Senior Fire Control Systems and Signal Processing Engineer

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Leidos’ Defense Systems Advanced Development Organization is seeking a Senior Fire Control Systems & Signal Processing Engineer

to join our team to support the development of next-generation hypersonic and missile defense systems. This role sits at the intersection of communications, signal processing, and fire control, focused on enabling resilient connectivity and targeting performance in extreme hypersonic environments. The selected candidate will contribute to early-phase system design, digital engineering, and mission-level integration efforts supporting Department of Defense customers.

You will work alongside a multidisciplinary team of aerospace, RF, and systems engineers to design and mature high-speed vehicle communication architectures, develop advanced signal processing algorithms, and ensure robust performance through plasma, thermal, and contested RF environments.

If this sounds like the kind of environment where you can thrive, keep reading!

Leidos Defense Systems Sector provides a diverse portfolio of systems, solutions, and services covering land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace for customers worldwide. Solutions for Defense include enterprise and mission IT, large-scale intelligence systems, command and control, geospatial and data analytics, cybersecurity, logistics, training, and intelligence analysis and operations support. Our team is solving the world’s toughest security challenges for customers with “can’t fail” missions. To explore and learn more, click here!

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Primary Responsibilities

•  Develop and implement advanced signal processing algorithms (e.g., filtering, tracking, beamforming) to support fire control, guidance, and communications in high-noise and contested environments
• Design and analyze RF communications and data link architectures for hypersonic and missile systems, including integration with fire control networks
• Design, implement, and integrate end-to-end mission data flows, including mission data loads (MDLs), real-time telemetry, health and status reporting, and command and control (C2) interfaces, ensuring seamless operation across communications, guidance and fire control systems
• Perform link budget analyses accounting for dynamic flight conditions, including plasma effects, atmospheric attenuation, and vehicle geometry
• Conduct electromagnetic modeling and simulation to evaluate antenna performance and RF propagation through thermal protection systems and ionized flow fields
• Support Integrated Fire Control (IFC) system design and interface definition with ground and naval systems (e.g., IBCS, Aegis, THAAD)
• Develop and integrate models and algorithms within mission-level simulations, digital engineering environments, and M&S frameworks
• Collaborate across disciplines (aerodynamics, thermal, systems engineering) to translate mission requirements into executable system designs
• Develop and integrate direct signal messaging and mission data pathways, including mission data loads, system health/status telemetry, and real-time command and control interfaces across fire control architectures
• Support concept development, trade studies, and technical proposals for emerging hypersonic and missile defense opportunities
• Contribute to technical briefings and customer engagements, clearly communicating complex concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Physics, or related field with 8+ years of relevant experience (or master’s with 6+ years)
• Experience in signal processing, RF systems, communications, or fire control systems engineering
• Proficiency in one or more of the following: MATLAB, Python, C/C++
• Experience developing or analyzing algorithms for tracking, communications, or sensor data processing
• Understanding of RF fundamentals, including propagation, antennas, and link analysis
• Experience working in a DoD, defense contractor, or national security environment
• Active Secret clearance