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$10

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How much do tactical systems operator jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 10, 2026, the average hourly pay for tactical systems operator in the United States is $32.69, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $19.47 and $38.22 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a tactical systems operator?

Tactical Systems Operators are specialized military personnel who operate and maintain complex electronic systems used in surveillance, reconnaissance, and combat missions. They are responsible for gathering, analyzing, and relaying critical information to support mission objectives, often working onboard aircraft, ships, or in control centers. Their duties may include managing radar, sonar, communication, and electronic warfare systems. Tactical Systems Operators play a key role in ensuring the success and safety of military operations by providing real-time situational awareness. The role requires strong technical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work effectively in high-pressure environments.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a tactical systems operator?

To thrive as a Tactical Systems Operator, you need a solid understanding of military operations, situational awareness, and analytical problem-solving, often supported by relevant military training or technical certifications. Familiarity with mission planning software, advanced communications systems, and sensor technologies is typically required. Strong teamwork, adaptability, and the ability to remain calm under pressure are critical soft skills for success in this role. These competencies ensure effective information gathering, mission execution, and quick decision-making in high-stress environments.

What are some common challenges tactical systems operators face when working in high-pressure environments?

Tactical Systems Operators often work in fast-paced, high-stakes environments where quick decision-making and precise communication are critical. Common challenges include managing multiple information streams simultaneously, maintaining situational awareness under stress, and ensuring accurate data transmission to both ground and airborne teams. Adaptability and resilience are essential, as operators may need to switch tasks rapidly or respond to unexpected mission changes. Support from a close-knit team and regular training help operators overcome these challenges and perform effectively.

What is the difference between Tactical Systems Operator vs Communications Specialist?

AspectTactical Systems OperatorCommunications Specialist
Required CredentialsSecurity clearance, technical certificationsCommunication certifications, technical training
Work EnvironmentMilitary, defense, or security settingsCorporate, government, or military communication roles
Employer & IndustryDefense agencies, military unitsTelecom companies, government agencies
Common Search & ComparisonYesYes

The Tactical Systems Operator and Communications Specialist roles share similarities in technical skills and security clearances. However, Tactical Systems Operators primarily focus on operating and maintaining tactical communication and surveillance systems in defense environments, while Communications Specialists handle broader communication infrastructure and messaging in various industries. Both roles require technical certifications and security clearances, but their work environments and industry applications differ.

What are popular job titles related to Tactical Systems Operator jobs?

For Tactical Systems Operator jobs, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Tactical Systems Operator jobs near you
Infographic showing various Tactical Systems Operator job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, 9% Part Time, 4% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 86% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 12% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $67,988 per year, or $32.7 per hour.

System Administrator Expeditionary Systems (OpAI)

San Diego, CA

SAIC
IT Services • 10K+ employees
Learn more about SAICexternal

$120K - $160K/yr

Full-time

Posted 27 days ago

SAIC rating

7.6

Company rating: 7.6 out of 10

Based on 81 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

Job description

Job ID: 2615599

Location: San Diego, CA, US

Date Posted: 2026-08-14

Category: Software

Subcategory: SW Engineer

Schedule: Full-Time

Shift: Day Job

Travel: Yes - 10% of the time

Minimum Clearance Required: Secret

Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain: TS/SCI

Potential for Remote Work: ORA_ON_SITE


Description

SAIC is seeking a highly experienced System Administrator Expeditionary Systems (OpAI) to contribute to the integration of AI capabilities into expeditionary systems, including sensor kits, UxS, C2, and TAK. The successful candidate will play a key role in maintaining the capabilities of expeditionary systems running innovative and cutting-edge technologies. Daily tasks can vary from hands on keyboard to technical discussions, including but not limited to, troubleshooting network connectivity issues, updating software on edge servers, applying Operating System updates to Linux systems, testing machine learning capabilities, and managing delivery of hardware and software to operational forces.

THIS IS AN ONSITE ROLE IN SAN DIEGO, CA. WITH UP TO 15% OF TRAVEL INVOLVED

JOB DUTIES:

  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to understand and address the Navy's operational challenges integrating artificial intelligence into expeditionary systems
  • Build and maintain tactical systems for exercises, including radios, satellite terminals, and edge servers
  • Test software at field experiments to ensure performant and high-quality data flow between tactical systems, including sensors, UxS, and C2 
  • Collaborate with machine learning engineers and domain experts to analyze data and integrate machine learning solutions into existing systems
  • Collaborate with data engineers to monitor data pipelines and analytics to ensure accuracy, reliability, and robustness
  • Stay updated with the latest advancements in communications architecture and edge servers
  • Work closely with software engineers to connect data pipelines with operational systems

Qualifications

REQUIREMENTS:

  • Bachelors and two (2) years or more experience; Masters and 0 years related experience
  • Must be a U.S. Citizen
  • Must have an Active Secret Clearance to start
  • Must be able to obtain a TS/SCI after start
  • At least 2 years of experience working as a business analyst, data analyst, data scientist, data engineer, database administrator, geospatial analyst, geospatial engineer, IT specialist, machine learning engineer, software engineer, or system administrator
  • Intermediate experience with Linux command line
  • Familiarity with edge servers and embedded GPUs (e.g., Jetson Nano, DGX Spark)
  • Familiarity with containerization technologies (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes)
  • Experience with troubleshooting tactical systems
  • Experience deploying, monitoring, and improving tactical data pipelines
  • Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
  • Passion for staying updated with the latest advancements in tactical data architecture
  • Excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively in a collaborative team environment
    Previous experience working with government agencies or military organizations

DESIRED SKILLS:

  • Experience integrating tactical systems with Tactical Assault Kit (TAK) ecosystem
  • Experience integrating tactical systems into Maven Smart Systems (MSS)
  • Familiarity with data pipeline frameworks and libraries, e.g., AirByte, Apache Airflow, dbt, Apache Iceberg, Snowflake
  • Familiarity with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), e.g., ArcGIS, PostGIS
  • Expertise in Elasticsearch, Redis, S3, PostgreSQL, or other data stores
  • Experience with Maritime radars and AIS receivers
  • Understanding of cybersecurity principles in the context of tactical applications

Target salary range: $120,001 - $160,000. The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors.

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