Principal RF/DSP Engineer

What You'll Do

• Take ownership of our most difficult unfamiliar RF targets with no prior framing: generate hypotheses, rank them, and design the experiment plan that discriminates between them.
• Analyze wideband complex-IQ recordings from known and unfamiliar RF systems.
• :Characterize signal bandwidth, timing, modulation, synchronization, channel access, frequency-hopping behavior, framing, coding, and other observable properties.
• Design controlled experiments that isolate transmitter behavior and reveal waveform or protocol structure, and decide when a line of investigation should be redirected or abandoned.
• Develop algorithms for burst detection, synchronization, demodulation, signal characterization, protocol recovery, classification, and tracking.
• Own and improve line-of-bearing performance: develop and refine array signal-processing algorithms for bearing estimation (e.g., correlative interferometry, subspace methods such as MUSIC, beamforming), and quantify accuracy against ground truth.
• Diagnose and mitigate real-world DF error sources including array calibration drift, mutual coupling, channel phase/gain mismatch, multipath, platform and mast effects, and coherent-source conditions.
• Develop and validate production DSP capabilities in modern C++.
• Implement and optimize production DSP pipelines using profiling, SIMD, threading, bounded queues, and reusable buffers.
• Generate synthetic waveforms and inject controlled impairments such as noise, CFO, clock offset, fading, and interference.
• Document observations, assumptions, confidence levels, known limitations, and recommended next experiments.

  Required Qualifications

  • BS or higher in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Applied Physics, or a related technical field.
  • Substantial professional experience developing RF, communications, radar, electronic-warfare, or related signal-processing systems.
  • Strong DSP and digital-communications fundamentals, including several of the following: Sampling and aliasing; Digital downconversion; FIR/IIR and multirate filtering; FFT and time-frequency analysis; Matched filtering; Detection and estimation; Carrier, phase, symbol-timing, and frame synchronization; Modulation and demodulation; Channel coding and error detection.
  • Demonstrated ability to independently investigate an unfamiliar signal or system using measurements and controlled experiments, from initial hypothesis through validated conclusion.
  • Experience analyzing real complex-IQ data—not only simulations or high-level system models.
  • Hands-on experience implementing, testing, and debugging DSP algorithms.
  • Proficiency writing production-quality C++ in a Linux environment.
  • Hands-on experience with direction finding and antenna-array signal processing: bearing estimation on real multichannel data (interferometric, beamforming, or subspace methods), array calibration, and an understanding of practical DF error sources such as mutual coupling, channel mismatch, and multipath.
  • Experience creating automated tests and replaying recorded data through algorithm pipelines.
  • Experience with collaborative source control and code review using Git or an equivalent system.
  • US Citizenship is required.

    Preferred Qualifications

    • Track record of independently reverse-engineering an undocumented or partially documented wireless waveform or protocol through to a fielded or productized capability.
    • Demonstrated technical leadership of other engineers: reviewing designs and code, setting methodology, and raising team output while remaining hands-on.
    • Experience designing reusable DSP libraries, frameworks, or test infrastructure adopted by other engineers.
    • Experience with Software Defined Radios, RF laboratory equipment, and conducted or over-the-air testing.
    • Experience with frequency-hopping, spread-spectrum, OFDM, cellular, telemetry, command-and-control, or other modern communication systems.
    • Experience building detectors that operate in congested RF environments with measurable false-alarm requirements.
    • Experience with FPGA-based DSP, fixed-point implementation, hardware/software partitioning, or high-rate sample transport.
    • Experience optimizing real-time C++ DSP pipelines using profiling, SIMD, threading, bounded queues, and reusable buffers.
    • Experience generating synthetic waveforms and injecting controlled impairments such as noise, CFO, clock offset, fading, and interference.
    • RF antenna design experience: element or array design, simulation (e.g., HFSS, CST, FEKO), pattern and impedance measurement, or working directly with antenna engineers on array geometry and platform integration trades.
    • Deeper array-processing experience: wideband DF, DF on frequency-hopping or short-burst emitters, coherent multichannel receiver architectures, or emitter geolocation (TDOA/AOA fusion, multi-sensor triangulation).
    • Familiarity with statistical classification or machine learning applied to RF data.
    • Experience with Counter-UAS, electronic warfare, SIGINT, radar, or related mission systems.
    • During the first several months, a successful engineer will be able to: take full ownership of a novel, undocumented RF target with no prior framing, and independently produce a credible hypothesis set and experiment plan.
    • Quantify performance, communicate known limitations, and lead validation against additional devices, environments, and RF conditions — including running a field campaign.
    • Assess the current line-of-bearing capability against ground-truth data, identify the dominant error sources, and land at least one measurable accuracy or robustness improvement.
    • Measurably raise the output of other signal-processing engineers: unblock at least one stalled effort, and have their reviews and methodology visibly improve others' work.
    • Surface at least one emerging target class or systemic bottleneck with a concrete, prioritized recommendation.
    • The Strongest Candidate May Come From Communications, SDR, FPGA, Radar, Telemetry, Electronic Warfare, Or Protocol-analysis Work.
    • Exact domain overlap matters less than demonstrated ability to learn an unfamiliar signal from first principles, without a framing handed to them.
    • Design experiment campaigns rather than guess — and know when to kill a dead-end thread.
    • Work directly with imperfect real-world data.
    • Turn analysis into reliable production code and reusable components others build on.
    • Validate claims quantitatively and defend them in review.
    • Make the engineers around them better while remaining hands-on through integration and field testing.
    • Clearance Level: No Clearance.
    • The Salary Range For This Role Is $153,500 - $234,250.
    • AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.
    • ITAR Requirement: This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction.
    • A “U.S. person” according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee.
    • See 22 CFR 120.15.
    • Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.
    • Benefits: AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental vision, 401K with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown.
    • We also encourage you to review our company website at http://www.avinc.com to learn more about us.
    • Principals only need apply. NO agencies please.