Senior Principal FPGA, Digital Signals Processing Engineer

Research Innovations Incorporated

Senior Principal FPGA/DSP Engineer leading real-time signal-processing firmware for RII’s tactical SIGINT and electronic warfare platform. Architecting FPGA, GPU, and CPU solutions supporting defense and intelligence missions.

Posted 8/15/2026full-timeAlexandria • Virginia • 🇺🇸 United StatesSeniorWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in FPGA firmware architecture and DSP, with a strong focus on real-time implementations for RF signal processing and wireless protocols. Proficient in VHDL, SystemVerilog, and AMD/Xilinx development tools, with a proven track record in leading projects from concept to production.

Highest-signal resume keywords

FPGA Firmware ArchitectureVHDL/SystemVerilog ProficiencyDSP Algorithm DevelopmentAMD/Xilinx Development ToolsActive Secret Clearance

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

FPGA DevelopmentSignal ProcessingReal-Time ImplementationsDigital Down ConversionFFTWireless Protocol ProcessingFPGA Verification MethodologiesPipeliningTiming ClosureFixed-Point Design

Soft Skills

MentoringTechnical AuthorityCollaboration

Tools & Technologies

VivadoVitisMATLABPythonC/C++GitAgile Development

Certifications & Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree in Electrical EngineeringActive Secret ClearanceTS/SCI Clearance Preferred

Industry Keywords

RFSDRSIGINTElectronic Warfare5G NRWi-FiBluetooth/BLELoRaLTEHigh-Speed Interfaces

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

LinuxPythonTypeScript

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Lead the FPGA firmware architecture for Dragonfly, defining signal-processing partitioning across FPGA, GPU, and CPU to meet latency, throughput, and SWaP requirements
Migrate GPU-based DSP algorithms into efficient FPGA implementations, including floating-to-fixed-point conversion, quantization analysis, word-length optimization, and bit-accurate verification
Design reusable, portable FPGA IP for AMD/Xilinx RFSoC, Versal, UltraScale+, and Zynq platforms
Develop real-time FPGA implementations for RF signal processing, including digital down conversion, filtering, FFTs, channelization, synchronization, demodulation, and protocol exploitation
Implement and optimize wireless protocol processing for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth/BLE, LoRa, LTE, and 5G NR
Develop FPGA capabilities for direction finding, beamforming, geolocation, and multichannel phase-coherent signal processing
Establish FPGA verification methodologies, including simulation, automated regression testing, timing closure, hardware validation, and over-the-air testing
Support hardware bring-up, integration, production validation, and field testing of Dragonfly systems
Serve as technical authority for FPGA firmware and DSP architecture; conduct design reviews, mentor engineers, and establish engineering best practices
Contribute to product roadmaps, customer engagements, technical proposals, IRAD efforts, and emerging EW/SIGINT capability development

Requirements

What you’ll need

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, or related field
10+ years of FPGA development experience supporting RF, SDR, SIGINT, radar, wireless communications, or Electronic Warfare systems
Demonstrated ownership of FPGA architecture from concept through deployed production systems
Active Secret clearance required
Ability to obtain or maintain TS/SCI preferred
Expert proficiency with VHDL and/or SystemVerilog, RTL design, pipelining, finite state machines, clock domain crossing, and timing closure
Extensive experience with AMD/Xilinx development tools including Vivado, Vitis, Vitis HLS, and RFSoC or Versal platforms
Strong background in DSP, including FFTs, digital down/up conversion, FIR/IIR/CIC filters, multirate processing, fixed-point design, CORDIC, and AGC
Experience with high-speed interfaces including AXI, PCIe, Ethernet, DDR memory, Aurora, and JESD204B/C
Proficiency with MATLAB and/or Python for algorithm development and hardware verification, plus C/C++ development in Linux environments
Experience with FPGA simulation, debugging, board bring-up, and RF laboratory validation using industry-standard tools
Familiarity with Git, Agile development methodologies, and cross-functional hardware/software engineering teams
Experience developing CUDA or GPU-based DSP algorithms and migrating them to FPGA implementations preferred as an additional qualification
Experience with beamforming, direction finding, geolocation, MUSIC/ESPRIT, TDOA, or FDOA algorithms preferred as an additional qualification
Knowledge of LTE, 5G NR, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth/BLE, LoRa, or other modern communications waveforms preferred as an additional qualification
Experience with HLS, Simulink, MATLAB HDL Coder, or Model Composer preferred as an additional qualification
Familiarity with RFNoC, GNU Radio, OpenCPI, SOSA, or CMOSS architectures preferred as an additional qualification

Benefits

Comp & perks

Flexible work schedules
Health insurance coverage
Paid time off
401k with a company match
Paid parental leave
Access to wellness programs
Comprehensive benefits paid for by RII from day one
Community game room
Pantry
Massage chair
Escape room
Community ambassadors
Regular community events