstruction, latency, packet loss, routing, and connectivity problems, primarily through remote troubleshooting.

• Establish network monitoring, logging, alerting, and health-check capabilities to identify and surface network issues proactively.

• Build, or partner with Software Engineering to develop, diagnostic tools and dashboards that provide operators with clear and actionable visibility into network health.

• Serve as the technical escalation point for network issues beyond operator or first-line troubleshooting capability.

• Provide occasional in-field support for complex network or communications issues that cannot be resolved remotely.

• Identify recurring network failure modes, perform root-cause analysis, and implement corrective actions that improve system reliability and reduce operator IT support burden.

Cybersecurity, Standardization & Operational Resilience: 30%

• Apply secure network design practices including network segmentation, secure remote access, VPN/encryption, firewall configuration, authentication, and access control across UAS and ground network infrastructure.

• Configure and harden Windows, Linux, VPN, firewall, and other network devices using established security baselines and configuration-control practices.

• Support vulnerability identification and remediation, security logging and monitoring, patching, and network security improvements across deployed systems.

• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures, secure configuration standards, troubleshooting guides, and operator documentation that enable field personnel to resolve common issues without requiring deep networking expertise.

• Ensure cybersecurity, network configurations, monitoring capabilities, and documentation remain standardized and maintainable across GCS variants and deployment locations.

Your Boarding Pass: (Required for consideration)

• Must possess a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field.

• Have a minimum of five (5) years of experience in network engineering, systems administration, or field communications, with direct, hands-on responsibility for network stability and troubleshooting (not primarily help-desk/tier-1 support).

• Demonstrated experience configuring and troubleshooting VPNs, firewalls, and routing across both Windows and Linux environments.

• Experience with wireless/RF networking and satellite communications (e.g., Starlink, VSAT, or similar), including working with degraded, intermittent, or high-latency links.

• Experience designing or scaling network architectures, not solely maintaining existing ones — you'll be shaping how our networks evolve as we grow.

• Scripting or automation experience (PowerShell and/or Python) sufficient to build basic diagnostic tools and health checks, or to partner effectively with a software engineering team on more complex tooling.

• Demonstrated ability to stabilize and improve an existing, imperfect network environment rather than only building greenfield systems.

• Strong working knowledge of TCP/IP networking fundamentals: routing, subnetting, NAT, DNS, DHCP.

• Proficiency configuring and troubleshooting VPNs (e.g., n2n or similar peer-to-peer/supernode-based VPN architectures), firewalls, and network security policies.

• VPN technology: n2n (or similar peer-to-peer/supernode VPN).

• Firewall platforms: pfSense, iptables/nftables, Windows Defender Firewall/advanced security (or equivalents).

Preferred Skills:

• Experience operating in field, remote, or expeditionary environments — tactical communications, WISP field networking, industrial/SCADA remote-site networking, or similar.

• Experience supporting non-technical end users (operators) in troubleshooting network issues, with an eye toward simplifying and self-service enablement.

• Experience securing field-deployed, tactical, aerospace, or defense networks, including VPNs, firewalls, encrypted communications, network segmentation, and secure remote access.

• Familiarity with DoD cybersecurity practices such as RMF, NIST SP 800-53, and DISA STIGs as they relate to network infrastructure and system hardening.

• Experience supporting vulnerability assessments, security configuration reviews, patching, or remediation of network and operating-system security findings.

• Cisco CCNA or CCNP (or equivalent vendor certification).

• Relevant military communications/signal corps training or certification.

• Relevant network or cybersecurity certification such as Security+, CCNP Security, CISSP, or equivalent practical experience.

Travel Required: 

• Minimal- 5% Domestic and International

Citizenship: 

•  Must be a US Person under ITAR definition (U.S. Citizen, green card holder or person covered under our existing ITAR license) 

Physical Requirements:

• Onsite or remote: 50% onsite in Bingen, WA

• Vision: able to see and read computer screens and other electronic equipment with screens, able to read documents, reports and engineering drawings. Daily

• Hearing: able to participate in conversations in person and via teleconference or phone and to hear sounds on the production floor including safety warnings or alarms. Daily.

• Speaking:  able to speak in conversations and meetings, deliver information and participate in communications. Daily.

• Equipment Operation (personal computer, telephone, copies, fax machine, and related office equipment and using electronic identification card to enter building floors and internal doors): able to operate most office and personal electronic equipment. Daily.

• Carrying: able to carry documents, tools, drawings, electronic equipment up to 30lbs/14kgs. Daily.

• Lifting:  able to lift documents, tools, drawings, electronic equipment up to 30lbs/14kgs. Daily.

• Pushing / Pulling:  able to push and pull small office furniture and some equipment and tools.  Occasionally.

• Sitting:  able to sit for long periods of time in meetings, working on the computer. Daily.  

• Squatting / Kneeling:  able to squat or kneel to retrieve or replace items stored on low shelving.  Occasionally.

• Standing: able to stand for discussions in offices or on the production floor. Daily.

• Travel:  able to travel independently and at short notice.  Occasionally.

• Walking (include routine walking such as to a shared printer to retrieve documents):  able to walk through office and production areas including uneven surfaces. Daily.

• Personal Protective Equipment required:  Required PPE includes, but is not limited to, Safety Shoes, Safety Glasses, Hearing Protection, Respirators/Masks, and/or Protective Gloves as required by site and/or customer site

• Administrative position only PPE required: Steel-toed shoes are required for all shop floor visits, appropriate hearing/eye protection may also be required when visiting the shop floor.

Salary range based on the required profile: $97k to $155k /year.  Actual minimum and maximum may vary based on geographic differential. Individual pay is based on skills, experience, and other relevant factors. This position offers the following benefits:  Medical insurance, Dental insurance, Vision insurance, Prescription insurance, Employee Assistance Program, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Basic & Voluntary Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurance, Short and Long-term Disability insurance, 401(k), Paid time off including paid holidays, Tuition Assistance, Bonus(es) subject to performance criteria.  These are our current benefit offerings for the current plan year and are subject to change without notice.

Take your career to a new level and apply now!

A full job description will be provided to candidates who progress to the interview stage or any candidate upon request.

This job requires an awareness of any potential compliance risks and a commitment to act with integrity, as the foundation for the Company’s success, reputation and sustainable growth.

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