Staff Software Signal Processing Engineer

Northrop Grumman Corp.; Colorado Springs (CO); On-site; USD 161,000 - 241,000; Full time

Job summary

Northrop Grumman Corp. is seeking a skilled software engineer to lead radar DSP software development, guiding architecture, algorithms and performance optimizations.

You will collaborate with systems, hardware, and design teams to build scalable data processing pipelines and document operating procedures. The role emphasizes proficiency in C++, Java, Python, CUDA, and Linux, with a focus on high-performance, real-time radar signal processing and AI-assisted tooling.

Qualifications

• Active U.S. Government Secret clearance required.
• Proficiency with C++, Java, Python, and CUDA for performance-critical workloads.
• Experience with Linux development environments and RF signal processing.
• Experience with GPU optimization and NVIDIA MatX.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a technical leader and subject-matter expert for radar digital signal processing software, providing guidance on system architecture, algorithm selection, implementation strategies, and performance optimization.
• Design, develop, document, test, and debug complex applications software and software systems for high‑performance radar DSP pipelines.
• Lead multidisciplinary research and collaborate with systems, hardware, and equipment designers to plan and develop mission and product software.
• Work with stakeholders to determine user and mission needs; analyze system capabilities to resolve problems and document operating instructions.
• Guide the design and development of compilers, utility programs, and supporting infrastructure to enable scalable signal processing workflows.
• Provide mentorship and technical direction to other engineers, including code reviews and design reviews.
• Demonstrated experience developing and optimizing radar signal processing algorithms and pipelines (DSP) with toolchains like DSP System Toolbox, Signal Processing Toolbox, Phased Array tools.
• Demonstrated experience with GPGPU acceleration (e.g., CUDA) for performance-critical workloads, including profiling and CPU/GPU balancing.
• Experience using AI-enabled engineering tooling to accelerate development tasks while maintaining accountability.

Skills

C++

Java

Python

CUDA

Linux

GPU optimization

Radar DSP

RF signal processing

AI tooling

Tools

MatX

cuFFT

cuSignal

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret

TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time

Description

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

Job responsibilities

• Serve as a technical leader and subject-matter expert for radar digital signal processing software, providing guidance on system architecture, algorithm selection, implementation strategies, and performance optimization.
• Design, develop, document, test, and debug complex applications software and software systems that contain logical and mathematical solutions, with particular emphasis on high‑performance radar DSP pipelines.
• Lead multidisciplinary research and collaborate closely with systems, hardware, and equipment designers to plan, design, develop, and utilize electronic data processing systems for mission and product software.
• Work with stakeholders to determine computer user and mission needs; analyze system capabilities to resolve problems on program intent, output requirements, input data acquisition, programming techniques, and controls; prepare operating instructions and technical documentation.
• Guide the design and development of compilers, utility programs, and/or supporting infrastructure where needed to enable scalable signal processing workflows.
• Provide mentorship and technical direction to other engineers, including code reviews, design reviews, and coaching on best practices for performance, reliability, and maintainability.
• Demonstrated experience developing and optimizing radar signal processing algorithms and pipelines (DSP), including use of common engineering toolchains such as DSP System Toolbox / Signal Processing Toolbox / Phased Array System toolsets.
• Demonstrated experience with GPGPU acceleration (e.g., CUDA) for performance‑critical signal processing and/or analytics workloads, including profiling, optimization, and balancing CPU/GPU resources.
• Experience using AI‑enabled engineering tooling (e.g., an AI coding assistant) to accelerate development tasks such as code explanation, refactoring, and test generation—while maintaining clear engineer accountability for reviewed code and technical decisions.

Basic Qualifications

• Must have an active U.S. Government Secret security clearance at time of application, current and within scope.
• Demonstrated proficiency with C++, Java, Python, and CUDA, including application to performance‑critical workloads.
• Experience with Linux development environments.
• Experience with RF signal processing and radar DSP concepts.
• Experience with GPU optimization for real‑time or near‑real‑time processing.
• Experience with NVIDIA MatX or similar high‑performance numerical libraries.
• Experience leveraging AI tooling for software development workflows.
• Experience with high‑side development and processes, including secure environments and appropriate handling of classified data.

Preferred Qualifications

• Able to explain how to process a radar signal to generate a Range‑Doppler Map.
• Describe the process of using a sparse array to accomplish beamforming.
• Discuss the concept of loss budgets and system tradeoffs.
• Explain the application of calibration for a distributed system.
• C++ expertise: Strong knowledge of real‑time processing, current C++ standards, and modern C++ techniques and patterns for high‑performance, maintainable code.
• CUDA expertise: Deep understanding of the benefits and constraints of running signal processing code on GPGPUs; familiarity with cuFFT and/or cuSignal; experience with MatX preferred but not required.
• Functional familiarity with Matlab and Python for signal processing, prototyping, and data analysis.
• Self‑starter and technical leader: Able to take minimal direction, quickly learn complex systems, and independently drive solutions. Approaches every story with the broader system in mind—identifying defects, optimizations, and architectural implications along the way. Comfortable influencing designs across teams and defending technical decisions to stakeholders.
• Experience writing and implementing signal processing algorithms is expected; at the staff level, candidates should additionally demonstrate the ability to own system‑level DSP architectures, make trade studies, and lead others in implementing robust, scalable solutions.

Primary Level Salary Range: $161,000.00 - $241,400.00

The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions.

Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.

The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.

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.