Specialist, Systems Engineer - Software Defined Radio

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L3Harris is the Trusted Disruptor in defense tech. With customers' mission-critical needs always in mind, our employees deliver end-to-end technology solutions connecting the space, air, land, sea and cyber domains in the interest of national security.

Job Title: Specialist, Systems Engineer - Software Defined Radio

Job Code: 44308

Job Location: Yorba Linda, CA

Schedule: 4/10: Employees work 10 hour days, 4 days a week

Job Description:

Navigation Solutions delivers advanced military GPS and broader Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) capabilities that support mission requirements across weapon systems, ground platforms, airborne assets, maritime systems, and space environments. The engineer will collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to ensure these systems meet performance, reliability, and integration requirements across all operational domains.

A key responsibility of this role is field testing GPS receivers in contested and threat-representative environments. This includes planning, executing, and analyzing tests that assess receiver performance under conditions such as jamming, spoofing, intentional interference, and degraded-signal scenarios. The engineer will validate real-world robustness, characterize system behavior under mission-relevant stressors, and ensure compliance with stringent military performance standards. These field activities require travel and coordination with external test ranges, customers, and mission partners.

Navigation Solutions products are engineered to provide resilient PNT performance for the warfighter operating in denied or degraded environments. This role directly ensures that GPS receivers and simulators maintain mission effectiveness when exposed to adversarial threats and operational challenges.

Essential Functions:

• Integrate, configure, and validate software defined radio (SDR) architectures used across all GPS simulators, ensuring accurate signal generation, modulation, and timing performance.
• Develop and execute RF test methodologies tailored to SDR-based systems, including waveform verification, calibration procedures, and over-the-air (OTA) characterization.
• Implement and maintain FPGA- and DSP based signal processing chains that support GPS, GNSS, and custom PNT waveforms within SDR platforms.
• Troubleshoot SDR hardware/software interactions, including RF front-end behavior, digital interface control, and embedded firmware issues affecting simulator performance.
• Create automated test scripts and diagnostic tools to evaluate SDR output fidelity, dynamic range, phase noise, and interference resilience.
• Collaborate with system architects and RF engineers to define SDR integration requirements for next generation GPS simulators and PNT solutions.
• Support STE development for SDR-based systems, ensuring compatibility with high-speed digital interfaces, RF switching networks, and precision timing sources.
• Perform detailed data analysis on SDR-generated signals to confirm compliance with system specifications, military GPS standards, and program requirements.
• Participate in acceptance testing and configuration management of SDR firmware loads, FPGA bitstreams, and associated calibration files.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics (STEM) or related discipline with minimum 4 years prior relevant experience, 2-year post-secondary/AA Degree and 8 years prior experience, or Graduate Degree with 2 years of prior related experience, or in lieu of a degree, minimum of 8 years of prior related experience.
• 2+ years' hands on experience working with software defined radios (SDRs), including configuration, waveform development, RF front end integration, and digital signal processing (DSP) workflows.
• Active US Secret security clearance.

Preferred Additional Skills:

• Proficiency in SDR frameworks or toolchains (such as GNU Radio, MATLAB/Simulink, EttUSRP platforms, or equivalent internal architectures).
• Strong understanding of RF fundamentals, including modulation schemes, filtering, signal generation, phase noise, dynamic range, and interference analysis.
• Experience with Python for automation, scripting, signal validation, and test control.
• Familiarity with FPGA or embedded-processor-based signal processing as used in SDR platforms, including interpreting firmware loads, bitstreams, and interface configurations.
• Demonstrated ability to isolate and debug issues across RF hardware, digital signal chains, and embedded software layers.
• Capable of working effectively both independently and in collaborative cross-functional engineering environments.
• Strong verbal, written, and presentation communication skills.
• Flexible work schedule but 4/10 is preferred.

In compliance with pay transparency requirements, the salary range for this role in is $92,500 - $171,500. This is not a guarantee of compensation or salary, as final offer amount may vary based on factors including but not limited to experience and geographic location. L3Harris also offers a variety of benefits, including health and disability insurance, 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts, EAP, education assistance, parental leave, paid time off, and company-paid holidays. The specific programs and options available to an employee may vary depending on date of hire, schedule type, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements.

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L3Harris Technologies is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. L3Harris is committed to treating all employees and applicants for employment with respect and dignity and maintaining a workplace that is free from unlawful discrimination. All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or other related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, characteristic or membership in any other group protected by federal, state or local laws. L3Harris maintains a drug-free workplace and performs pre-employment substance abuse testing and background checks, where permitted by law.

Please be aware many of our positions require the ability to obtain a security clearance. In addition, applicants who accept a conditional offer of employment may be subject to government security investigation(s) and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.

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