Senior Software Defined Radio (SDR) Engineer

Primary Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and deploy advanced SDR systems using Ettus Research USRP hardware
• Develop high-performance SDR applications using:
  • C++
  • UHD (USRP Hardware Driver)
• Implement and optimize:
  • Real-time DSP pipelines
  • Custom waveform generation
  • Modulation/demodulation chains
  • RF streaming architectures
  • High-throughput signal processing systems
• Interface directly with:
  • FPGA-based SDR architectures
  • High-speed Ethernet transport layers
  • RF front ends and synchronization systems
• Develop software for low-latency and real-time RF applications
• Perform RF system integration, testing, calibration, and troubleshooting
• Analyze and optimize:
  • Spectral performance
  • Timing synchronization
  • Throughput bottlenecks
  • RF impairments
• Integrate SDR platforms into larger communications, sensing, or EW architectures
• Produce technical documentation, interface definitions, and software architecture artifacts
• Support lab and field testing activities, travel up to 15%

• Bachelor’s degree in:
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Computer Engineering
  • Computer Science
  • Related technical discipline
• Must have 8+ years of expereince including strong hands-on experience with:
  • Ettus Research USRP platforms (X310/X410, N320/N321, X440, B-Series platforms)
• Strong proficiency in:
  • Modern C++
  • Python
  • Linux systems programming, including Linux performance optimization
  • Multithreaded and concurrent software architectures
• Experience deploying systems with Red Hat Linux
• Experience developing with:
  • UHD API
  • Real-time streaming systems
  • High-rate packet processing
  • Socket programming
  • Low-latency software architectures
  • Ettus RF Network On Chip (RFNoC) architecture
• Strong understanding of:
  • RF fundamentals
  • Wireless communications systems
  • IQ signal processing
  • Digital modulation techniques
  • Wideband RF architectures
  • Spectrum analysis
• Experience implementing:
  • OFDM
  • QPSK/QAM
  • Channel estimation
  • Synchronization algorithms
  • FFT/channelization pipelines
  • Adaptive filtering
  • Signal detection and classification
  • Time/frequency synchronization
• Position requires an active Secret security clearance or the ability to obtain and maintain one

• Experience with:
  • Electronic Warfare (EW)
  • SIGINT/ELINT systems
  • Tactical communications
  • Spectrum operations
• Familiarity with:
  • Xilinx FPGA architectures
  • Vivado
  • Verilog/VHDL
  • Hardware acceleration pipelines
• Experience with:
  • 10/40/100 GigE transport
  • GPSDO/PPS synchronization
  • Distributed SDR architectures
  • Real-time operating systems
• Familiarity with:
  • MIMO systems
  • Beamforming
  • SATCOM architectures
• Active Top Secret clearance preferred

• Strong systems engineering mindset
• Ability to troubleshoot complex RF/software interactions
• Comfortable working directly with hardware in lab and field environments
• Capable of building production-grade SDR software from the ground up
• Strong debugging, optimization, and performance tuning skills
• Self-starter capable of operating in fast-paced R&D environments

Position requires an active Secret security clearance or the ability to obtain and maintain one

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.