Senior Engineer

On-site in Carlsbad, CA

Our client seeks a Senior Engineer who will operate as a Principal Investigator for a digital signal processing, sensing-centric development program. The role requires system-level expertise in mixed-fidelity simulation development and analysis for sensing systems, spanning signal acquisition, embedded processing, software, hardware, integration, and test. The engineer will serve as the technical authority for end-to-end simulation architecture, from sensing elements through data processing and system performance, while interfacing with customers and developing advanced simulation frameworks.

Due to federal security clearance requirements, applicant must be a United States Citizen with an active Secret clearance. Due to client requirements, applicants must be willing and able to work on a w2 basis. For our w2 consultants, we offer a great benefits package that includes Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits, 401k with company matching, and life insurance.

Rate: $100.00 to $120.00/hr. w2

Responsibilities:

• Lead design, development, and validation of mixed-fidelity simulation frameworks across sensor phenomenology, signal acquisition, processing pipelines, and system performance.
• Define simulation architecture strategies for next-generation sensing systems, including sensor element selection, processing chain topology, and hardware/software partitioning.
• Develop physics-based models of sensing elements, noise sources, and interference conditions.
• Author validation plans and correlate simulation outputs with HIL, bench, and field test results.
• Maintain modular, version-controlled simulation repositories with expanding model coverage and fidelity.
• Develop and apply detection, estimation, filtering, spectral analysis, and statistical characterization algorithms.
• Model signal chains end to end, including noise, interference, and environmental effects.
• Define and evaluate processing performance metrics and translate findings for hardware and embedded software teams.
• Validate models against measured data and close fidelity gaps through iterative refinement.
• Serve as principal investigator and technical lead, aligning algorithm, embedded software, hardware, and systems teams.
• Lead technical reviews including PDR and CDR, deliver simulation products, and provide peer review.
• Identify capability gaps and drive roadmap improvements.
• Mentor junior engineers in simulation methodology, signal processing, and analysis practices.
• Interface with customers on methodology, assumptions, uncertainty quantification, and performance predictions.
• Translate complex results into concise findings and technical reports for leadership and customers.
• Support proposals by defining simulation scope, articulating discriminators, and contributing to SOW and BOE.

Experience Requirements:

• B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Computer Engineering, or a related field. Advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years in modeling and simulation of sensing or signal processing systems with ownership of simulation frameworks.
• Proficiency with MATLAB/Simulink and Python ecosystems such as NumPy, SciPy, and PyTorch.
• Experience structuring large, maintainable simulation codebases.
• Prior experience as a principal investigator or technical lead on a U.S. government or defense program with direct customer interaction.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI security clearance.
• Willingness to travel up to 10%.
• Ability to work on-site in Carlsbad, CA preferred or Tempe, CA.
• Helpful: experience with RF, EO/IR, acoustic, or lidar sensors and phenomenological modeling; AFSIM; embedded or real-time DSP on FPGA or embedded CPUs; HIL integrated with bench or field test; MBSE and system performance budgeting; track record of publications or patents.

Education Requirements:

• B.S. in Electrical Engineering, Physics, Computer Engineering, or a related field. Advanced degree preferred.
• Active Secret Clearance or higher.

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