Senior Program Manager - (CSRF) - Poway, CA

We are seeking a Senior Cognitive Sensing and RF (CSRF) Program Manager to lead programs which we research, design, prototype and field test systems across a spectrum of Tactical AI solutions, specifically in the networking, wireless communications, cognitive sensing, and RF domains. This role allows you to support, build and impact both commercial and defense applications as you build superior communication systems to empower our military with unrivaled capabilities. The ideal candidate will have a strong technical background in defense solutions, unmatched leadership skills, and a proven track record of successfully delivering defense solutions to our warfighters.

Don't meet every single requirement? At EpiSci, we're committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workforce, so if you're excited about this role but your previous experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway! You may be the perfect candidate for this or another role at EpiSci.

Core Responsibilities

• Manage programs that involve building wireless and advanced communication infrastructure to support the rapidly evolving challenges in the defense space including building cognitive sensing, detection, tracking, and parameter estimation software solutions that operate in a variety of vehicles, platforms, and domains to accomplish tactical military missions.
• Manage programs that research, design, implement, leverage, and improve state-of-the-art electronic warfare, sensing, and detection algorithms through innovative AI/ML/RL approaches.
• Manage programs that build, leverage, and improve wireless communication applied to autonomy software architectures that can be deployed on real systems to accomplish military missions (including publish/subscribe architectures).
• Manage programs that design network management software that supports full integration with vehicle autopilots, datalinks, sensors, PNT/GPS/INS, ground control stations, etc.
• Manage programs that take new cognitive sensing, detection, parameter estimation, and communication capabilities from ideation through prototyping, M&S, field testing, and fielding on front-line unmanned and robotic systems.
• Manage programs that involve live field tests of cognitive sensing, detection, parameter estimation, and network management software on ground vehicles, airborne vehicles, and other platforms.
• Collaborate with 3rd party radio vendors regarding the integration of EpiSci networking software onto OEM radio, SDR, or USRP hardware.
• Manage programs that build, leverage, and improve vehicle dynamics models, sensor models, weapon models (and model interfaces) in modeling and simulation (M&S) environments needed to test and evaluate autonomy capabilities (e.g. AFSIM, NGTS, TacView, JSBsim, AirSim, PX4/MAVLink, QGC, TAK, etc.).
• Manage programs that build, leverage, and improve modeling and simulation environments (e.g. AFSIM, NGTS, AirSim, PX4/MAVLink, QGC, TAK, etc.) to rigorously design and test new algorithms.
• Manage programs that set-up and integrate hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) systems, to test the performance of software solutions on real vehicle hardware.
• Manage programs that build, leverage, and improve analysis tools to analyze autonomy algorithm performance.
• Contribute novel ideas to improve programs and projects.
• Collaborate with domain experts and prior DoD warfighters (ex. DoD fighter pilots) to build software autonomy solutions for military missions.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education Requirements:
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science/related engineering field.
• 7+ years of program management experience managing cost, schedule, performance of defense contracts.




• Technical Requirements:
• Strong experience program managing defense contracts such as firm, fixed, price (FFP), cost plus fixed fee (CPFF), etc.
• Strong experience interacting with government and prime contract customers.
• Strong experience managing cost, schedule, performance.
• Strong experience managing software teams using agile processes (spiral, scrum, kanban).
• Experience curating and managing software backlogs in Gitlab.
• Basic conceptual understanding of software development (programming, containerization, configuration management, DevOps) and autonomy software products.
• Experience leading programs that develop software for autonomous robotic systems in C++, JIRA, and Python.
• Experience managing programs that design, implement, leverage, and improve state-of-the-art wireless communication protocols.
•  Experience managing programs that take new wireless capabilities from ideation through prototyping, M&S, flight testing, and fielding on front-line aircraft and robotic systems.







• Additional Requirements:
• Passion for solving complex problems with little supervision in a fast-moving team.
• Ability to balance multiple priorities in a fast-paced, highly collaborative, frequently changing, and sometimes ambiguous environment.
• Excellent analytical, communication, and documentation skills with demonstrated ability to collaborate across multiple teams.




• Travel Requirements
• Must be willing to travel as projects requires. Estimated average travel is once every month for between 2 days up to 1 week. (~25%)




• Security Requirements
• Must be a U.S. Citizen. 
• Must already possess or be eligible for a U.S. SECRET security clearance with Special Access Program (SAP) eligibility. 
• Active TS/ SCI a plus 

Preferred Qualifications

• Education Requirements:
• Master’s degree in computer science/related engineering field.
• 10+ years of program management experience managing cost, schedule, performance of defense contracts.




• Technical Requirements:
• Experience with Earned Value Management System
• Experience with Systems Engineering techniques and tools including MBSE, MagicDraw, SysML, agile and waterfall methodology, trade studies, requirement writing and management, probability and statistics, Six Sigma philosophy, Concept of Operations development, lifecycle logistics and management.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Applications, Atlassian tools (Jira and Confluence)
• Experience with Visual Basic Programming, C, R, MATLAB, Java, SQL and Databases, Unity and Azure DevOps
• Experience working projects related to national security for one or more government agencies.
• Interdisciplinary background, with evidence of continual learning.
• Experience writing scripts and building tools to aid in automation of financial tracking/ program management tasks




• Security Requirements
• Current U.S. SECRET security clearance with Special Access Program (SAP) eligibility.

At EpiSci, you’ll be part of a collaborative and diverse team dedicated to solving some of the most complex challenges related to networked autonomous systems. While you won’t necessarily be coding or designing systems, you’ll play an important role in supporting the team as they innovate and create solutions that help enhance U.S. defense capabilities. You’ll participate in project briefings and team stand-ups, but your main focus will be on facilitating smooth communication and coordination between teams, ensuring that all pieces fit together to achieve the larger mission. It's a unique opportunity to contribute to impactful projects in exciting ways.

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EpiSci is proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. We value our differences, and we’re excited to learn what you can add to our team. 

Don't meet every single requirement? At EpiSci, we're committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workforce, so if you're excited about this role but your previous experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification, we encourage you to apply anyway! You may be the perfect candidate for this or another role at EpiSci.