Sr Staff Engineer Signal Processing

Northrop Grumman Corp.; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 212,000 - 318,000; Full time

Job summary

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems is seeking a Senior Staff System Engineer with a Signal Processing background to work in Sacramento, California. You will join a team that develops transformative signal processing solutions to solve complex challenges in Signals Intelligence (SIGINT).

You'll work with cutting-edge tools such as Ultra‑Wideband SDRs and GPUs, enjoying professional growth and mentorship from senior engineers on national security initiatives.

Qualifications

• BS in STEM with at least 14 years of relevant experience, or MS with 12+ years, or PhD with 10+ years.
• Ability to translate complex operational needs into technical system requirements.
• Domain: tactical SIGINT operations, military capabilities, and geolocation concepts.
• DSP basics: modulation/demodulation, FFT/spectral analysis, filtering, resampling, channelization, and estimation theory.
• Experience with SDRs, RF front-ends, IQ data, geolocation techniques (DF/beamforming), and signal characterization.

Responsibilities

• Perform architecture trades, design analysis, and performance modeling
• Provide engineering support for hardware development efforts
• Design detection and characterization algorithms for Radio Frequency communication signals
• Implement detection and characterization algorithms
• Test signal processing algorithms and receivers in a lab environment
• Design, test, and produce detection, characterization, and geolocation algorithms
• Support the deployment of core products on new platforms (e.g., manned aircraft, drones, ships, etc.)

Skills

DSP Fundamentals

SIGINT/RF Expertise

Requirements Translation

CUDA/GPU programming

Python/C++

Education

BS in STEM (14+ yrs) or MS (12+ yrs) or PhD (10+ yrs)

Tools

MATLAB/Simulink

Linux toolchains

GNU Radio

X-MIDAS

Jira/Confluence/Bitbucket

Job description

Overview

Relocation assistance may be available. No clearance required for start, but a Top Secret/SCI clearance will be needed for long‑term employment. 10% travel may be required.

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems is seeking a Senior Staff System Engineer with a Signal Processing background to work in Sacramento, California. Join a team that develops transformative signal processing solutions to solve complex challenges in Signals Intelligence (SIGINT). Your work will contribute to real‑world national security initiatives. We offer a wide variety of professional development opportunities, mentorship by senior engineers, and access to cutting‑edge tools and technologies like Ultra‑Wideband (UWB) Software‑Defined Radios (SDRs) and Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) for deployment of advanced signal‑processing algorithms.

Responsibilities

• Perform architecture trades, design analysis, and performance modeling
• Provide engineering support for hardware development efforts
• Design detection and characterization algorithms for Radio Frequency communication signals
• Implement detection and characterization algorithms
• Test signal processing algorithms and receivers in a lab environment
• Design, test, and produce detection, characterization, and geolocation algorithms
• Support the deployment of core products on new platforms (e.g., manned aircraft, drones, ships, etc.)

Basic Qualifications for System Engineer Level 6

• Must have a BS degree in a STEM field and at least 14 years of relevant experience, or an MS degree in a STEM field and at least 12 years of relevant experience, or a Ph.D. and at least 10 years of relevant experience
• Requirements Translation: Ability to convert complex operational needs into technical system requirements
• Domain Expertise: Command of tactical SIGINT operations, military capabilities, and geolocation concepts
• DSP Fundamentals: Expertise in modulation/demodulation, FFT/spectral analysis, filtering (FIR/IIR), resampling, channelization, and detection/estimation theory
• SIGINT/RF Expertise: Experience with Software Defined Radios (SDR), RF front‑ends, IQ data, geolocation techniques (DF/beamforming), and signal characterization

Preferred Qualifications

• Hardware Acceleration: Experience with CUDA/GPU programming for real‑time performance optimization in SIGINT signal chains
• Agile/DevOps: Experience in Agile software development and containerization tools like Docker or Kubernetes for deploying SIGINT applications
• Analysis Tools: Familiarity with specialized tools like X‑MIDAS, MATLAB/Simulink, and Linux‑based toolchains
• Experience with the Atlassian tool suite (Jira, Confluence, Bitbucket)
• Practical experience or coursework in programming languages such as C++, Rust, or Python
• Experience with simulating and processing RF communications in GNU Radio
• Active TS with SCI clearance

Benefits

Northrop Grumman provides a comprehensive benefits package and a work environment encouraging growth and mutual success. Benefits include:

• Health Plan
• Savings Plan
• Paid Time Off
• Education Assistance
• Training and Development
• 9/80 Work Schedule (where available)
• Additional benefits as applicable

Primary Level Salary Range: $212,100.00 - $318,100.00. May be eligible for overtime, shift differential, discretionary bonus, and other incentives. Long‑Term Incentives may be available to VP or Director positions.

Equal Opportunity

Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.