Senior Communications and Signal Processing Engineer

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory; Pasadena (CA); On-site; USD 206,128 - 250,536; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and dental plans

Retirement plans

Flexible schedule

Job summary

The NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory is looking for a Senior Communications and Signal Processing Engineer in Pasadena, California. This role involves leading research and development in telecommunications, contributing to the design of pioneering signal processing systems. The successful candidate will possess significant expertise in areas such as RF and optical communication, adaptive signal processing, and technology development.

Required qualifications include a PhD in electrical engineering and a minimum of 8 years of related work experience. Key responsibilities include leading teams, developing proposals, and executing technical strategies within the Advanced Communications group.

Qualifications

• PhD with 8+ years or Master's with 10+ years experience in signal processing.
• Extensive understanding of telecommunications systems and signal analysis.
• Experience in technology research in digital and RF communications.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of new business opportunities and proposals.
• Drive research in RF and optical digital modems and adaptive signal processing.
• Plan and execute technical tasks within the Advanced Communications group.

Skills

Telecommunication signal processing

Advanced signal analysis

Leadership and project management

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Education

PhD in electrical engineering or related discipline

Job description

Mission and Location

New ideas are all around us, but only a few will change the world. That’s our focus at JPL. We ask the biggest questions, then search the universe for answers—literally. We build upon ideas that have guided generations, then share our discoveries to inspire generations to come. Your mission—your opportunity— is to seek out the answers that bring us one step closer. If you’re driven to discover, create, and inspire something that lasts a lifetime and beyond, you’re ready for JPL.

Located in Pasadena, California, JPL has a campus-like environment situated on 177 acres in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains and offers a work environment unlike any other: we inspire passion, foster innovation, build collaboration, and reward excellence.

Responsibilities

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Communications and Instruments Division conducts scientific investigations, advanced technology research, engineering development, and system implementation in space telecommunications, tracking, and active remote sensing using electromagnetic waves. The Ground Communications & Architectures Section (361) provides end‑to‑end communications system engineering and architectures across RF and optical domains, including long‑term network evolution and planning; development of large ground antennas for the Deep Space Network (DSN); low‑noise amplifiers, transmitters, and RF feed systems; channel coding and data compression; advanced digital receivers for antenna arraying and weak‑signal tracking; entry, descent, and landing (EDL) support; optical communications; global spectrum management; and solar‑system radar operations supporting planetary defense, debris characterization, and radio science. The Advanced Communications & Networking Group within Section 361 is seeking a Senior Communications and Signal Processing Engineer. The group’s work includes pioneering contributions to the theory, design, and standardization of turbo codes and low‑density parity‑check (LDPC) codes, as well as efficient algorithms for compressing still and hyperspectral imagery, all which enable energy‑efficient and reliable communication of data from NASA/JPL spacecraft instruments to Earth. Currently, the group is focused on applying its core expertise to a broad set of applications in data compression, RF, optical, and quantum communications, and signal analysis and machine learning to support efficient extraction of information from a variety of data sources. Key customers include both NASA and non‑NASA sponsors.

• Lead development of new business opportunities, including proposals, technical approaches, and strategic initiatives.
• Drive research and development in areas such as RF and optical digital modems, adaptive signal processing, optical receivers and arraying systems, advanced modulation and encoding/decoding, synchronization, positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT), and ranging.
• Plan, lead, and execute technical tasks within the Advanced Communications & Networking Group.
• Provide technical leadership and oversight across the group and the institution, guiding capabilities, aligning efforts across teams, and representing JPL in collaborations with external partners.
• Contribute to defining capability goals, strategy, and long‑term technical direction.

Qualifications

• PhD in electrical engineering, signal analysis, or a similar discipline with a minimum of 8 years of related work experience; Master’s degree in a similar discipline with a minimum of 10 years of related experience; Bachelor’s degree in a similar discipline with a minimum of 12 years of related experience.
• Significant expertise in analysis of telecommunication or communication signal processing systems and technology development.
• Extensive understanding and wide application of advanced principles, theories, and concepts for signal analysis and technical analyses of telecommunications systems, contributing to the development of new theories and methods.
• Demonstrated application of advanced theories and principles in areas such as:
  • Information theory
  • Source coding
  • Channel coding
  • Detection and estimation theory
  • Digital and adaptive signal processing
  • RF or optical communications from space
• Significant experience in proposing, developing, or executing technology research in one or more of the group’s current technological focus areas of channel coding, modulation, ranging, data compression, RF communications, optical communications, quantum communications, signal processing, and machine learning.
• Strong leadership skills with an excellent track record in planning, executing, and implementing complex projects or tasks, and demonstrated experience in leading work groups and teams.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and problem‑solving skills.

Preferred Skills

• Recent JPL experience in task and/or project management relating to telecommunication systems.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with JPL technical sections and divisions, and with JPL program and project offices.
• Record of successful collaboration across organizational boundaries, including scientists, investigators, and partners in industry, academia and government.
• Experience working with non‑NASA sponsors.
• Willingness to obtain a security clearance.
• Knowledge of laboratory policies and procedures, NASA policies and procedures, and government regulations across a range of applications.

Benefits and Perks

JPL offers a variety of health, dental, vision, wellbeing, and retirement plans, paid time off, learning opportunities, rideshare, childcare, flexible schedule, parental leave, and many more. Our focus is on work‑life balance and living healthy, fulfilling lives as we Dare Mighty Things Together. For benefits‑eligible positions, benefits are effective the first day of the month coincident with or immediately following the employee’s start date. For further benefits information click Benefits and Perks.

Salary Range

Typical full‑time equivalent annual hiring range for this position in Pasadena, California: $206,128 - $250,536.

Equal Opportunity and EEO Statement

JPL is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy or perceived pregnancy, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, protected military or veteran status or any other characteristic or condition protected by Federal, state, or local law.

JPL is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

EEO is the Law.

EEO is the Law Supplement.

Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision.

Security and Eligibility

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federal facility. Due to rules imposed by NASA, JPL will not accept applications from citizens of designated countries or those born in a designated country unless they are U.S. Citizens, Legal Permanent Residents of the U.S or have other protected status under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). The Designated Countries List is available here.