Wireless Signal Processing Engineer, Principal

At MITRE, your passion fuels work that impacts our nation and improves lives. This is where your skills strengthen national security, cybersecurity, health, transportation, and citizen services. We’re a nonprofit engineering, applied research, and advanced technology organization working in the public interest. With objectivity and integrity at our core, we lead federally funded research and development centers for U.S. government agencies – collaborating with industry and academia to deliver integrated, high-impact solutions that advance our nation’s health, security, and prosperity. Our people tackle the toughest technical challenges, supported by competitive benefits, meaningful career development, and a culture of innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence. Choose MITRE for a career with purpose — and help shape the future.MITRE is seeking a Principal Wireless Signal Processing Engineer to provide technical leadership in the development and evaluation of advanced wireless communications, sensing, spectrum, and mission systems for U.S. Government sponsors. Our teams apply deep expertise in radio-frequency (RF) systems, digital communications, statistical signal processing, modeling and simulation, and emerging wireless technologies to address some of the nation's most challenging problems. Our work spans resilient communications, spectrum sharing and coexistence, positioning and navigation, advanced waveforms, distributed and multi-antenna systems, and the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning to RF systems.As a Principal Wireless Signal Processing Engineer, you will serve as a recognized technical leader while remaining deeply engaged in hands-on technical work. You will shape technical approaches, lead multidisciplinary teams, mentor engineers and researchers, and work directly with government sponsors to translate complex mission needs into innovative engineering solutions.Responsibilities include:Lead the conception, analysis, development, and evaluation of advanced wireless communications and signal processing technologies for challenging operational environments.Lead end-to-end modeling and simulation of wireless systems, including RF propagation, physical-layer processing, interference, spectrum coexistence, and system performance.Develop and evaluate novel algorithms for signal detection, estimation, classification, synchronization, channel estimation, interference mitigation, geolocation, and array processing.Analyze and develop advanced waveform, coding, modulation, MIMO, beamforming, and adaptive communications concepts.Develop technical approaches for communications and sensing systems operating in congested, constrained, degraded, or contested electromagnetic environments.Prototype algorithms and systems using software-defined radios, laboratory RF equipment, GPU-accelerated computing, and other experimental platforms as appropriate.Provide technical leadership across projects, including technical direction, architecture and algorithm decisions, peer review, risk identification, and assurance of technical quality.Engage directly with government sponsors to identify emerging mission challenges, frame technical problems, communicate findings, and develop actionable recommendations.Lead or make significant contributions to new-work development, sponsor proposals, technical strategies, and MITRE independent research and development activities.Identify emerging research directions and establish technical roadmaps that connect advances in wireless technology with critical government mission needs.Mentor and develop junior and senior technical staff and contribute to the growth of MITRE's wireless communications and signal processing technical community.Basic Qualifications:Typically requires a minimum of 10 years of related experience with a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline; or 8 years and a Master’s degree; or a PhD with 5 years’ experience; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience.Demonstrated depth and recognized expertise in wireless communications, digital signal processing, statistical signal processing, RF systems, or a closely related field.Strong technical background in multiple areas such as:Statistical signal processing, detection, and estimation theoryDigital communications, waveform design, modulation, coding, and information theoryStochastic processes, propagation modeling, channel modeling, channel estimation, and equalizationArray signal processing, MIMO, beamforming, and direction findingSpectrum sharing, coexistence, interference analysis, and electromagnetic compatibilityWireless technologies and protocols such as 5G NR, LTE, Wi-Fi, IoT, or emerging 6G conceptsDemonstrated ability to formulate complex, ambiguous technical problems and lead teams toward rigorous, practical solutions.Significant experience developing analytical models, simulations, algorithms, prototypes, or experimental systems.Proficiency with one or more technical computing or software development environments such as MATLAB, Python, C++, or equivalent.Experience leading technical deliverables through problem definition, execution, peer review, and delivery to customers or sponsors.Ability to work collaboratively with government sponsors and multidisciplinary technical teams.Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a Secret U.S Government issued Security Clearance. Per the U.S. Government’s eligibility requirements, you must be a U.S Citizen to be considered for a security clearance.This position requires a minimum of 3 days per week on-sitePreferred Qualifications: Master's degree or Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Physics, or a related technical discipline.Established reputation as a technical subject matter expert, including evidence such as technical leadership, publications, patents, standards contributions, invited presentations, major system developments, or recognized sponsor impact.Experience leading research and development programs, technical work packages, or multidisciplinary engineering teams.Experience identifying and developing new technical work, including sponsor engagement, proposal development, technical roadmaps, and research strategy.Experience applying machine learning or artificial intelligence to RF signal processing, spectrum awareness, waveform optimization, sensing, or communications resource management.Active Secret, Top Secret, or higher U.S. Government security clearance, as appropriate to the work program.This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):NoneThis requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):SecretSalary compensation range and midpoint:$173,200 - $216,500 - $259,800 AnnualWork Location Type:OnsiteIt is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.Commitment to Non-DiscriminationAll qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local or international law.MITRE intends to maintain a website that is fully accessible to all individuals. If you are unable to search or apply for jobs and would like to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of MITRE’s employment process, please email View email address on click.appcast.io for general support and View email address on click.appcast.io for intern positions. This service is for individuals requiring reasonable accommodation requests. Please note that vendor solicitations will not receive a reply.Benefits information may be found here.Copyright 1997-2026, The MITRE Corporation. All rights reserved. MITRE is a registered trademark of The MITRE Corporation. Material on this site may be copied and distributed with permission only.Job SummaryJob number: R117504Profession: Engineering