Job Family: Research Scientist

City/State: Colorado Springs, CO

Type and Schedule: Full-Time, Salary/Exempt, Hybrid (minimum 60% on site).

Annualized Salary Range: $116,405 - $160,056 commensurate with experience.

About Us: Caliola is a woman-owned small business that is improving and protecting our Nation's way of life through secure collaboration and resilient communications. Our engineers, subject matter experts, and veterans are developing and delivering trusted solutions for mission-critical communications. We seek teammates who share our core values:

I3 for C3 - Insight, Innovation, and Integrity for Command, Control, and Communications These values guide how we work every day. At Caliola, you will find technically challenging, mission-focused work within a flexible and collaborative culture that is uncommon in the defense industry. We offer flexible PTO, subsidized health insurance, 401(k) matching, professional development, and a competitive compensation structure designed to support long-term growth.

Our performance has driven rapid growth and national recognition, being named twice to the Deloitte Technology Fast 500™ and inclusion on the 2025 Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest-growing private companies. We have also been recognized as a Colorado Company to Watch, a ColoradoBiz Top Company in Aerospace & Defense, and the #2 Gazette's Best Workplace (medium size) in 2025.

Headquartered in Colorado Springs, CO, we operate in a leading aerospace and defense hub with proximity to major military installations. Set against the Rocky Mountains, the region offers year-round outdoor recreation and a high quality of life for professionals and families considering relocation.

As a part of our selection process, we ask all applicants to complete a short, 10-12 minute survey from Culture Index. This is a survey, not a test; no passing or failing. The purpose of this survey is to identify your unique strengths as they relate to our open positions. Please copy and paste the following link into a separate browser window to complete: https://go.cultureindex.com/s/5i6Gpe3wge

Position Description: Caliola's Wireless Communications Engineers support the team by leading the development and analysis of various communications systems and waveforms. Your work will impact the design of new innovative HF radios, improve the performance of legacy operational communications systems, and research new ideas across the space of resilient wireless communications. As a systems engineer, you will be responsible for feasibility studies, algorithm development/integration, and system performance evaluation. You will work closely with cross-disciplinary teams of software and hardware engineers to solve important problems. A solid understanding of theoretical communications systems behavior, commitment to high quality performance evaluation, and an excellent work ethic are required to be successful in this position.

Technical Responsibilities

• Design, develop, prototype, and test innovative algorithms and signaling techniques.
• System-level benchtop and field testing.
• Perform trade studies across different algorithmic approaches, parameterizations, and performance metrics.
• Lead feasibility/trade studies across system architectures, parameterizations, and performance metrics.
• Communicate results both internally and externally in writing, through multimedia, and live presentations.
• Lead small cross-functional teams to solve challenging problems.

What We Require

• MS with 3 years' experience or PhD in Electrical Engineering or related discipline.
• Expertise in digital communication theory, including coding, modulation, detection. and estimation.
• Experience with C++ and/or Python.
• Strong technical communication skills are necessary.
• Experience with physical layer modeling & simulation.
• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance, which is issued by the U.S. Government. Security clearances may only be granted to U.S. citizens. In addition, applicants who accept a conditional offer of employment may be subject to government security investigation(s) and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.

What We Value

• Experience with medium access control protocol design and implementation.
• Experience with FPGA implementation tradeoffs for physical layer designs.
• Experience with modern version control software (git) and build systems (cmake).
• Experience mentoring and training junior staff members.
• Experience with radar systems.
• Experience with positioning, navigation, and timing systems.
• Active security clearance.

Minimum Physical Requirements

• Must possess excellent verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Ability to transition between sitting and standing as required.
• Ability to safety lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to bend, stoop, and reach.
• Ability and dexterity to grasp, handle, and manipulate small items such as, but not limited to, cellphones, laptops, USB drives, business cards, documents.

Please contact Human Resources with questions about ADA accommodations. Expression of Interest: By applying for this job, you are expressing interest in this position and could be considered for other career opportunities at Caliola Engineering. Should a match be identified between your skillset and Caliola's requirements for this or a future opening, you may be contacted.

At Caliola, we believe that true innovation can only occur when teammates bring their authentic selves to collaborate in a supportive, encouraging environment. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, age, or any other federally protected class. Caliola participates in E-Verify, an internet-based system used to confirm the employment eligibility of all new hires. Upon hire, all employees are required to complete Form I-9 to verify their identity and employment eligibility to work in the United States. All candidates will be required to pass a basic background screening.