Principal Signal Processing Engineer

Forterra • Clarksburg, MD

2d • $230,000 - $290,000

About The Position

As an extension of our core products in Command, Control, and Communications (C3), Forterra is expanding deeper into the Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations (EMSO) space to improve the survivability of the systems and platforms we integrate. We are building capabilities that provide broad spectrum awareness, enable rapid identification of signals of interest, and support open, plug-and-play integration with government and partner systems.

We are seeking a highly experienced signal processing engineer to design, prototype, and field advanced RF and radar signal processing capabilities for Forterra’s EMSO products. This role is centered on turning complex signal environments into actionable sensing, awareness, and decision-quality outputs for autonomous platforms operating in real-world conditions.

You will own signal processing development end-to-end, from algorithm design and analysis through implementation, integration, field test, and performance validation. This is a hands-on role for an engineer who can move fluidly between theory, simulation, software implementation, hardware constraints, and over-the-air system performance.

Requirements

• Mission-First Mindset - We put the needs of the mission and A mission-first engineer who prioritizes operational relevance and customer outcomes.
• An owner who takes responsibility, handles ambiguity well, and drives work from concept through fielded capability.
• A technically deep builder with strong curiosity across DSP, RF sensing, autonomy, and real-world system performance.
• Someone who has a background in algorithms for pulse compression, matched filtering, coherent and non-coherent integration, Doppler processing, CFAR detection, beamforming, adaptive filtering, interference mitigation, clutter rejection, and signal detection in dense or contested RF environments.
• 10+ years of experience developing signal processing algorithms for RF, radar, communications, EW, SIGINT, sonar, or related sensing systems.
• Strong understanding of digital signal processing fundamentals, including detection theory, estimation, filtering, spectral analysis, sampling theory, modulation, synchronization, and statistical signal processing.
• Hands-on experience taking algorithms from analysis or simulation into working software systems.
• Experience processing real-world sensor data and validating algorithm performance against measured data, not only idealized simulations.
• Programming experience in Python, MATLAB, C/C++, or similar languages for algorithm development, data analysis, and test automation.
• Experience with radar or RF signal-processing problems involving pulsed emitters, signal identification, tracking, and geolocation.
• Ability to work cross-functionally with RF, software, systems, autonomy, and hardware engineers.
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Applied Physics, Mathematics, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with radar signal processing, including range-Doppler processing, pulse compression, matched filtering, coherent integration, non-coherent integration, CFAR detection, clutter mitigation, waveform analysis, MIMO radar, SAR, ISAR, GMTI, or track-before-detect methods.
• Experience with RF signal processing for EMSO, EW, SIGINT, ELINT, COMINT, spectrum monitoring, direction finding, geolocation, or electronic support systems.
• Experience with antenna arrays, beamforming, adaptive arrays, angle-of-arrival estimation, interferometry, phased-array processing, or multi-sensor geolocation techniques such as TDOA/FDOA/AOA fusion.
• Experience with software-defined radios, high-rate digitizers, RFSoC platforms, radar front ends, or other RF sensing hardware.
• Experience implementing or optimizing real-time signal processing systems; GPU implementation experience using CUDA, cuSignal, CuPy, OpenCL, or similar platforms is a strong plus.
• Experience with embedded, edge, or low-latency deployment constraints, including throughput, memory bandwidth, timing, and data-movement tradeoffs.
• Experience working with field-collected RF data in noisy, cluttered, contested, or operationally realistic environments.
• Advanced degree, M.S. or Ph.D., in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, Mathematics, or a related field.
• Prior experience working in fast-paced, small-team, or field-focused development environments.

Responsibilities

• Develop advanced signal processing algorithms for RF sensing, spectrum awareness, electronic warfare and radar with a particular emphasis on pulsed-radar and time-varying RF phenomenology.
• Build and analyze radar and RF sensing products including range-Doppler maps, spectrograms, channelized data products, pulse descriptor words, pulse-train observables, geolocation outputs, and other mission-relevant data products.
• Prototype and validate algorithms using Python, MATLAB, C/C++, or similar tools, then work with software and systems engineers to transition them into deployed systems.
• Analyze real-world RF data collected in lab, vehicle, and field environments to characterize performance, diagnose issues, and improve sensing capability under operationally realistic conditions.
• Collaborate with RF, embedded software, autonomy, systems, and integration engineers to deploy signal processing capabilities onto autonomous ground vehicle platforms.
• Support field testing, demonstrations, experimentation, and operational validation of EMSO capabilities.
• Work with external vendors, government partners, and internal teams to integrate signal processing capabilities with COTS, GOTS, SDR, radar, EW, and SIGINT systems.

Benefits

• Premium Healthcare Benefits: Three plan options, including an HSA-eligible plan, with Forterra covering 80% of the plan premium for you and your dependents.
• Basic Life/AD&D, short and long-term disability insurance plans 100% covered by Forterra, plus the option to purchase additional life insurance for you and your dependents.
• Extremely generous company holiday calendar including a winter break in December.
• Competitive paid time off (PTO) offering 20 days accrued per year.
• A minimum of 7 weeks fully paid parental leave for birth/adoption.
• A $9k annual tuition reimbursement or professional development stipend.
• Fully stocked beverage refrigerators with all the Celsius your little heart desires.
• 401(k) retirement savings plan, including traditional, Roth 401(k), and after-tax deferral with company match up to 4%.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal