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Senior/Principal Software Defined Radio (SDR) and Digital Signal Processing (DSP) Engineer, Onsite

Sandia National Laboratories
$114,000 - $227,500
401(k), relocation assistance
United States, New Mexico, Albuquerque
1515 Eubank Boulevard Southeast (Show on map)
Oct 31, 2025
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Job ID
696239
Location
Albuquerque, NM
Full/Part Time
Full-Time
Regular/Temporary
Regular
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About Sandia

Sandia National Laboratories is the nation's premier science and engineering lab for national security and technology innovation, with teams of specialists focused on cutting-edge work in a broad array of areas. Some of the main reasons we love our jobs:

  • Challenging work with amazing impact that contributes to security, peace, and freedom worldwide
  • Extraordinary co-workers
  • Some of the best tools, equipment, and research facilities in the world
  • Career advancement and enrichment opportunities
  • Flexible work arrangements for many positions include 9/80 (work 80 hours every two weeks, with every other Friday off) and 4/10 (work 4 ten-hour days each week) compressed workweeks, part-time work, and telecommuting (a mix of onsite work and working from home)
  • Generous vacation, strong medical and other benefits, competitive 401k, learning opportunities, relocation assistance and amenities aimed at creating a solid work/life balance*

World-changing technologies. Life-changing careers. Learn more about Sandia at: http://www.sandia.gov

*These benefits vary by job classification.

What Your Job Will Be Like

Join our dynamic team as a Software Engineer specializing in Software Defined Radio (SDR) and Digital Signal Processing (DSP). We are looking for a highly motivated individual to drive innovation by developing new technologies and methodologies in advanced RF communication systems with national security applications. In this role, you will analyze signals and develop cutting-edge signal detection algorithms to enhance advanced RF communications systems critical to National Security. You will collaborate with a multi-disciplinary, high-performance software team dedicated to success. Projects will vary from urgent, short-term requests addressing immediate operational needs to long-term initiatives focused on developing new technologies over a span of 3-5 years. Our advanced communication systems feature highly optimized signal processing transceivers, antennas, GPUs, and SDRs, all designed with constraints on size, weight, and power.
On any given day you may be called on to:

  • Develop new digital signal processing methods
  • Write and analyze DSP code for SDR applications
  • Research new Radio Communication Systems and associated Signals of Interest
  • Conceptualize and realize RF systems
  • Research, develop, analyze and/or field test RF systems
  • Collaborate with customers and stakeholders on system conceptualization and design

If you are passionate about advancing national security through innovative signal processing solutions, we invite you to apply and join our team!

Salary Range

$114,000 - $227,500

*Salary range is estimated, and actual salary will be determined after consideration of the selected candidate's experience and qualifications, and application of any approved geographic salary differential.

Qualifications We Require

  • Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline and five (5) years of directly relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of directly relevant education and engineering or scientific experience that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and ability to perform independent research and development.
  • Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level and SCI security clearance.
Qualifications We Desire

The ideal R&D S&E Computer Engineer candidate for Sandia National Laboratories will in addition possess the following:

  • Graduate degree in Computer Engineering or a highly related field where an independent research project was a graduation requirement (e.g., independent project, thesis, or dissertation).
  • Demonstrated ability to execute and deliver technical work products with application of appropriate rigor and pedigree documentation (design/code reviews, technical oversight/approvals, project team concurrence, artifact generation, etc.).
  • Experience in computer systems design and software development for real-time and embedded processing systems, distributed processing systems, or real-time client server implementations.
  • Familiarity with hardware/software requirements generation for verification, validation and qualification.
  • Demonstrated interpersonal skills and ability to work in a multidisciplinary, multi-disciplinary team setting for a common purpose.

Also, for this posting we are seeking individuals with the following experience:

  • Developing embedded or application level software for Software Defined Radios
  • With RF microwave and antenna/EM applications
  • Using the following (or equivalent) software tools/languages (e.g. Python, C/C++, VHDL, GNU Radio, and Matlab/Simulink
  • Familiarity with general test and measurement equipment (oscilloscopes, DVM, logic analyzers) and RF test equipment (network analyzer, spectrum analyzer)
  • Knowledge of RF, Digital Communications, radar, and/or electronic warfare (EW) systems and principles
  • Familiarity with DoD and IC organizations and associated systems and operations
  • Ability to plan, coordinate, and document field tests
  • Proven experience in interacting with internal and external customers and partners
  • An active DOE Q-level security clearance and an active SCI-level Clearance; or other equivalent active security clearance such as DOD Top Secret and SCI-level Clearance
About Our Team

As part of the Intelligent RF Communications group, we play a pivotal role in advancing the Nations technological superiority. Our team is dedicated to delivering capabilities that ensure RF and spectral dominance, highly reliable communications, and groundbreaking advancements that fortify our future strength. We thrive in a dynamic environment where cross-department collaboration is key, enabling us to provide integrated engineering solutions that span from core research to prototype development and high-end, fielded products.

In the Advanced RF Systems department (5365), we tackle pressing national security challenges by developing innovative solutions in wireless communication and electronic warfare. Our customers include a variety of government organizations including the U.S Armed Forces, the Intelligence Community, and those conducting special operations missions. Our staff members have a diverse skills set including microwave circuit design, antenna design, signal analysis, digital signal processing, and embedded software.

We partner across the laboratory and the group to bring on other critical skill sets to our multi-disciplinary team to include computer scientists, systems engineers, and cyber engineers. Our design challenges include system development (designing scalable systems, systems integration into host platforms, etc), understanding complex adversary systems and associated vulnerabilities, and signal analysis and generation of RF low probably of detect waveforms.

Posting Duration

This posting will be open for application submissions for a minimum of seven (7) calendar days, including the 'posting date'. Sandia reserves the right to extend the posting date at any time.

Security Clearance

Sandia is required by DOE to conduct a pre-employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Applicants for employment need to be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance and SCI access, both of which require US citizenship. SCI access may also require a polygraph examination. If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain these levels of access may be impacted.

Applicants offered employment with Sandia are subject to a federal background investigation to meet the requirements for access to classified information or matter if the duties of the position require a DOE security clearance. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause a clearance to be denied or terminated by the DOE, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment.

EEO

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status and any other protected class under state or federal law.

NNSA Requirements for MedPEDs

If you have a Medical Portable Electronic Device (MedPED), such as a pacemaker, defibrillator, drug-releasing pump, hearing aids, or diagnostic equipment and other equipment for measuring, monitoring, and recording body functions such as heartbeat and brain waves, if employed by Sandia National Laboratories you may be required to comply with NNSA security requirements for MedPEDs.

If you have a MedPED and you are selected for an on-site interview at Sandia National Laboratories, there may be additional steps necessary to ensure compliance with NNSA security requirements prior to the interview date.

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