Senior Fire Control Systems and Signal Processing Engineer

Description

Looking for an opportunity to make an impact?

At Leidos, we deliver innovative solutions through the efforts of our diverse and talented people who are dedicated to our customers’ success. We empower our teams, contribute to our communities, and operate sustainably. Everything we do is built on a commitment to do the right thing for our customers, our people, and our community. Our Mission, Vision, and Values guide the way we do business.

Your greatest work is ahead!

Leidos’ Defense Systems Advanced Development Organization is seeking a Senior Fire Control Systems & Signal Processing Engineer to join our team to support the development of next‑generation hypersonic and missile defense systems. This role sits at the intersection of communications, signal processing, and fire control, focused on enabling resilient connectivity and targeting performance in extreme hypersonic environments. The selected candidate will contribute to early‑phase system design, digital engineering, and mission‑level integration efforts supporting Department of Defense customers.

You will work alongside a multidisciplinary team of aerospace, RF, and systems engineers to design and mature high‑speed vehicle communication architectures, develop advanced signal processing algorithms, and ensure robust performance through plasma, thermal, and contested RF environments.

Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and implement advanced signal processing algorithms (e.g., filtering, tracking, beamforming) to support fire control, guidance, and communications in high‑noise and contested environments
• Design and analyze RF communications and data link architectures for hypersonic and missile systems, including integration with fire control networks
• Design, implement, and integrate end‑to‑end mission data flows, including mission data loads (MDLs), real‑time telemetry, health and status reporting, and command and control (C2) interfaces, ensuring seamless operation across communications, guidance and fire control systems
• Perform link budget analyses accounting for dynamic flight conditions, including plasma effects, atmospheric attenuation, and vehicle geometry
• Conduct electromagnetic modeling and simulation to evaluate antenna performance and RF propagation through thermal protection systems and ionized flow fields
• Support Integrated Fire Control (IFC) system design and interface definition with ground and naval systems (e.g., IBCS, Aegis, THAAD)
• Develop and integrate models and algorithms within mission‑level simulations, digital engineering environments, and M&S frameworks
• Collaborate across disciplines (aerodynamics, thermal, systems engineering) to translate mission requirements into executable system designs
• Develop and integrate direct signal messaging and mission data pathways, including mission data loads, system health/status telemetry, and real‑time command and control interfaces across fire control architectures
• Support concept development, trade studies, and technical proposals for emerging hypersonic and missile defense opportunities
• Contribute to technical briefings and customer engagements, clearly communicating complex concepts to both technical and non‑technical stakeholders

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, applied mathematics, physics or related field with 8+ years of relevant experience (or master’s with 6+ years)
• Experience in signal processing, RF systems, communications, or fire control systems engineering
• Proficiency in one or more of the following: MATLAB, Python, C/C++
• Experience developing or analyzing algorithms for tracking, communications, or sensor data processing
• Understanding of RF fundamentals, including propagation, antennas, and link analysis
• Experience working in a DoD, defense contractor, or national security environment
• Active Secret clearance required

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s or Ph.D. in electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, applied mathematics, or related field, with emphasis in electromagnetics, communications, or DSP
• 8+ years supporting missile defense, hypersonic weapons, or reentry systems, including high‑speed flight environments
• Expe…