Senior Fire Control Systems & Signal Processing Engineer

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

Benefits offered by this job

Health and Wellness programs

Income protection

Paid leave and retirement

Job summary

Leidos in Huntsville seeks a Senior Fire Control Systems & Signal Processing Engineer to help develop next-generation hypersonic interceptors, missile defense systems, and air defense sensors.

You will design advanced signal processing algorithms, analyze uplink/downlink subsystems, and integrate with IFC systems across Army, Navy, and joint platforms, leveraging MATLAB, Python, and C/C++. A DoD/secret clearance is required; MS/PhD preferred for advanced programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's in electrical or aerospace engineering, mathematics, or physics 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, or C/C++.
• Active DoD/defense environment experience and secret clearance.
• Familiarity with MOSA and open architecture standards (SOSA, FACE).

Responsibilities

• Develop advanced signal processing algorithms for fire control and communications in noisy environments.
• Design interfaces for missile uplink/downlink subsystems with ground-based radars and EOC.
• Support IFC system design with ground, naval, and joint systems (IBCS, Aegis, THAAD, IFPC).
• Integrate mission data flows, telemetry, and C2 interfaces.
• Perform link budget analyses for dynamic flight and plasma effects.
• Model RF propagation through thermal protection and ionized flow.
• Integrate models within mission-level simulations and digital engineering.
• Collaborate across aerodynamics, thermal, GNC, and systems engineering.

Skills

Signal processing

RF systems

Fire control systems

Matlab

Python

C/C++

Education

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or aerospace engineering

Tools

MATLAB

Python

C/C++

Job 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.

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

Pay Range: Pay Range $107,900.00 - $195,050.00

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 here.

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 $17.2 billion for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2026. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Securing Your Data

Leidos will never ask you to provide payment-related information at any part of the employment application process. And Leidos will communicate with you only through emails that are sent from a Leidos.com email address. If you receive an email purporting to be from Leidos that asks for payment-related information or any other personal information, please report the email to [e-mail].

Commitment and Diversity

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.

Original Posting: August 3, 2026 For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.