Principal DSP Engineer & Team Lead

AeroVironment•Leesburg, VA

About The Position

We are seeking a Principal Digital Signal Processing (DSP) Engineer to implement and support efforts in detecting and classifying Unmanned Aerial Surveillance (UAS) platforms using their Radio Frequency (RF) link. The ideal candidate will have experience in Software Defined Radio (SDR) based systems, signal detection, RF protocol (WiFi, LTE, WiMAX, Bluetooth, LoRa,...) decode, and strong software skills. Familiarity with phased array DF techniques and AI/ML-based classification approaches is a plus. This role will set the strategy and technology roadmap for signal processing and development, influence decision-making and strategic planning for signal programs, determine new areas for software technology introduction or proof-of-concepts based on industry trends, and research and evaluate emerging technology, industry, and market trends to assist in project development and/or operational support activities. The Principal DSP Engineer will lead and mentor a lean team of DSP engineers, driving technical direction, architecture reviews, and task prioritization while remaining hands-on in core algorithm development. They will serve as both technical lead and individual contributor, guiding DSP architecture decisions, conducting peer code reviews, and unblocking the engineering team on complex signal processing challenges.

Requirements

B.S. or higher in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related technical discipline.
A minimum of 10-15 years of professional experience. Note: Military experience is equivalent to professional experience.
Proficient in C++ and MATLAB for algorithm development and simulation.
Experience in RF signal detection, demodulation, and characterization.
Strong background in reverse engineering wireless communication protocols.
Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance.
U.S. Citizenship required

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with phased array DF techniques and AI/ML-based classification approaches is a plus.

Responsibilities

Design and implement DSP algorithms to detect and analyze UAS RF signals.
Reverse engineer RF protocols associated with commercial and custom UAS platforms.
Familiarity with Software Defined Radios for signal acquisition and experimentation.
Develop signal processing workflows in MATLAB and production-ready implementations in C++.
Analyze RF environments to distinguish UAS signals from background noise and benign emitters.
Manage source code and collaborative development using Git.
Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams including RF engineers, data scientists, and mission analysts.
Contribute to research efforts on novel RF-based UAS detection methods including AI.
Set the strategy and technology roadmap for signal processing and development.
Influence decision-making and strategic planning for signal programs.
Determine new areas for software technology introduction or proof-of-concepts based on industry trends.
Research and evaluation of emerging technology, industry, and market trends to assist in project development and/or operational support activities.
Lead and mentor a lean team of DSP engineers, driving technical direction, architecture reviews, and task prioritization while remaining hands-on in core algorithm development.
Serve as both technical lead and individual contributor, guiding DSP architecture decisions, conducting peer code reviews, and unblocking the engineering team on complex signal processing challenges.