Senior DSP Engineer - TS/SCI

Parsons; Herndon (VA); On-site; USD 112,000 - 196,000; Full time

Job summary

Parsons is hiring a Senior DSP Engineer to design and field advanced processing chains for communications signals across terrestrial, airborne, maritime-surface, and space segments.

The role covers algorithm development through operational software using I/Q data from wideband receivers and SDRs, with emphasis on detection, classification, and exploitation of tactical signals in contested environments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or closely related discipline; Master's preferred or equivalent experience.
• 8+ years of experience in DSP for digital communications, COMINT, or SIGINT.
• Active U.S. citizenship and Top Secret / SCI clearance.

Responsibilities

• Architect and implement DSP pipelines for detection, classification, parameterization, and tracking of communications signals across HF through Ka-band collections.
• Develop synchronization, carrier and symbol recovery, equalization, and demodulation for various waveforms including frequency-hopped and spread-spectrum.
• Recover payload bits and reconstruct higher-layer structure from tactical data links and satellite communications.
• Design multi-rate channelizers and wideband front-end processing.
• Mitigate impairments like Doppler, multipath, and IQ imbalance; validate with I/Q data.
• Implement and optimize in C/C++ and Python on Linux; leverage GPU acceleration when needed.
• Mentor junior engineers and document interfaces for sustainment.

Skills

DSP algorithms

C/C++

Python

Linux

Git

MATLAB

GNU Radio

CUDA

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Master's degree preferred

Equivalent experience considered

Tools

MATLAB

GNU Radio

X-Midas

Git

CUDA

Job description

In a world of possibilities, pursue one with endless opportunities. Imagine Next! At Parsons, you can imagine a career where you thrive, work with exceptional people, and be yourself. Guided by our leadership vision of valuing people, embracing agility, and fostering growth, we cultivate an innovative culture that empowers you to achieve your full potential. Unleash your talent and redefine what's possible.

Job Description

Seeking a Senior DSP Engineer to design, implement, and field advanced processing chains for communications signals of interest (SOIs) across terrestrial, airborne, maritime-surface, and space segments. The role centers on detection, characterization, demodulation, and exploitation of tactical and strategic data-bearing waveforms in congested, contested, and degraded electromagnetic environments. Work spans algorithm development through operational software deployed against collected I/Q from wideband receivers and software-defined radios.

Responsibilities

• Architect and implement DSP pipelines for detection, classification, parameterization, and tracking of communications signals across HF through Ka-band collections.
• Develop synchronization, carrier and symbol recovery, equalization, and demodulation algorithms for both well-documented and poorly characterized waveforms, including frequency-hopped, spread-spectrum, and low-probability-of-intercept / low-probability-of-detection constructions.
• Recover payload bits and reconstruct higher-layer structure from tactical and strategic data links, including line-of-sight, beyond-line-of-sight, and satellite communications carriers (protected and commercial).
• Design multi-rate channelizers, polyphase filter banks, and wideband front-end processing suitable for high-occupancy spectrum and mixed narrowband / wideband collections.
• Characterize and mitigate real-world impairments typical of long-range and over-water paths: Doppler from moving platforms, multipath, co-channel interference, phase noise, IQ imbalance, and low SNR.
• Perform SOI development and waveform discovery against unidentified or evolving communications systems; produce reusable signal models, feature sets, and processing recipes.
• Implement and optimize algorithms in C/C++ and Python on Linux, with GPU/CUDA or equivalent acceleration where throughput or latency requires it; integrate with SDR hardware and existing mission processing frameworks.
• Validate processing chains against laboratory-generated and field-collected I/Q using quantitative metrics (detection probability, false-alarm rate, EVM, BER, protocol decode success).
• Support end-to-end integration with RF front ends, collection systems, and downstream analytic or C2 consumers; contribute to lab, ground, and occasional field test events.
• Mentor junior engineers, review designs, and translate operational collection needs into technical requirements and processing architectures.
• Document algorithms, interfaces, and performance so capabilities can be sustained and transitioned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a closely related discipline; Master's degree preferred . Equivalent experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• 8 years of experience required
• U.S. citizenship
• An active Top Secret / SCI clearance
• Ten or more years of professional experience developing DSP algorithms for digital communications, COMINT, or closely related SIGINT applications.
• Deep working knowledge of communications theory: modulation and coding, multiple access, synchronization, estimation and detection, channel models, and link-budget fundamentals.
• Hands-on experience demodulating and exploiting communications waveforms used for command-and-control and data exchange among surface, airborne, and space assets-not limited to a single band or access method.
• Proficiency in implementing signal processing in C/C++ and Python in Linux environments; version control with Git.
• Experience with at least one mission-relevant framework or environment such as MATLAB, GNU Radio, or X-Midas.
• Demonstrated ability to work from raw I/Q through bits and recoverable protocol structure under operationally realistic impairments.

Security Clearance Requirement

An active Top Secret SCI security clearance is required for this position.

Federal Solutions Segment

This position is part of our Federal Solutions team. The Federal Solutions segment delivers resources to our US government customers that ensure the success of missions around the globe. Our intelligent employees drive the state of the art as they provide services and solutions in the areas of defense, security, intelligence, infrastructure, and environmental. We promote a culture of excellence and close-knit teams that take pride in delivering, protecting, and sustaining our nation's most critical assets, from Earth to cyberspace. Throughout the company, our people are anticipating what's next to deliver the solutions our customers need now.

Salary Range: $112,200.00 - $196