Senior DSP Engineer - TS/SCI

Parsons; Virginia; On-site; USD 112,000 - 196,000; Full time

Job summary

Parsons seeks a Senior DSP Engineer to design, implement, and field advanced DSP chains for communications signals across terrestrial, airborne, maritime, and space segments. The role focuses on detection, characterization, demodulation, and exploitation of tactical waveforms in contested environments.

You will develop DSP pipelines and algorithms in C/C++, Python on Linux, with CUDA acceleration when needed, integrating with SDR hardware and mission processing frameworks.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical or Computer Engineering;Master’s degree preferred.
• 8+ years of experience in DSP for digital communications or SIGINT.
• U.S. citizenship and an active Top Secret/SCI clearance.
• Strong knowledge of modulation, coding, synchronization, estimation and detection, and channel models.
• Hands-on experience implementing DSP algorithms in C/C++ and Python on Linux.
• Experience with MATLAB, GNU Radio, or X-Midas.
• Ability to work with raw I/Q and recover protocol structures under impairments.
• Experience with multi-rate channelizers and wideband processing.

Responsibilities

• Architect and implement DSP pipelines for detection, classification, parameterization, and tracking of signals from HF to Ka-band.
• Develop synchronization, carrier/symbol recovery, equalization, and demodulation algorithms for diverse waveforms.
• Recover payloads and reconstruct higher-layer structure from tactical/strategic links (including satellite).
• Design multi-rate channelizers, polyphase filters, and wideband front-end processing.
• Characterize and mitigate impairments like Doppler, multipath, interference, and phase noise.
• Implement and optimize algorithms in C/C++ and Python on Linux; leverage GPU/CUDA when needed.
• Validate processing with lab and field I/Q data and quantify performance metrics.
• Mentor junior engineers and translate operational needs into technical requirements.

Skills

DSP algorithms

C/C++

Python

Linux

Git

CUDA

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

MATLAB

GNU Radio

X-Midas

Git

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 degreein Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a closely related discipline;Master’s degree preferred. Equivalent experience may be consideredin lieu ofa 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.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 - $196,400.00Parsons is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other protected status.

We truly invest and care about our employee’s wellbeing and provide endless growth opportunities as the sky is the limit, so aim for the stars! Imagine next and join the Parsons quest.