Lead RF Systems Engineer (Tactical Comms / SDR / DSP)

Location: Onsite in Herndon, Virginia, United States

Salary: $178,018–$267,027 annualized

Company

hirify.global develops and deploys products addressing complex security and technology challenges.

What you will do

• Lead the architecture, design, and implementation of Linux-based SDR and DSP solutions for terrestrial tactical radios across HF, VHF, and UHF bands.
• Reverse engineer commercial and proprietary RF devices, protocols, transceiver logic, and tactical waveforms.
• Synthesize and generate custom waveforms, including frequency-hopping, DSSS, and LPI/LPD signals.
• Develop real-time algorithms for signal detection, identification, feature extraction, demodulation, decoding, and interference mitigation.
• Implement end-to-end transmit and receive pipelines using FSK, PSK, QAM, and other modulation schemes.
• Lead laboratory build-outs, SDR hardware selection, RF experimentation, and cross-functional technical mentoring.

Requirements

• Active DoD Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility is required.
• Degree in computer engineering, electrical engineering, mathematics, physics, computer science, or equivalent practical, military, or intelligence community experience.
• At least 8 years of hands-on experience in DSP, SDR, and RF communications development, including technical leadership or architecture responsibilities.
• Deep knowledge of terrestrial RF systems, channel dynamics, and signal structures across HF, VHF, and UHF.
• Extensive experience in RF reverse engineering, signal parameter estimation, protocol disassembly, and waveform regeneration.
• Experience architecting real-time software-driven DSP pipelines with C++, Python, GNU Radio, or REDHAWK.

Nice to have

• Knowledge of military and public safety radio standards, waveforms, and networking protocols.
• Experience with HF propagation, multipath fading, troposcatter, Doppler mitigation, and channel modeling.
• Experience in electronic warfare countermeasures, anti-jam techniques, LPI/LPD design, and adaptive interference mitigation.
• Experience with Ghidra, IDA Pro, or other embedded firmware reverse-engineering tools.
• Expertise in FEC, Viterbi and Reed-Solomon decoding, synchronization, interleaving, and equalization.

Culture & Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Life and disability insurance.
• Retirement benefits and paid leave.
• Tuition assistance and professional development support.
• Compensation reflects skills, experience, performance, geographic location, and organizational requirements.