Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab

Senior Wireless Signal Processing Engineer

Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab$105K — $290K *
Aerospace & Defense
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in relevant technical field (e.g., Electrical Engineering, Computer Science)
  • 10+ years of experience in wireless communications or related fields
  • Strong knowledge in digital communication and signal processing techniques
  • Experience with software-defined radios and signal-analysis algorithms
  • Proficient in technical software development (Python, MATLAB, C/C++)
  • Demonstrated technical leadership and strong communication skills
  • Eligible for Interim Top Secret security clearance.

Responsibilities

  • Lead R&D for signal processing solutions in wireless communications
  • Develop methods for detecting and analyzing complex wireless signals
  • Apply advanced analytical techniques to RF data extraction
  • Design software-defined radio receivers and related algorithms
  • Create software prototypes using Python, MATLAB, or C/C++
  • Conduct research on wireless signal characterization and reverse engineering
  • Mentor teams, identify technical opportunities, and communicate results.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to work on cutting-edge technology for U.S. defense
  • Engagement with multidisciplinary engineering teams
  • Potential for career advancement and technical leadership
  • Access to classified information and unique defense projects
  • Support from established military and intelligence community sponsors.
Full Job Description
Description

Do you have deep experience researching and developing advanced wireless communications and signal processing systems?

Are you passionate about using innovation and technology to solve technical challenges involving the defense of the US?

We are seeking a Senior Wireless Signal Processing Engineer to help us give our nation a significant advantage in the electromagnetic spectrum. You will join a team of engineers developing advanced capabilities for the U.S. military and intelligence communities across tactical radio, cellular, satellite, IoT, and other wireless systems. You will apply advanced signal processing, software-defined radio, and wireless reverse engineering techniques to detect, characterize, understand, and exploit complex signals and systems.

As a Senior Wireless Signal Processing Engineer, you will...
  • Lead research and development of innovative signal processing solutions for challenging wireless communications problems, from initial concept and algorithm development through prototyping, experimentation, and operational test.
  • Develop techniques to detect, characterize, synchronize, demodulate, decode, and analyze known and unknown wireless signals using advanced digital signal processing and communications techniques.
  • Apply statistical signal processing, detection and estimation theory, and other advanced analytical techniques to extract information from complex and challenging RF environments.
  • Design and develop software-defined radio receivers, receiver algorithms, and signal analysis capabilities.
  • Develop software prototypes and analysis tools using Python, MATLAB, C/C++, or similar languages, and evaluate them using simulated, laboratory, recorded, and operational RF data.
  • Research and develop approaches for wireless signal characterization and reverse engineering, including modulation recognition, waveform analysis, and channel-code identification.
  • Provide technical leadership to multidisciplinary teams, mentor less-experienced staff, identify new technical opportunities, and communicate technical approaches and results to sponsors and the technical community.

Qualifications

You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you...
  • Have at least a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Physics, or another related technical field.
  • Have at least ten years of relevant experience in wireless communications, digital signal processing, communications systems engineering, or a related field.
  • Have deep theoretical and practical knowledge of digital communications and signal processing, with demonstrated expertise in several areas such as statistical signal processing, detection and estimation, receiver design, synchronization, modulation/demodulation, or channel coding.
  • Have hands-on experience developing and evaluating wireless receiver or signal-analysis algorithms, including experience with software-defined radios.
  • Have experience developing technical software using Python, MATLAB, C/C++, or similar languages.
  • Have demonstrated technical leadership, strong oral and written communication skills, and the ability to independently solve complex and open-ended technical problems.
  • Are able to obtain an Interim Top Secret level security clearance by your start date and can ultimately obtain a TS/SCI level clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

You'll go above and beyond our minimum requirements if you...
  • Have at least a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Physics, or another related technical field.
  • Have at least fifteen years of relevant experience in wireless communications, signal processing, SIGINT, or related research and development.
  • Have expertise in cyclostationary signal processing, advanced statistical signal processing, detection and estimation theory, or other techniques for detecting and characterizing challenging wireless signals.
  • Have experience with modulation recognition, blind signal characterization, waveform reverse engineering, channel coding, or channel-code identification and reverse engineering.
  • Have experience applying artificial intelligence or machine learning to wireless signal detection, classification, characterization, or reverse engineering, or developing automated or agentic workflows for complex signal-analysis problems.
  • Have a working history supporting Department of Defense and/or Intelligence Community organizations, sponsors, missions, or programs.
  • Hold an active TS/SCI clearance or higher.

#LI-AG1

Minimum Rate

$105,000 Annually

Maximum Rate

$290,000 Annually

About Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) is a research and development organization that provides solutions to national security and scientific challenges. The laboratory was founded in 1942 and is located in Laurel, Maryland. APL is a division of the Johns Hopkins University and is a not-for-profit organization. The laboratory has expertise in a variety of areas, including space exploration, national security, and healthcare.
Learn more about Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab
Size
7,000 employees
Industry
Founded
1942

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