Principal DSP Engineer

Cantos Ventures; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Heaviside Industries is seeking a senior engineer to architect real-time DSP pipelines for multi-channel RF systems and to field production-grade, low-latency estimators for precision munitions. You will implement Kalman/IMM filters and develop channel calibration for high-reliability operation.

You will work on edge-compute stacks, GPU-accelerated prototyping in Python and hard-real-time C/C++, interfacing with RFSoC hardware and FPGA deployments.

Qualifications

• 10+ years building real-time DSP systems on actual hardware for unmanned or radar platforms.
• Hands-on experience taking phase-coherent multi-channel systems from bench to fielded assets.
• Production-grade work on RF detection systems or related defense hardware.

Responsibilities

• Architect and ship real-time DSP pipelines on multi-channel RF systems.
• Implement low-latency bearing-angle estimation from synchronized data.
• Build closed-loop pipelines with time-of-arrival measurement and filters.
• Develop channel-calibration stack for real-time operation.
• Add interference rejection and false-alarm-rate management for contested spectrum.

Skills

Real-time DSP systems

Phase-coherent multi-channel

GPU-accelerated Python

C/C++ for hard-real-time targets

Kalman / IMM filters

Alpha-beta trackers

Pulse-Doppler processing

Edge-compute development

Sidelobe suppression methods

Education

MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering, ECE, Applied Physics, or related field

Tools

NumPy

CuPy

CUDA

C/C++

Job description

ABOUT HEAVISIDE INDUSTRIES

Heaviside Industries builds multi-domain autonomous precision munitions for U.S. and allied special operations and conventional forces. While modern warfare has rapidly evolved with the proliferation of unmanned systems, hyper-precise munitions in contested environments are the future of the battlefield. Economical precision strike capabilities are critical to U.S. and allied war efforts, enabling successful defeat of enemy military assets and infrastructure. Heaviside builds precision munitions designed to operate in GPS-denied and spectrum-jammed battlefields—where traditional systems degrade or fail—without inflated prices or sacrifice to performance.

All engineering and manufacturing is conducted in-house in Heaviside’s Los Angeles, CA headquarters and Oslo, Norway office.

Heaviside is backed by Interlagos, Menlo Ventures, Flume Ventures, Cantos, Anorak Ventures, and Ravelin Ventures.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Architect and ship real-time DSP pipelines on multi-channel RF systems (multi-channels, hardware-locked sampling, OCXO reference)
• Implement low-latency, single-snapshot bearing-angle estimation from synchronized multi-channel data — sum-and-difference channel processing and Σ/Δ ratio calibration
• Build the closed-loop pipeline: time-of-arrival measurement, pulse-train association, and filters (alpha-beta, Kalman, EKF, IMM) fused with airframe pose
• Build the channel-calibration stack — phase, amplitude, and alignment across all receivers, applied in a real-time pipeline
• Add false-alarm-rate management, sidelobe blanking, and interference-rejection techniques for contested-spectrum operation
• Drive deterministic, sub-millisecond end-to-end pipeline latency that survives transition from prototype to production silicon (FPGA / RFSoC)
• Specify, integrate, and bring up the RF systems, timing-reference, and edge-compute stack for new programs
• Run bench bring up, anechoic-chamber, and captive-carry verification campaigns to closure

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

• MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering, ECE, Applied Physics, or related field — or equivalent shipped-product experience
• 10+ years building real-time DSP systems that ran on actual hardware in actual missions on unmanned aerial systems or ground radar systems
• Hands-on experience taking phase-coherent multi-channel systems from bench to flying or fielded system
• Production-grade work on at least one of: fire-control radar processing, RWR, ESM, SIGINT, or other RF detection systems
• Deep working knowledge of sum-and-difference / comparator-based angle estimation, and the calibration discipline that makes them deliver precision
• Production implementation of real-time tracking filters — alpha-beta, Kalman, IMM — with airframe-pose fusion and dropout handling
• Pulse-Doppler signal processing experience
• Comfortable in BOTH GPU-accelerated Python (NumPy / CuPy / CUDA) for prototype and edge-compute work AND C/C++ for hard-real-time targets; understands when each is appropriate
• Experience with industrial- or tactical-grade IMUs and high-stability frequency references (OCXO, CSAC, rubidium)
• Practitioner with NanoVNA and calibrated lab VNA; can read multi-port S-parameters and debug a phase-mismatched cable
• U.S. Person as defined by ITAR (22 CFR §120.62)

Additional Information:

Compensation bands are determined by role, level, location, and alignment with market data. Individual level and base pay is determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related skills, education, experience, technical capabilities and internal equity. In addition to base salary, for full-time hires, you may also be eligible for long-term incentives in the form of stock options, access to medical, vision & dental coverage, and access to a 401(k) retirement plan.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.

Heaviside is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Heaviside is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, physical disability or any other legally protected status.