Senior Software Defined Radio (SDR) Engineer

Leidos•Arlington, VA

7d•Onsite

About The Position

Leidos is hiring a Software Defined Radio (SDR) Engineer for its Electronic Warfare Division in Arlington, Virginia. The division focuses on research and development and advanced prototyping, transforming signal-processing algorithms into real-time software systems deployed on advanced RF platforms. This individual-contributor role designs, develops, and integrates high-performance SDR solutions using Ettus Research USRP platforms, with a focus on real-time RF signal processing, low-latency streaming architectures, and software close to the hardware layer. The engineer will build production-grade SDR systems and optimize them for demanding operational environments. The role involves designing and deploying SDR systems and applications, implementing real-time DSP and RF streaming capabilities, interfacing with FPGA-based SDR architectures and RF hardware, and performing system integration, testing, calibration, troubleshooting, and performance optimization. The engineer will also produce technical documentation and support laboratory and field testing, with travel up to 15%. The position requires an active Secret security clearance or the ability to obtain and maintain one.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline.
At least 8 years of experience, including strong hands-on experience with Ettus Research USRP platforms such as X310/X410, N320/N321, X440, or B-Series platforms.
Strong proficiency in modern C++, Python, Linux systems programming, and Linux performance optimization.
Experience with multithreaded and concurrent software architectures.
Experience deploying systems with Red Hat Linux.
Experience developing with the UHD API, real-time streaming systems, high-rate packet processing, socket programming, low-latency software architectures, and the Ettus RF Network On Chip (RFNoC) architecture.
Strong understanding of RF fundamentals, wireless communications systems, IQ signal processing, digital modulation techniques, wideband RF architectures, and spectrum analysis.
Experience implementing OFDM, QPSK/QAM, channel estimation, synchronization algorithms, FFT/channelization pipelines, adaptive filtering, signal detection and classification, and time/frequency synchronization.
Active Secret security clearance or ability to obtain and maintain one.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Electronic Warfare (EW), SIGINT/ELINT systems, tactical communications, spectrum operations, radar, or RF sensing systems.
Familiarity with Xilinx FPGA architectures, Vivado, Verilog/VHDL, and hardware acceleration pipelines.
Experience with 10/40/100 GigE transport, GPSDO/PPS synchronization, distributed SDR architectures, or real-time operating systems.
Familiarity with MIMO systems, beamforming, or SATCOM architectures.
Active Top Secret clearance preferred.
Strong systems engineering mindset; ability to troubleshoot complex RF/software interactions; comfort working directly with hardware in lab and field environments; ability to build production-grade SDR software from the ground up; strong debugging, optimization, and performance-tuning skills; and ability to operate independently in fast-paced R&D environments.

Responsibilities

Design, develop, and deploy advanced SDR systems using Ettus Research USRP hardware.
Develop high-performance SDR applications using C++ and the UHD (USRP Hardware Driver).
Implement and optimize real-time DSP pipelines, custom waveform generation, modulation and demodulation chains, RF streaming architectures, and high-throughput signal-processing systems.
Interface with FPGA-based SDR architectures, high-speed Ethernet transport layers, RF front ends, and synchronization systems.
Develop software for low-latency and real-time RF applications.
Perform RF system integration, testing, calibration, and troubleshooting.
Analyze and optimize spectral performance, timing synchronization, throughput bottlenecks, and RF impairments.
Integrate SDR platforms into larger communications, sensing, or electronic warfare architectures.
Produce technical documentation, interface definitions, and software architecture artifacts.
Support laboratory and field testing activities; travel up to 15%.