Senior R&D Professional - Secure and Resilient Communications

Oak Ridge National Laboratory•Oak Ridge, TN

23h

About The Position

The Resilient Communications Group within ORNL’s National Security Sciences Directorate seeks a Senior R&D Professional to contribute to secure and robust communications research. The group develops advanced solutions using digital signal processing to learn from signals and complex radio-frequency environments in near real time. Projects include protocol development, embedded systems, and software-defined radio platforms integrated with high-performance computing systems, supporting a diverse range of sponsors. The role leads complex, cross-disciplinary research projects and provides technical guidance on software and hardware architectures. It designs and integrates reusable components, oversees software development and project practices, applies machine learning and artificial intelligence to RF information, and directs real-world system testing. The position also leads design reviews, contributes to reports, publications, and proposals, and develops strategies to expand research opportunities and advance ORNL’s scientific and technological capabilities. The position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a Department of Energy clearance. It is a Workplace Substance Abuse Program testing-designated position, requiring a pre-placement drug test and participation in ongoing random testing. Visa sponsorship is not available.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and 15 or more years of relevant experience, or equivalent, in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics, Aerospace, or a closely related discipline.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively within a team environment.
Commitment to ethical and professional standards and adherence to environmental, safety, health, and quality requirements.
Ability to obtain and maintain a Department of Energy clearance.
Pass a pre-placement drug test and participate in an ongoing random drug testing program.

Nice To Haves

Proficiency with embedded Linux, Python, and embedded C/C++ or C#.
Experience with Git or similar source-code management systems.
Familiarity with RF scanners or receivers, spectrum analyzers, or network analyzers.
Extensive experience with software-defined radio systems.
Experience in communication protocol development, signal analysis, and machine learning.
Knowledge of modulation and demodulation, signal separation techniques, and digital signal processing.
Experience with NVIDIA software ecosystems.
Demonstrated ability to write proposals and develop technical work plans.
Excellent communication skills for presenting methodologies, results, and demonstrations.

Responsibilities

Lead complex, cross-disciplinary projects in collaboration with scientists and engineers, contributing to reports, publications, and proposals.
Provide technical guidance on software and hardware system architectures, including hardware/software trade-offs, software reuse, use of Commercial Off-the-Shelf components, and requirements analysis and decomposition.
Design, develop, and integrate reusable software and system components into new and existing architectures, ensuring performance, scalability, and reliability.
Oversee project programming, testing, documentation, version control, and data management.
Apply machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques to process RF information and enhance decision-making.
Direct and participate in real-world system test operations, including developing bench and field test procedures.
Lead and present during formal design reviews and work effectively in classified and unclassified environments.
Provide R&D leadership that advances scientific and technological capabilities in alignment with ORNL’s mission.
Identify, develop, and execute strategies to expand research efforts and pursue new scientific and technical opportunities.