Research Faculty Open Rank, Spectrum Dominance Division

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VT); Blacksburg (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Virginia Tech National Security Institute (VTNSI) in Blacksburg, VA, invites applications for an open-rank Research Associate or Research Scientist position within the Spectrum Dominance Division. This role focuses on RF research, real-time systems, and collaboration with government sponsors, with opportunities across SDR, AI/ML for RF, and radar-related applications.

The successful candidate will work on TRL 3–6 projects, engage with sponsors, and contribute to publications while maintaining

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s in Computer/Electrical Engineering or related field.
• Proven background in software/hardware development for RF applications.
• Python and C++ as primary development languages.

Responsibilities

• Support 2–3 simultaneous team-based RF research efforts.
• Assist with internal communications and milestones (status updates, code reviews).
• Contribute to final deliverables through documentation, guides, reports, and publications.
• Engage with sponsors via briefings and demonstrations as needed.

Skills

Python

C++

Education

Bachelor’s degree in computer/electrical engineering

Master’s degree in computer/electrical engineering

Tools

GNU Radio

FPGAs

SDR hardware

Job description

Job Description

The Virginia Tech National Security Institute (VTNSI) was formed in 2021 with the aspiration to become the nation’s preeminent academic organization at the nexus of interdisciplinary research, technology, policy, and talent development to advance national security. The Institute grew from the Hume Center, which was launched in 2010 thanks to an endowment from Ted and Karyn Hume. VTNSI is a national leader in advancing security and resilience through innovative and applied research, empowering the next generation of experts, and building strategic alliances to address evolving national security challenges. We bring together exceptional interdisciplinary faculty, unique research infrastructure, and deep partnerships with industry and government sponsors to execute impactful research and development.

The Spectrum Dominance Division has an opening for a Research Associate or Research Scientist at its office in Blacksburg, Virginia. The Spectrum Dominance Division (SDD) within VTNSI is home to 30 full-time faculty researchers with focus areas in electrical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, and applied mathematics. SDD’s portfolio reaches across all aspects of the radio frequency transmit/receive chain, including antenna and phased array design, baseband waveform design, and receiver design. SDD houses domain expertise in SDR development, AI/ML applied to the radio frequency (RF) spectrum (i.e., RFML), SIGINT, RADAR, cellular, electromagnetic materials, cognitive radio, and additive manufacturing. The hiring rank of this position will be based on the candidates' background and experience.

While engaging in cutting-edge RF research, SDD has a particular focus on TRL 3-6 R&D, acting as the bridge from fundamental research on campus to prototypes for government and commercial sponsors. A particular strength is real-time RF system development leveraging in-house FPGA, GPU, and SDR platforms. Importantly, SDD has successfully transitioned multiple capabilities for real-time RF machine learning, automotive cybersecurity, and radar threat warning models.

Validation of SDD products is accomplished in VTNSI’s state-of-the-art 5,000 sq. ft. of wireless testing and lab spaces as well as the Counter-UAS Testing and Research Center (CTRC), between them housing SDR testbeds, two RF anechoic chambers, and high-end measurement equipment (e.g. spectrum analyzers, vector network analyzers, etc.) supporting bands up to 110 GHz. These capabilities complement a nearly $10M investment in secure computing infrastructure, housing expansive GPU and CPU clusters.

Motivated applicants are sought to help support SDD’s rapid portfolio growth in our radio frequency portfolio and will be expected to:

• Support radio frequency software/hardware development (based on background and/or interests) on 2-3 simultaneous team-based research efforts.
• Support project internal communications and milestones through oral/written status updates and/or code review.
• Support project final deliverables through code documentation, user guides, final reports, and/or academic publications.
• Have flexibility and adaptability to work on different radio frequency application areas such as signals intelligence, waveform design, RADAR, electromagnetics, cellular, etc. (depending on current division project portfolio).
• Have a willingness to engage with sponsors through occasional oral briefings and demonstrations, virtually and occasional travel to sponsor sites.

This is an open-rank search with the Research Professional track. Final rank level and job duties will be determined based on the candidate’s background, skills and experience.

Required Qualifications

• Given the nature of the research conducted and the requirements from federal sponsors, the candidate must be a US citizen.
• Ability and willingness to obtain and maintain a security clearance.
• An earned Bachelor’s with professional experience or Master’s degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related engineering discipline.
• Demonstrated background in software/hardware development for radio frequency applications, with Python and C++ being the division’s primary development languages.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge or experience with real-time radio frequency hardware/software systems, such as software-defined radios (SDRs), GNU Radio, 5G/6G/O-RAN testbeds (OAI, srsRAN, and OCUDU), FPGAs, and/or embedded systems
• Knowledge or experience with assembling RF systems and measuring performance with commercial test equipment (e.g. vector network analyzers, RF signal generators, spectrum analyzers, logic analyzers, and/or real-time oscilloscopes)
• Experience or basic knowledge of antenna systems such as directivity, gain, impedance, VSWR, S-parameters, polarization, frequency response, and/or beam patterns
• knowledge or experience working on team-based software development projects using appropriate version control software tools such as Git.

Overtime Status

Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Appointment Type

Restricted

Salary Information

90,000 - 160,000 depending on rank and experience level

Hours per week

40 hrs per week

Review Date

September 14, 2026

Additional Information

Due to the nature of our work, all candidates must be US citizens with the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands‑on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem‑solvers. A comprehensive land‑grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is aninclusive communitydedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eightundergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicinecollege, Graduate School, and Honors College.The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerousExtension officesandresearch institutes. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.

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