Principal Algorithm Research Engineer

About the Team:

The Sensors Division focuses on advanced sensor system technology, from airborne and surface-based radar and electronic warfare to underwater acoustics, EO/IR and hyperspectral imaging.

This postion is with the Electronic Warfare and Novel Capabilities Group in the STR Sensors Division. We focus on technology development for advanced sensor systems, in the areas of airborne/surface-based radar, electronic warfare, data communications, and hyperspectral imaging. We develop algorithmic and hardware components, conduct experiment campaigns, and prototype systems. Design, build, and test roles within the Group include RF analog/digital hardware, advanced electronic warfare algorithms and techniques, signal processing and machine learning algorithms, cognitive electronic warfare applications, tracking/fusion, and real-time embedded processor implementation.

About the Role:

As a Principal Algorithm Research Engineer, you will work with the program manager to create and lead a technical team which designs, develops, and quantifies the effectiveness of novel machine learning and signal processing algorithms for advanced electronic warfare and sensor applications. You will actively lead and collaborate with research engineers across STR, as well as with academic researchers and industry partners, to understand the operational objectives and develop innovative solutions to complex sensor signal processing and electronic warfare challenges. Tasks will focus on the use of sensing technologies, such as radar, communications, and EO/IR, to support defense and intelligence applications. These algorithms will be integrated into models and simulations at various levels of complexity and demonstrated on hardware in a field or laboratory setting.

The successful candidate should have demonstrated leadership skills, and a strong interest and relevant background in developing, applying, demonstrating, and evaluating state-of-the-art machine learning and/or signal processing algorithms for sensor systems. This position involves collaborating across a diverse multi-talented team, with great people, at all experience levels in a relaxed self-challenging environment.

Responsibilities include:

• Creating and leading high performing multi-disciplinary engineering teams on medium to large projects and tasks that may include some or all of the following: electronic warfare and advanced signal processing; algorithm and machine learning design; model and simulation; mission modeling; systems design; hardware, software and firmware design; integration and test.
• Leading and conducting research to develop and apply advanced signal processing and electronic warfare algorithms and techniques to novel sensor concepts. Inspiring breakthrough innovations by communicating a technical vision that the team and customer adopt for thinking about the problem.
• Leading major proposal efforts, coordinating all aspects of the process, including technical and management sections, team formation, STR processes, and cost/BOE preparation. Providing thought leadership in the creation of the technical approach.
• Regularly coach junior engineers through complex technical and leadership tasks as well as proposal preparation.
• Helping shape business strategy and deepen customer relationships.
• Working with customers to understand their needs, developing innovative solutions, and presenting those solutions to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Producing elegant decompositions of complex projects into subtasks best suited to the skills of each individual team member. Effectively balancing anticipation of evolving needs of the project against achieving near-term results and buying down technical risk.
• Potential travel to customer meetings and/or data collections and experiments is expected.

Required Qualifications:

• US Citizenship with the ability to obtain a Security Clearance and eligible to support special access programs.
• Demonstrated leadership experience in advanced research and development projects involving signal processing.
• PhD + 5 years experience, MS +8 years experience, or BS + 10 years experience with relevant knowledge in electrical engineering/signal processing, physics, applied mathematics, computer science, or related technical discipline.
• Strong Matlab (or similar scientific computing) programming skills.
• Motivated collaborator with internal and external teams.
• Strong mathematical and analytical skills.
• Desire for continual learning and interest in applying technical skills to new problem areas.
• Track record in written and oral communication to both technical and non-technical audiences.

Desired Qualifications:

• Active Security Clearance at the Secret or Top Secret (TS) level.
• Ability to survey literature to determine state-of-the-art, incorporate recent research and apply to current problem sets.
• Experience with Python and C/C+.

STR is a rapidly growing technology company with locations north of Boston, MA, Arlington, VA and near Dayton, OH. We specialize in advanced research and development for defense, intelligence, and national security, trying to understand how to protect our society: from stopping malicious botnet attacks, to understanding cyber vulnerabilities, providing next generation sensors, radar, sonar, communications, and electronic warfare to developing artificial intelligence algorithms and analytics to make sense of the complexity that is exploding around us. Visit us at www.str.us for more info.

STR is committed to creating a collaborative learning environment that supports deep technical understanding and recognizes the contributions and achievements of all team members. Our work is challenging, but you go home at night knowing that you pushed the forefront of technology and made the world a little safer. We recognize that the world is changing, that it is becoming more connected than ever before, making things change faster than before, and reshaping society in the process. We all want to understand this changing world and leave it better for our work.

STR is an equal opportunity employer. We are fully dedicated to hiring the most qualified candidate regardless of race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

If you need a reasonable accommodation for any portion of the employment process, email us at appassist@str.us and provide your contact info.

Pursuant to applicable federal law and regulations, positions at STR require employees to obtain national security clearances and satisfy the requirements for compliance with export control and other applicable laws.