Principal RF Digital Signal Processing Engineer (Aerospace)

TL;DR

Principal RF Digital Signal Processing Engineer (Aerospace): Lead the design, development, and implementation of DSP algorithms for embedded devices and SDRs with an accent on RF digital communications, modems, channelizers, Doppler compensation, and adaptive filtering. Focus on implementing signal detection topologies, filter designs, digital up/down-conversion, and integrating with GNU Radio and FPGA for satellite systems.

Location: Los Angeles, CA (onsite, U.S. Person required per ITAR export controls)

Salary: $200,000 - $270,000 + equity

Company

Building the largest and highest-power satellites ever flown for LEO to deep space missions, backed by $450M from leading investors.

What you will do

• Architect, develop, own, test, and integrate DSP algorithms and SDR systems for satellite communications.
• Collaborate with RF, FPGA, software, mechanical, and electrical engineers to prototype and refine designs.
• Act as technical leader, mentoring team members in DSP and RF systems.
• Implement transmitting/receiving topologies in GNU Radio simulations and with SDR hardware.
• Deploy systems to space within first two years.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering or related STEM field
• 8+ years in RF digital communications and DSP systems
• Strong DSP knowledge: modems, channelizers, Doppler compensation, resampling, adaptive filtering, fixed/floating point.
• Strong digital comms: spread spectrum, FEC, channel estimation/equalization/coding, modulations (FSK, BPSK, QPSK, QAM, PCM/FM).
• Signal detection: burst detection, up/down-conversion, PLL, Costas loops, non-coherent detection, spreading/de-spreading.
• Filter topologies: FIR/IIR filters.
• Experience with Python, MATLAB, C/C++.
• Ability to thrive in fast-paced startup environment.

Nice to have

• FPGA design, implementation, verification for RF.
• SIGINT, EW, satellite telecoms experience.
• Channel emulators, system-level simulations.
• SDR hardware: data converters, clock trees, interfaces.
• Coupled hardware-DSP design for analog-front-end compensation.

Culture & Benefits

• Unlimited paid time off.
• Comprehensive medical/dental/vision coverage, life insurance, paid parental leave.
• Equity in the company.
• Fast-paced, high-velocity startup atmosphere.
• Team of multidisciplinary engineers building groundbreaking spacecraft.