DSP Designer

Fidus is a global high-tech design firm headquartered in Ottawa, with additional design centres in Kitchener-Waterloo and San Jose. We specialize in leading-edge electronic product development, with hardware, embedded software, FPGA/ASIC, and signal integrity teams working together to design and deliver next-generation products for clients in emerging technology markets.

The DSP Designer plays a key role in developing and delivering complex signal processing algorithms for Fidus clients, from concept through simulation, fixed-point implementation, and hardware bring-up. You will work directly with customers and internal Fidus FPGA/hardware teams to design algorithms, perform quantization and bit-width analysis, and translate DSP concepts into feasible hardware architectures.

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys moving between application domains (communications, radar/sensing, industrial, medical), is comfortable working across the algorithm-to-hardware boundary, and takes pride in producing well-documented, bit-true designs.

At Fidus, you'll work on high-speed, high-complexity electronic systems, often using emerging technologies before they reach the broader market. You'll collaborate across FPGA/DSP, hardware, embedded software, verification, SI/PI, PCB layout, and mechanical/thermal design as part of cross-functional teams delivering real products for our clients.

In practice, that means contributing to projects across communications, Aerospace & Defense, Space & Satellite, Industrial Automation, Automotive, Medical Devices, and Semiconductor engagements. You won't be limited to a single product or industry—your work will follow the technology, not just one roadmap.

• Develop and simulate DSP algorithms (equalization, filtering, estimation, detection) in MATLAB/Simulink and/or Python, from concept through fixed-point validation
• Perform quantization/bit-width analysis and produce bit-true fixed-point models suitable for HDL implementation
• Collaborate with FPGA/HDL and hardware teams to translate algorithms into feasible hardware architectures (pipelining, MAC/resource budgeting, timing closure)
• Support HDL verification through golden-model test vectors and co-simulation
• Support lab bring-up, characterization, and tuning of DSP-based hardware against real-world channel/sensor behavior
• Adapt existing DSP toolkits to new client domains and standards across multiple engagements (e.g., communications, Aerospace & Defense, Space & Satellite, Industrial Automation, Automotive, Medical Devices, and Semiconductor)
• Document algorithm design decisions, trade-offs, and validation results for client and internal reference

• BS/MS/PhD in Electrical Engineering, Applied Physics, or related field
• Strong foundation in signals and systems:
  Fourier/Z-transform, digital filter design (FIR/IIR), sampling theory
• Practical experience with estimation/detection theory (e.g., matched filtering, MMSE, Kalman filtering) or adaptive filtering (LMS/RLS)
• Proficiency in MATLAB/Simulink and/or Python for algorithm design and simulation
• Experience with fixed-point conversion and quantization trade-off analysis
• Demonstrated ability to work across the algorithm-to-hardware boundary (collaborating directly with HDL/FPGA teams)
• Strong verbal and written communication skills - ability to explain algorithm trade-offs to non-DSP stakeholders
• Embraces AI as part of a modern engineering toolkit

• Experience in one or more of: optical/wireless communications, radar/sensing, motor control, biomedical signal processing, semiconductor test
• Experience with high-speed Ser Des and PAM4 signaling (e.g., PCIe Gen6, 400G/800G Ethernet electrical) - equalization (FFE/CTLE/DFE), link training, and FEC awareness
• Familiarity with AMD's Adaptive Computing portfolio (Versal, Alveo) or embedded x86 product lines
• Familiarity with HDL Coder, HLS, or Simulink-to-HDL co-simulation workflows
• Hands-on lab experience (scope, VNA, BERT, or domain-equivalent test equipment)
• Exposure to safety-critical or regulated development processes (DO-178C/DO-254, ISO 26262, IEC 62304/60601) - valued for A&D, automotive, and medtech engagements specifically
• Experience adapting quickly across multiple industries or client domains (consulting/services background a plus)
• Exposure to AI/ML techniques applied to signal processing on FPGAs, GPUs, NPUs, or CPUs
• Experience with dedicated DSP processors (e.g., Analog Devices, Texas…