DSP Engineer (Modems/SDRs)

Northwood is a modern space infrastructure company bringing the benefits of space to the masses through advanced communications technology. We are building a global network of phased array ground stations that enable real-time, reliable communication for satellite missions such as national security, global connectivity, and disaster response. With a vertically integrated approach, Northwood designs, builds, and rapidly deploys scalable systems that power the next generation of space missions. If you like solving complex challenges and seeing your work deployed around the world with real impact, Northwood is the place to do it.

We are looking for a DSP Engineer to architect and develop our next-generation radio platform from the ground up. You will own the radio’s end-to-end architecture, including RF transceiver selection, data-converter and clocking strategy, FPGA and processor architecture, embedded software, and integration with our modem and antenna systems.

You will take the radio from initial requirements and architecture trades through hardware bring-up, system validation, and deployment. You will work closely with RF, electrical, FPGA, DSP, and systems engineers to build a high-performance and scalable communications platform for our satellite ground network.

This role is a great fit for an engineer who understands the complete signal chain and has previously built complex radio or communications systems.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Own the architecture and development of a software-defined radio platform from initial concept through production deployment

• Translate waveform and system requirements into radio specifications and make architecture decisions across RF transceivers, data converters, clocks, FPGAs, processors, memory, and high-speed interfaces

• Define how signal-processing functions are partitioned across RF hardware, FPGA logic, embedded software, and host-based compute

• Collaborate across RF, electrical, DSP, and FPGA teams on hardware design, embedded software, waveform integration, and end-to-end system performance

• Lead hardware bring-up, calibration, characterization, and troubleshooting, and develop automated testing to validate performance and reliability

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree with 4+ years of relevant experience, or Master’s degree with 2+ years of experience, in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a related field

• Experience architecting or developing software-defined radios, wireless communications systems, radar systems, or similar RF platforms

• Strong understanding of the complete radio signal chain, including RF front ends, frequency conversion, data converters, clocking, digital processing, and system control

• Experience working with FPGAs, embedded processors, high-speed data converters, RF transceivers, and mixed-signal hardware

• Demonstrated ownership of a complex hardware-software system from architecture through bring-up and operational validation

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience developing an SDR or radio platform from a clean-sheet architecture

• Familiarity with RFSoCs, direct-RF sampling, JESD204 interfaces, integrated RF transceivers, or high-speed ADCs and DACs

• Experience with FPGA development, embedded C/C++ or Rust, and high-throughput interfaces such as Ethernet, PCIe, or DMA

• Knowledge of digital communications, RF performance, clocking, calibration, and signal-chain impairments

• Experience developing radios for satellite communications, phased arrays, ground stations, radar, or electronic warfare applications

Additional Information:

If you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Northwood Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Northwood Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.