Junior DSP Engineer - RF & Wireless Systems

Fairwinds Technologies, LLC; Aberdeen, Northern (MD, KY); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Fairwinds Technologies, LLC is seeking an entry-level DSP-focused engineer to work on xG and Mixed Signal product development, as well as technical-services contracts. You will model, implement, test, and validate signal-processing algorithms alongside seasoned engineers across RF, software, FPGA, and lab teams.

The role offers exposure to real radios, embedded Linux platforms, and field-support activities, aiming to build practical engineering depth from concept to measured performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Applied Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, or a closely related technical field.
• Coursework, laboratory, internship, capstone, research, or personal-project experience in digital signal processing, communications, controls, image processing, acoustics, radar, or related analytical discipline.
• Working knowledge of core DSP concepts such as sampling, aliasing, discrete-time systems, convolution, digital filtering, Fourier transforms, spectra, noise, and signal-to-noise ratio.
• Experience using MATLAB, Python, Simulink, GNU Radio, or another numerical modeling and analysis environment.
• Basic programming ability and willingness to learn the software and hardware interfaces needed to move algorithms into practical systems.
• Ability to collaborate in a multidisciplinary engineering environment and satisfy customer, site-access, export-control, and security requirements associated with assigned work.

Responsibilities

• Develop, simulate, analyze, and test digital signal processing algorithms for communications, sensing, RF test, and signal-conditioning applications.
• Use MATLAB, Simulink, Python, or comparable engineering tools to model signals, evaluate algorithm performance, visualize results, and automate analysis.
• Implement and validate filtering, modulation and demodulation, synchronization, channelization, resampling, spectral analysis, detection, estimation, and related DSP functions as assigned.
• Analyze time-domain and frequency-domain data from simulations, laboratory instruments, radios, channel emulators, and prototype hardware.
• Support translation of algorithms into embedded software or FPGA-oriented implementations in collaboration with software and FPGA engineers.
• Develop repeatable test methods, reference models, test vectors, acceptance criteria, and automated data-processing workflows.
• Assist with system integration involving radios, modems, data converters, RF front ends, coherent signal paths, networked test equipment, and embedded Linux platforms.
• Compare predicted and measured performance, investigate discrepancies, document root causes, and recommend corrective actions.
• Prepare clear technical documentation, test reports, plots, briefings, and configuration records for product and customer-funded activities.
• Participate in laboratory and field testing, demonstrations, design reviews, and multidisciplinary troubleshooting.

Skills

MATLAB

Python

Simulink

DSP concepts

Embedded systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering or closely related field

Tools

GNU Radio

Job description

Fairwinds Technologies, LLC is seeking an entry-level DSP-focused engineer to work on xG and Mixed Signal product development, as well as technical-services contracts. You will model, implement, test, and validate signal-processing algorithms alongside seasoned engineers across RF, software, FPGA, and lab teams.

The role offers exposure to real radios, embedded Linux platforms, and field-support activities, aiming to build practical engineering depth from concept to measured performance.