Senior DSP Engineer: Space Comm Modem & Waveforms

Northwood Space; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Northwood Space is hiring a Senior DSP Engineer to own modem algorithm definition and end-to-end development for our next-gen radio platform. You will work within our in-house SDR and FPGA infrastructure with emphasis on waveform definition through validation.

You will collaborate with RF, FPGA, and systems engineers to integrate modem techniques into the satellite ground network and validate performance under realistic channel conditions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 5+ years of relevant experience in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a related field
• Experience developing modems or waveform processing chains for SDR, wireless communications, radar, or similar RF systems
• Strong understanding of digital communications theory: CCSDS waveforms, BPSK/QPSK/OQPSK, DVB-S2, carrier synchronization, pulse shaping, equalization, and Doppler effects
• Demonstrated ability to carry waveform algorithms from analysis and prototyping through to a working implementation, rather than stopping at simulation
• Working understanding of the complete signal chain and how modem design decisions interact with RF and hardware constraints
• Experience with communication system testing and performance characterization

Responsibilities

• Own the definition and development of modem algorithms end-to-end, from requirements through implementation and validation
• Define waveform processing chains — synchronization, pulse shaping, equalization, and related signal-processing functions — for implementation on an in-house SDR platform or FPGA
• Partition and implement modem signal-processing functions across FPGA logic and embedded/host-based compute, working within the existing hardware platform
• Collaborate with RF, FPGA, and systems engineers to integrate modem algorithms into the end-to-end system and validate performance
• Develop and run communication system tests to characterize modem performance under realistic channel impairments

Skills

Modem algorithms

Waveform processing

FPGA design

C++ / Rust

Digital comms theory

GNU Radio

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Computer Engineering

Job description

Northwood Space is hiring a Senior DSP Engineer to own modem algorithm definition and end-to-end development for our next-gen radio platform. You will work within our in-house SDR and FPGA infrastructure with emphasis on waveform definition through validation.

You will collaborate with RF, FPGA, and systems engineers to integrate modem techniques into the satellite ground network and validate performance under realistic channel conditions.