Principal Digital Design Engineer (Hybrid: Frederick, MD)

The Leonardo DRS Airborne and Intelligence Systems business is a global leader and strategic partner committed to delivering world-class, full life-cycle defense and intelligence products that protect the security of our nation and our allies. From air combat training to state-of-the-art electronic warfare systems, our technology is deployed by virtually all U.S. military and government agencies around the world.

Location:

Frederick, MD, US, 21703

The Leonardo DRS Airborne and Intelligence Systems business is a global leader and strategic partner committed to delivering world-class, full life-cycle defense and intelligence products that protect the security of our nation and our allies. From air combat training to state-of-the-art electronic warfare systems, our technology is deployed by virtually all U.S. military and government agencies around the world.

We're looking for a Digital Signal Processing (DSP) Engineer IV to join our Signal Solutions team in Frederick, MD . In this role, you'll design, develop, analyze, verify, and validate algorithms (MATLAB, CUDA, etc. based) for digital electronic products and subsystems covering a wide range of applications including signal and radar processing, machine learning, network communications, and electronic warfare.

We offer a flexible work arrangement with the option to be fully onsite in Frederick or work a hybrid schedule (onsite Tuesday through Thursday), plus a 4/10 workweek that gives you every Friday off.

Job Responsibilities

Create signal processing and machine learning models to support faster and more accurate data analysis, under the guidance of senior engineers

Develop tools in MATLAB/Octave for wideband RF cascade analysis, sensitivity analysis, dynamic range analysis, and phase coherency

• Analyze product/stakeholder specifications and requirements, and develop designs and approaches to support them within time and cost constraints, with review from senior staff

• Contribute to research and development of machine learning algorithms and techniques for applications across DRS' Signal Solutions LoB

• Develop MATLAB/Octave system models for performance prediction of co-channel radio direction finding (DF)

• Develop tools in MATLAB/Octave for generating system calibration tables

• Analyze test data for phase coherency using cross-correlation techniques

• Responsible for completing assigned technical tasks and deliverables on time and within budget

• May provide informal guidance or technical assistance to entry-level/junior engineers on specific tasks, but does not carry formal project leadership responsibility

• Support root cause analysis for moderately complex issues; conduct experimental tests and evaluate results to help formulate solutions, typically under direction of a senior engineer or technical lead

• Responsible for the technical execution of individual tasks, components, or a defined portion of a subsystem, rather than ownership of small-to-medium programs or major subsystems

• Support review of customer specifications and requirements; assist in decomposing system requirements and SOWs into signal processing configuration item (CI) requirements using established methodologies/tools

• Work with other IPT (Integrated Product Team) members on assigned tasks to help ensure the product/system meets operational requirements

• Analyze designs as needed and provide input on component-level implementation, working within an architecture and technical solution defined by senior/lead engineers

• Provide technical input and support to Business Development and Program Management as requested (e.g., data, analysis, or draft content for proposals), without leading proposal efforts

• Begin developing working relationships with customer technical counterparts, escalating gaps/deficiencies and potential solutions to senior engineers or leads as appropriate

• Apply the organization's defined digital design processes throughout the engineering lifecycle of assigned tasks

• Participate in process improvement discussions when solicited, contributing feedback from hands-on task experience

• Communicate clearly (written and oral) on task status, issues, and impacts to team members, leads, and program management; escalate significant issues rather than driving corrective action independently

• Support, communicate, reinforce and defend the mission, values, and culture of the organization

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering or related technical field with a minimum of 8 years of experience
• College degree(s) in Electrical or Computer Engineering or in a related specialized area with several years of experience in the field (Bachelor's and 8+ years OR MS and 6+ years OR Ph.D. and 4+ year of relevant experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience)
• Mastery of technologies and domain knowledge
• Expected to have knowledge and significant experience in multiple engineering disciplines

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience implementing DSP algorithms into FPGA structures, with growing independence
• Strong working knowledge of RF signal processing theories such as over/under sampling, FIRs, DDCs, DUCs, and FFTs
• Experience supporting integration and testing of radio direction finding systems
• Experience contributing to Amplitude/Phase Correlative Interferometric Direction Finding (CIDF) algorithm development for GPGPU architectures
• Ability to prototype algorithm concepts and ideas with moderate guidance
• Proficient with scripting languages such as Python, tcl, bash, etc.