Description
Today, Electronic Warfare (EW) is a growing enterprise — protecting the warfighter and our national security against ever‑adapting threats. Our division currently has an exciting opportunity for a Software Defined Radio (SDR) Engineer in Arlington, VA to perform design, development, and hardware/software integration in the Electronic Warfare Division.
Our division primarily focuses on research & development and advanced prototyping, transforming state‑of‑the‑art signal processing algorithms into real‑time software systems deployed on advanced RF platforms.
The successful candidate will be an individual contributor responsible for designing, developing, and integrating high‑performance SDR solutions using Ettus Research USRP platforms.
Primary Responsibilities
- Design, develop, and deploy advanced SDR systems using Ettus Research USRP hardware
- Develop high‑performance SDR applications using C++ and UHD (USRP Hardware Driver)
- Implement and optimize real‑time DSP pipelines, custom waveform generation, modulation/demodulation chains, RF streaming architectures, and high‑throughput signal processing systems
- Interface directly 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 EW architectures
- Produce technical documentation, interface definitions, and software architecture artifacts
- Support lab and field testing activities; travel up to 15%
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical discipline
- 8+ years of experience, including strong hands‑on experience with Ettus Research USRP platforms (X310/X410, N320/N321, X440, B‑Series platforms)
- Strong proficiency in modern C++, Python, Linux systems programming (including performance optimization), and multithreaded and concurrent software architectures
- Experience deploying systems with Red Hat Linux
- Experience developing with UHD API, real‑time streaming systems, high‑rate packet processing, socket programming, low‑latency software architectures, and Ettus RF Network On Chip (RFNoC) architecture
- Strong understanding of RF fundamentals, wireless communication systems, IQ signal processing, digital modulation techniques, wide‑band RF architectures, and spectrum analysis
- Experience implementing OFDM, QPSK/QAM, channel estimation, synchronization algorithms, FFT/channelization pipelines, adaptive filtering, signal detection and classification, time/frequency synchronization
- Position requires an active Secret security clearance or the ability to obtain and maintain one
Preferred Qualifications
- 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, and real‑time operating systems
- Familiarity with MIMO systems, beamforming, and SATCOM architectures
- Active Top Secret clearance preferred
Desired Traits
- Strong systems engineering mindset
- Ability to troubleshoot complex RF/software interactions
- Comfortable working directly with hardware in lab and field environments
- Capable of building production‑grade SDR software from the ground up
- Strong debugging, optimization, and performance tuning skills
- Self‑starter capable of operating in fast‑paced R&D environments
Pay and Benefits
Pay range: $107,900.00 – $195,050.00. (This is a general guideline; actual compensation may vary.)
Benefits include competitive compensation, health and wellness programs, income protection, paid leave, and retirement.
Commitment to Non-Discrimination
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.
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