Senior RF Waveform Engineer & Signal Analyst

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

Laurel (MD)

On-site

USD 100,000 - 245,000

Full time

14 days+

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Job summary

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) seeks an RF Waveform Analyst to join our team in Laurel, MD. You will analyze and characterize complex RF waveforms and protocols, develop algorithms and software to detect, demodulate, and synchronize signals, and execute lab and field tests using SDRs and RF instrumentation.

You will mentor junior staff, lead technical efforts, and interact directly with sponsors to translate mission needs into imple mentable solutions.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, Mathematics, or another field relevant to the duties as described above.
5+ years of relevant professional experience in RF communications, waveform analysis, digital signal processing, protocol analysis, or related areas.
Strong understanding of digital communications concepts including modulation, sampling, filtering, synchronization, spectral analysis, and channel effects.
Experience analyzing analog and digital modulation techniques such as AM, FM, PSK, FSK, QAM, OFDM, or similar waveform structures.
Experience analyzing communications protocols, packet structures, or network behavior.
Experience developing signal processing algorithms or analysis software using Python, MATLAB, C/C++, or similar languages.
Experience working with RF data, including complex I/Q samples.
Experience with software-defined radios or RF laboratory equipment such as spectrum analyzers, vector signal analyzers, signal generators, and oscilloscopes.
Demonstrated ability to independently investigate complex technical problems and develop practical solutions.
Strong oral and written communication skills, including experience communicating technical results to multidisciplinary audiences.
Ability to work independently as well as lead or contribute to multidisciplinary technical teams.
The ability to work on-site at APL's main campus as well as at commercial and government test sites.
Have an active Secret clearance and can ultimately obtain a TS/SCI security clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

Responsibilities

Analyze and characterize complex RF waveforms, modulation schemes, signal structures, and communications protocols.
Develop signal processing algorithms and software to detect, classify, demodulate, synchronize, and characterize RF signals.
Perform detailed analysis of known, partially documented, and unfamiliar RF communications systems.
Analyze communications protocols to identify framing, packet structures, timing, synchronization, channel access, error correction, and system behavior.
Develop innovative approaches for extracting information and understanding system behavior from RF signals and collected I/Q data.
Design and execute laboratory and field experiments to evaluate RF waveforms, communications systems, and analysis techniques.
Use software-defined radios (SDRs), RF laboratory equipment, and specialized analysis tools to collect, generate, replay, and analyze RF signals.
Develop software and automated analysis tools for processing, visualizing, and exploiting large RF datasets.
Lead or contribute to multidisciplinary technical efforts involving RF, signal processing, software, hardware, and systems engineering.
Provide technical mentorship and guidance to early-career engineers.
Work directly with sponsors to understand technical challenges, develop requirements, and communicate analysis results and recommendations.
Document and present technical findings to sponsors and the technical, DoD, and Intelligence communities.
Identify and evaluate emerging RF technologies, waveform techniques, protocols, and signal processing approaches that could address future mission challenges.