Embedded Software Engineer, FPGA

The Aerospace Corporation is the trusted partner to the nation’s space programs, solving the hardest problems and providing unmatched technical expertise. As the operator of a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC), we are broadly engaged across all aspects of space— delivering innovative solutions that span satellite, launch, ground, and cyber systems for defense, civil and commercial customers. When you join our team, you’ll be part of a special collection of problem solvers, thought leaders, and innovators. Join us and take your place in space.

At Aerospace, we are committed to providing an inclusive and diverse workplace for all employees to share in our common passion and aspiration – to carry out a mission much bigger than ourselves.

The Electronics and Sensors Division (ESD) is a world-class engineering and scientific leader in electronics and remote sensing systems. Our engineers work directly with corporate customers on all aspects of system design to support, develop, and implement advanced systems and capabilities.

The Advanced Sensor Engineering Department (ASED) is a multi-disciplinary group of engineers and scientists actively engaged in supporting current and future generations of remote sensing systems of national importance. As the  Embedded Software Engineer, you will work with members of the ASED to model system performance, explore new phenomenology, develop proof of concept and/or prototype systems, provide assessments of EO/IR sensor components, and develop algorithms for the analysis and processing of remote sensing data.

Work Model 

This is a full time position based in Chantilly, VA which requires 100% onsite work. 

What You’ll Be Doing

• Configuring and testing FPGA testbeds including interfacing with IP
• Configuring FPGA data streams for data transfer
• Implementing and benchmarking new and existing EO/IR processing algorithms on an FPGA testbed
• Supporting the design, development, and characterization of EO/IR collection capabilities
• Developing and evaluating prototype payloads and components for airborne and CubeSat applications 
• Designing, developing, demonstrating new testing capabilities for laboratory and field testing
• Implementing, developing, and/or assessing image processing algorithms for EO/IR data sets
• Applying scientific knowledge to solve novel problems relating to modeling and data analysis
• Maintaining a core competency while being willing and able to support efforts outside of the core
• Work with team members across Aerospace and multiple customers on technical studies as both contributor and leader
• Work in conjunction with contractors and customers to assess system performance and develop improved methodologies ­­­.

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements for the Sensor Engineer (Senior Member of Technical Staff )

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field including, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Astronomy, Optical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Remote Sensing, Imaging Science, or equivalent is required
• 5 years of relevant work experience is required
• Experience Programming and configuring FPGA setups
• Knowledge of FPGA programming languages (VHDL/Verilog)
• Ability to interface FPGA IP and data transfer to, from, and between FPGA setups
• Experience implementing existing code bases into FPGA platforms
• Experience in scientific and research laboratory environments
• Strong scientific programming skills in Python, MATLAB, IDL, or C++
• Strong analytical and creative problem-solving skills
• Technical writing and documentation skills (such as publications)
• Experience presenting and communicating results of analytical and experimental findings  
• Prior experience working independently and collaboratively across a technical organizations
• Travel as necessary to support customer requirements (< 10%)
• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance, which is issued by the U.S. government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.

In addition to the above, the minimum requirements for the Sensor Engineering Specialist include:

• 8 years of relevant work experience
• Experience in FPGA Programming, setup, and implementation
• Understanding of EO/IR remote sensing performance characteristics
• Experience running and supporting laboratory experiments

How You Can Stand Out

It would be impressive if you have one or more of these:

• Advanced degree in a STEM field including, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Astronomy, Optical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Re