Underwater Acoustics Engineer - SME

We are seeking a highly motivated Underwater Acoustics Engineer specialist and Subject Matter Expert (SME) to join Sonatech, LLC in Santa Barbara California.

Sonatech, LLC is a premier undersea acoustics engineering and manufacturing company. With a focus on supplying advanced SONAR solutions for the US Navy, our technical expertise, customized design capabilities and diverse manufacturing abilities have led to Sonatech products being deployed on virtually every class of underwater Navy system currently in operation.

Located in beautiful Santa Barbara, CA five minutes from the beach, we pride ourselves as having a culture of innovation as well as first-class customer service. Sonatech has a challenging and rewarding work environment where employees can develop their careers by taking on new responsibilities and providing innovative solutions.

Job Description and Key Responsibilities

This position is an opportunity to apply expertise in underwater acoustics in the ocean to the development of deployable systems to track, position and/or measure the acoustic characteristics of underwater vehicles/objects using active and/or passive methods. In this role the candidate will participate as a subject matter expert as part of a development team working closely with customers to develop system concepts, technical requirements, and product specifications. The candidate will be responsible for providing acoustic expertise to engineering teams through the development lifecycle.

Key responsibilities:

• Technical expertise in the design and application of novel acoustic signaling methods for underwater tracking/positioning and acoustic communications applications over a wide range of water depths and acoustic conditions in the ocean environment.
• Application of experience in the generation of complex acoustic signals, propagation of those signals over a wide range of water depths and coverage areas, reception of signals in a complex noise environment, and processing received signals for the purpose of reliable detection, precise event timing and decoding of embedded data/communications. Frequency ranges from 1 kHz to over 100 kHz will be utilized, dependent on system requirements and environmental factors.
• Develop computer based mathematical models to analyze acoustic performance, including signal designs, transmitting transducer characteristics, acoustic propagation, ambient and man made noise environments, receiving transducer characteristics and acoustic receiver designs. These models will be used to evaluate and optimize system designs prior to hardware and software design phases; and they will need to support common methods of performance comparison, including detection probability vs. False Alarm Rate, and Bit Error Rate performance (for communications systems), as appropriate.
• Support architecture development, system modelling, algorithm development, data analysis, and trade studies in conjunction with team members representing other specialties.
• Prepare written reports and briefings on work plans, tasks accomplished and methodologies involved.
• Support to systems integration and customer trials activities.

Required Education and Basic Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or Science
• Minimum 10 years working in underwater acoustics with direct system design and development experience
• Experience in developing complex computer based mathematical models for underwater acoustic systems

Required Citizenship and Security Clearance

• US Citizenship is required
• Secret or Ability to obtain Secret clearance within one year of employment

Preferred Skills

• Experience with SONAR systems
• Experience with underwater acoustic positioning systems for tracking and navigation
• Experience and understanding of principles of operation for SONAR systems, datalinks, navigation, and control systems
• Ability to analyze and respond appropriately to relevant technical issues in a timely manner
• Experience with simulation and computational programs (e.g., MatLab, MathCad)
• Must be reliable, flexible, and detail oriented
• Strong communications skills and experience presenting to team members and senior leadership

Salary Range:

$150,00 - $250,000

Sonatech is an EEO/AA/Disability/Vets Employer.