Senior Fire Control Systems & Signal Processing Engineer

Leidos; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 108,000 - 195,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos in Huntsville, AL seeks a Senior Fire Control Systems & Signal Processing Engineer to support hypersonic interceptors and air defense systems for DoD customers. The role blends communications, signal processing, and fire control to enable resilient targeting in challenging environments.

You will develop advanced algorithms, assist system design, and collaborate with aerodynamics, RF, and systems engineering teams to deliver integrated solutions for next-generation sensors and engagements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's in electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, applied mathematics, physics, or related field with 8+ years' experience (or master's with 6+)
• Experience in signal processing, RF systems, communications, or fire control systems engineering
• Proficiency in MATLAB, Python, C/C++
• Experience developing algorithms for tracking, communications, or sensor data processing
• Understanding of RF fundamentals, including propagation, antennas, and link analysis
• Experience in a DoD, defense contractor, or national security environment
• Active secret clearance required

Responsibilities

• Develop advanced signal processing algorithms for fire control, guidance, and communications in high-noise environments
• Design and analyze missile command uplink and telemetry downlink subsystems
• Support IFC system design and interface definition with ground, naval, and joint systems
• Integrate end-to-end mission data flows
• Perform link budget analyses for dynamic flight conditions
• Conduct electromagnetic modeling and simulation of antenna performance and RF propagation
• Integrate models and algorithms within mission-level simulations and digital engineering environments
• Collaborate across disciplines to translate requirements into executable designs
• Support concept development, trade studies, proposals, and customer briefings

Skills

Experience in signal processing, RF, C

MATLAB

Python

C/C++

Active Secret clearance

Defense/DoD environment

Education

Bachelor's in electrical, aerospace, applied mathematics, physics or related field

Master's or Ph.D. preferred

Tools

Ansys HFSS

CST

FEKO

SDR/FPGA (VHDL/Verilog)

Job description

Description

Looking for an opportunity to make an impact?

At Leidos, we deliver innovative solutions through the efforts of our diverse and talented people who are dedicated to our customers' success. We empower our teams, contribute to our communities, and operate sustainable. Everything we do is built on a commitment to do the right thing for our customers, our people, and our community. Our Mission, Vision, and Values guide the way we do business.

Are you ready for your next career challenge?

Leidos Defense provides a diverse portfolio of systems, solutions, and services covering land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace for customers worldwide. Solutions for Defense include enterprise and mission IT, large-scale intelligence systems, command and control, geospatial and data analytics, cybersecurity, logistics, training, and intelligence analysis and operations support. Our team is solving the world's toughest security challenges for customers with "can't fail" missions.

Leidos is seeking a Senior Fire Control Systems & Signal Processing Engineer to support the development of next-generation hypersonic interceptors, missile defense systems, and air defense effectors. The selected candidate will contribute to a portfolio of programs spanning low-cost interceptor concepts, hypersonic weapons, and integrated air and missile defense, with near-term focus on effectors designed to integrate with existing and emerging Army fire control architectures.

This position sits at the intersection of communications, signal processing, and fire control, enabling resilient connectivity and targeting performance in extreme flight environments. You will support early-phase system design, digital engineering, and mission-level integration for DoD customers including MDA, PEO Missiles and Space, and the Army AMD community, working alongside a multidisciplinary team of aerospace, RF, and systems engineers.

Primary Responsibilities

• Develop advanced signal processing algorithms (e.g., filtering, tracking, beamforming) for fire control, guidance, and communications in high-noise, contested environments
• Design and analyze missile command uplink and telemetry downlink subsystems, including interfaces to ground-based fire control radars and engagement control stations
• Support Integrated Fire Control (IFC) system design and interface definition with ground, naval, and joint systems (e.g., IBCS, Aegis, THAAD, IFPC)
• Integrate end-to-end mission data flows, including mission data loads (MDLs), telemetry, health/status reporting, and command and control (C2) interfaces
• Perform link budget analyses for dynamic flight conditions, including plasma effects, atmospheric attenuation, and vehicle geometry
• Conduct electromagnetic modeling and simulation of antenna performance and RF propagation through thermal protection systems and ionized flow fields
• Integrate models and algorithms within mission-level simulations and digital engineering environments
• Collaborate across disciplines (aerodynamics, thermal, GNC, systems engineering) to translate requirements into executable designs
• Support concept development, trade studies, technical proposals, and customer briefings

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's in electrical engineering, aerospace engineering, applied mathematics, physics, or related field with 8+ years' experience (or master's with 6+)
• Experience in signal processing, RF systems, communications, or fire control systems engineering
• Proficiency in one or more of: MATLAB, Python, C/C++
• Experience developing algorithms for tracking, communications, or sensor data processing
• Understanding of RF fundamentals, including propagation, antennas, and link analysis
• Experience in a DoD, defense contractor, or national security environment
• Active Secret clearance required

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's or Ph.D. with emphasis in electromagnetics, communications, or DSP
• 8+ years supporting missile defense, hypersonic weapons, or reentry systems
• Familiarity with tactical datalinks for sensor-to-shooter timelines against hypersonic threats (e.g., Link 16, TTNT, MADL, Weapon Data Link)
• Direct experience with IFC systems, data links, and next-generation air and missile defense sensors, including IBCS integration (e.g., Aegis, THAAD)
• Experience designing missile uplink/downlink subsystems for ground-radar-cued engagements, including in-flight target updates and link-degradation handling
• Expertise in EM simulation tools (e.g., Ansys HFSS, CST, FEKO)
• Experience developing algorithms such as Kalman filters, adaptive beamforming, or spectral estimation
• Link budget analyses for hypersonic systems, including plasma-induced attenuation
• Hands-on SDR, FPGA (VHDL/Verilog), or embedded RF experience
• Familiarity with MOSA and open architecture standards (OMS, SOSA, FACE)
• Experience with digital engineering or MBSE environments (e.g., Cameo)
• Active Top Secret (TS) clearance

At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo - because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 - and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting:

August 3, 2026

Pay Range:

Pay Range $107,900.00 - $195,050.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline onlyand not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

About Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, www.Leidos.com

Pay and Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.