Senior DSP/SDR Engineer
About The Position
The Aerospace Corporation is seeking a Senior DSP/SDR Engineer for its Mission Payloads Division. The role supports critical programs and space architectures, providing technical expertise and strategic guidance to the United States Space Force and the Intelligence Community. The Digital Electronics and Electromagnetic Department works across communications systems, from RF signals to digital bits, including modeling and simulation, RF chain analysis and design, and software-defined radio systems. The selected candidate will solve challenging problems involving communications, signals collection, and data processing; advise stakeholders on DSP and SDR matters; and independently conduct technical studies, analyses, experiments, and simulations. The engineer will use laboratory infrastructure—including SDR hardware, FPGA development toolchains, and RF test and measurement equipment—to develop prototypes and conduct tests. The position also involves leading cross-organizational teams, coordinating customer and program-office interfaces, and representing the organization at technical meetings and presentations. The position is full-time and on-site in Chantilly, Virginia, with travel of up to 10%.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited program in Electrical Engineering or a related technical discipline.
- At least 12 years of relevant experience in progressively more responsible roles for the Senior Engineering Specialist level.
- Experience in a laboratory environment working with SDRs or FPGAs and associated RF test equipment, such as spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, and vector signal generators.
- Experience developing and implementing DSP algorithms in embedded environments for deliverable systems on CPU- or FPGA-based platforms.
- Demonstrated ability to architect and implement digital processing and SDR system solutions in embedded environments for deliverable systems.
- Experience working with customers and on multidisciplinary teams.
- Experience leading development projects and mentoring junior staff.
- Willingness to travel domestically up to 10% of the time.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SSBI security clearance issued by the U.S. government; U.S. citizenship is required to obtain this clearance.
Nice To Haves
- Advanced degree in Electrical Engineering or a related technical discipline from an accredited university.
- Familiarity with FPGA development workflow tools, including Vivado, Vitis, or ModelSim.
- Proficiency programming and interfacing with SDRs and laboratory equipment using GnuRadio, XMidas, GPIB, or C/C++ custom applications.
- Experience working with experts in antenna systems, RF systems, SIGINT processing, communications systems, and hardware prototyping.
- Experience with Linux-based DSP systems spanning CPUs, FPGAs, GPUs, and SDR platforms.
- Strong scientific programming background using MATLAB, C, C++, Fortran, Julia, or Python.
Responsibilities
- Solve technically challenging problems in communications, signals collection, and data processing.
- Support the success of ongoing development programs and influence future missions.
- Provide DSP and SDR technical consultation and guidance to management, customers, and contractors, and surface technical issues and opportunities with actionable recommendations.
- Independently conduct technical studies, analyses, experiments, and simulations, and author reports of findings.
- Use laboratory infrastructure, including SDR hardware platforms, FPGA development toolchains, and RF test and measurement instrumentation, to develop prototypes, conduct tests, and perform experiments.
- Lead cross-organizational teams and organize interfaces with customers and Aerospace program offices.
- Represent the organization at technical meetings, presentations, and symposia.
- Travel domestically up to 10% of the time.
Benefits
- Comprehensive health care and wellness plans.
- Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation.
- Standard and alternate work schedules, including telework options.
- 401(k) plan with company-paid benefits based on years of service and matching contributions; employees are immediately eligible and vested upon hire.
- Flexible spending accounts.
- Variable pay program for exceptional contributions.
- Relocation assistance.
- Professional growth and development programs.
- Education assistance programs.
- Inclusive work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
