Lead SDR Engineer

Lockheed Martin; Gloucester; Hybrid; GBP 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work schedules

Hybrid work where possible

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

Lockheed Martin in Gloucester is seeking a Lead SDR Engineer (Software Defined Radio) to join a multi-discipline EW capability development team. You will lead on SDR firmware, platform/API development and testing, while mentoring engineers and collaborating with system engineers and cyber specialists.

A clearance path for eDV is available with company support. You’ll work on cutting-edge RF systems, OpenCPI/GNU Radio, and utilise AI/ML and edge processing to drive performance.

Qualifications

• RF communications and SDR tech experience.
• Covers low level firmware and systems integration.
• Experience with EW/SIGINT capability development.
• Proficiency with OpenCPI, GnuRadio, Python, C/C++, VHDL.

Responsibilities

• Lead SDR firmware and applications development for multiple mission formats.
• Drive platform and API development with embedded Linux drivers and application management.
• Coordinate development, test and release activities with CI and lab equipment.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior engineers.
• Collaborate with system engineers, cyber security specialists and technologists.
• Interact with stakeholders to ensure client success and mission goals.
• Explore AI/ML, cloud and edge processing to improve RF performance.

Skills

RF SDR tech

EW/SIGINT development

Comms/modem development

OpenCPI/GnuRadio

Python/C/C++

VHDL

Tools

OpenCPI

GnuRadio

Python

C/C++

VHDL

Job description

About The Role

We are seeking a Lead SDR Engineer (Software Defined Radio) to join a multi-discipline EW capability development team at our Gloucester site. You’ll work on a variety of Defence, Cyber, and Intelligence programmes, with the opportunity to specialise in key areas such as SIGINT, software defined radio architectures, payload development, and OpenCPI applications. At Lockheed Martin, we provide meaningful work and continuous learning opportunities that will help develop your skills and progress your career. We believe in supporting a healthy work‑life balance, offering flexible work schedules, hybrid work where possible, and a comprehensive benefits package to ensure you can enjoy both your professional and personal life. In this essential and rewarding role, you will have the opportunity to work on cutting‑edge RF systems, including developing new RF‑based technologies, conducting vulnerability analysis, and designing deployable SDR applications. You’ll be the technical expert building the next wave of National Security and defence‑grade RF cyber capabilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead on the development of SDR firmware and applications – Create reusable interfaces, algorithms and capabilities to target multiple mission formats and an exciting array of RF platforms.
• Drive platform & API development – Implement signal processing pipelines, embedded Linux drivers, and application management code to manage the integration of our applications with radios in use by our clients in the real world.
• Orchestrate development, test and release activities – Implement test benches, operate laboratory equipment, run continuous integration builds, and conduct rapid iterative testing to validate RF performance and interference resilience.
• Technical Leadership – Mentor junior engineers, lead design reviews, act in the capacity of subject matter expert, and take ownership of the evolution of our technical standards.
• Cross Function Collaboration – Work alongside system engineers, cyber security specialists, technologists and innovators to ensure our customers achieve their mission aims.
• Consultation – You’ll interact directly with other teams and stakeholders on a daily basis in order to ensure the wider success of our clients and partners.
• Innovation – Utilise the latest advances in AI/ML, cloud computing and edge processing to drive step changes in performance and success.

You’ll be a technical expert working in a collaborative and supportive environment, either specializing in one area or contributing across multiple domains of RF communications engineering.

Security Clearance

This role requires you to be able to obtain and maintain eDV security clearance. You don’t need to hold eDV clearance when you apply. If you don’t currently have it, we’ll support you through the application process.

Required Skills, Qualifications, And Experience

• Working with RF communications and software‑defined radio technologies & architectures, low level firmware, and systems integration
• EW or SIGINT capability development (including RF waveform and protocol vulnerability analysis)
• Commercial and Military communications stacks and modem development (e.g IEEE 802.x, COFDM, Satcoms, or Link 16)
• OpenCPI, GnuRadio, Python, C/C++, VHDL and other SDR development technologies

Desired Skills

• RF algorithm development, signal analysis and digital signal processing
• Radio characterisation, front end device design, antenna selection, and link budget optimisation
• FPGA/RFSOC development experience and proficiency in VHDL (or Verilog)
• Embedded Linux, real‑time OS, and platform development including BSP/OSPs
• AWS, IaaC, Git, CICD pipelines, secure development practices, and mixed security classification software development
• Leading technical projects, budgets and teams