Senior DSP Engineer - TS/SCI

Responsibilities

• Architect and implement DSP pipelines for detection, classification, parameterization, and tracking of communications signals across HF through Ka-band collections.
• Develop synchronization, carrier and symbol recovery, equalization, and demodulation algorithms for both well-documented and poorly characterized waveforms, including frequency-hopped, spread-spectrum, and low-probability-of-intercept / low-probability-of-detection constructions.
• Recover payload bits and reconstruct higher-layer structure from tactical and strategic data links, including line-of-sight, beyond-line-of-sight, and satellite communications carriers (protected and commercial).
• Design multi-rate channelizers, polyphase filter banks, and wideband front-end processing suitable for high-occupancy spectrum and mixed narrowband / wideband collections.
• Characterize and mitigate real-world impairments typical of long-range and over-water paths: Doppler from moving platforms, multipath, co-channel interference, phase noise, IQ imbalance, and low SNR.
• Perform SOI development and waveform discovery against unidentified or evolving communications systems; produce reusable signal models, feature sets, and processing recipes.
• Implement and optimize algorithms in C/C++ and Python on Linux, with GPU/CUDA or equivalent acceleration where throughput or latency requires it; integrate with SDR hardware and existing mission processing frameworks.
• Validate processing chains against laboratory-generated and field-collected I/Q using quantitative metrics (detection probability, false-alarm rate, EVM, BER, protocol decode success).
• Support end-to-end integration with RF front ends, collection systems, and downstream analytic or C2 consumers; contribute to lab, ground, and occasional field test events.
• Mentor junior engineers, review designs, and translate operational collection needs into technical requirements and processing architectures.
• Document algorithms, interfaces, and performance so capabilities can be sustained and transitioned.
• Required Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a closely related discipline; Master’s degree preferred. Equivalent experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
• 8 years of experience required
• U.S. citizenship
• An active Top Secret / SCI clearance
• Ten or more years of professional experience developing DSP algorithms for digital communications, COMINT, or closely related SIGINT applications.
• Deep working knowledge of communications theory: modulation and coding, multiple access, synchronization, estimation and detection, channel models, and link-budget fundamentals.
• Hands-on experience demodulating and exploiting communications waveforms used for command-and-control and data exchange among surface, airborne, and space assets—not limited to a single band or access method.
• Proficiency in implementing signal processing in C/C++ and Python in Linux environments; version control with Git.
• Experience with at least one mission-relevant framework or environment such as MATLAB, GNU Radio, or X-Midas.
• Demonstrated ability to work from raw I/Q through bits and recoverable protocol structure under operationally realistic impairments.
• Security Clearance Requirement:
• Parsons is aware of fraudulent recruitment practices. To learn more about recruitment fraud and how to report it, please refer to https://www.parsons.com/fraudulent-recruitment/.