Sr. GNSS Receiver Engineer

Voiceflow; Burlingame (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading navigational intelligence firm in Burlingame is seeking a GNSS Receiver Engineer to enhance its Navigation Software team. This role involves the development of advanced receiver architectures for PNT signals. Candidates should possess a strong background in C++, with at least 3 years of GNSS receiver development experience. The compensation range is between $120K and $180K depending on qualifications and experience. A commitment to diversity and inclusion is emphasized in the hiring process.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience with GNSS receiver development or signal processing.
• Hands-on experience with GNSS‑SDR, GNU Radio, or similar.
• Strong understanding of GNSS signal structures and tracking loops.

Responsibilities

• Developing and optimizing acquisition and tracking algorithms.
• Implementing and testing receiver signal processing chains.
• Analyzing signal designs and evaluating tradeoffs.
• Generating and validating pseudorange and carrier phase measurements.

Skills

C++ programming skills

Real-time signal processing

Software-defined radio platforms

GNSS receiver development

Education

MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering

Job description

Location

Burlingame, CA

Employment Type

Full time

Location Type

On-site

Department

Engineering

Compensation

• $120K – $180K

The final job level and salary will be determined based on a range of factors including the candidate’s education, qualifications, knowledge, skills, abilities, and relevant experience. The listed salary range is provided to offer insight into potential compensation, but it’s not a guarantee of the final offer. While we include the full range to be transparent, offers most often fall within the middle portion rather than the top.

Xona is the navigational intelligence company bringing real-time, centimeter-level certainty to any device, anywhere on Earth.

With Pulsar – the world’s most advanced PNT satellite infrastructure in Low Earth Orbit – Xona will offer a future-proof, backwards-compatible global positioning system optimized for absolute precision, superior power, and robust protection.

We're seeking a GNSS Receiver Engineer to join our Navigation Software team, where you'll work at the intersection of signal design and receiver implementation. You'll be instrumental in developing and validating the receiver architectures that process our novel LEO PNT signals from acquisition and tracking through measurement generation.

This role sits at the heart of our system: you'll help shape how our signal-in-space design translates into real receiver performance, working directly with our Interface Control Documents (ICD) to ensure our modulation schemes, navigation message formats, and signal structures are implementable and optimized for precision.

What You’ll Do

• Developing and optimizing acquisition and tracking algorithms for our LEO PNT signals
• Implementing and testing receiver signal processing chains using our GNSS‑SDR‑based verification platform
• Analyzing signal designs and data modulation schemes, evaluating tradeoffs between receiver complexity and performance
• Generating and validating pseudorange and carrier phase measurements from signals in space
• Contributing to ICD development, ensuring signal specifications are grounded in practical receiver implementation
• Characterizing receiver performance through simulation and live signal testing with software‑defined radio (SDR) hardware

Required Qualifications

• MS or PhD in Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, or related field
• 3+ years of experience with GNSS receiver development or signal processing
• Strong C++ programming skills with experience in real-time or embedded signal processing
• Hands‑on experience with software‑defined radio platforms (GNSS‑SDR, GNU Radio, or similar)
• Deep understanding of GNSS signal structures: spreading codes, modulation schemes, correlation, and tracking loops
• Experience with carrier and code tracking loop design (DLL, PLL, FLL)
• Familiarity with measurement generation—pseudorange, carrier phase, Doppler

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with LEO satellite signals or high‑Doppler tracking scenarios
• Familiarity with navigation message decoding and frame synchronization
• Exposure to signal authentication or advanced modulation schemes (BOC, CSK, etc.)
• Experience translating ICDs into receiver implementations

For U.S. Roles: To comply with U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the United States (i.e. Green Card holder), or other protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3).

For U.K. Roles: To comply with U.K. regulations, this role requires Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks, and successful candidates must be eligible to obtain UK Security Clearance (SC).

For Canada Roles: Successful candidates must obtain and hold a security clearance at the reliability status level, and pass security assessment for the Canadian Controlled Goods Program (CGP) and ITAR.

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

Compensation Range: $120K - $180K