Senior Fire Control Systems & Signal Processing Engineer

Leidos•Huntsville, AL

10d•$107,900 - $195,050

About The Position

Leidos is seeking a Senior Fire Control Systems & Signal Processing Engineer to support the development of next-generation hypersonic interceptors, missile defense systems, and air defense effectors. The selected candidate will contribute to a portfolio of programs spanning low-cost interceptor concepts, hypersonic weapons, and integrated air and missile defense, with near-term focus on effectors designed to integrate with existing and emerging Army fire control architectures. This position sits at the intersection of communications, signal processing, and fire control, enabling resilient connectivity and targeting performance in extreme flight environments. You will support early-phase system design, digital engineering, and mission-level integration for DoD customers including MDA, PEO Missiles and Space, and the Army AMD community, working alongside a multidisciplinary team of aerospace, RF, and systems engineers.

Requirements

Bachelor's in electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, applied mathematics, physics, or related field with 8+ years' experience (or master's with 6+)
Experience in signal processing, RF systems, communications, or fire control systems engineering
Proficiency in one or more of: MATLAB, Python, C/C++
Experience developing algorithms for tracking, communications, or sensor data processing
Understanding of RF fundamentals, including propagation, antennas, and link analysis
Experience in a DoD, defense contractor, or national security environment
Active Secret clearance required

Nice To Haves

Master's or Ph.D. with emphasis in electromagnetics, communications, or DSP
8+ years supporting missile defense, hypersonic weapons, or reentry systems
Familiarity with tactical datalinks for sensor-to-shooter timelines against hypersonic threats (e.g., Link 16, TTNT, MADL, Weapon Data Link)
Direct experience with IFC systems, data links, and next-generation air and missile defense sensors, including IBCS integration (e.g., Aegis, THAAD)
Experience designing missile uplink/downlink subsystems for ground-radar-cued engagements, including in-flight target updates and link-degradation handling
Expertise in EM simulation tools (e.g., Ansys HFSS, CST, FEKO)
Experience developing algorithms such as Kalman filters, adaptive beamforming, or spectral estimation
Link budget analyses for hypersonic systems, including plasma-induced attenuation
Hands-on SDR, FPGA (VHDL/Verilog), or embedded RF experience
Familiarity with MOSA and open architecture standards (OMS, SOSA, FACE)
Experience with digital engineering or MBSE environments (e.g., Cameo)
Active Top Secret (TS) clearance

Responsibilities

Develop advanced signal processing algorithms (e.g., filtering, tracking, beamforming) for fire control, guidance, and communications in high-noise, contested environments
Design and analyze missile command uplink and telemetry downlink subsystems, including interfaces to ground-based fire control radars and engagement control stations
Support Integrated Fire Control (IFC) system design and interface definition with ground, naval, and joint systems (e.g., IBCS, Aegis, THAAD, IFPC)
Integrate end-to-end mission data flows, including mission data loads (MDLs), telemetry, health/status reporting, and command and control (C2) interfaces
Perform link budget analyses for dynamic flight conditions, including plasma effects, atmospheric attenuation, and vehicle geometry
Conduct electromagnetic modeling and simulation of antenna performance and RF propagation through thermal protection systems and ionized flow fields
Integrate models and algorithms within mission-level simulations and digital engineering environments
Collaborate across disciplines (aerodynamics, thermal, GNC, systems engineering) to translate requirements into executable designs
Support concept development, trade studies, technical proposals, and customer briefings