Embedded Software Engineer, FPGA

The Electronics and Sensors Division (ESD) is a world-class engineering and scientific leader in electronics and remote sensing systems. Our engineers work directly with corporate customers on all aspects of system design to support, develop, and implement advanced systems and capabilities.

The Advanced Sensor Engineering Department (ASED) is a multi-disciplinary group of engineers and scientists actively engaged in supporting current and future generations of remote sensing systems of national importance. As the  Embedded Software Engineer, you will work with members of the ASED to model system performance, explore new phenomenology, develop proof of concept and/or prototype systems, provide assessments of EO/IR sensor components, and develop algorithms for the analysis and processing of remote sensing data.

Work Model 

This is a full time position based in Chantilly, VA which requires 100% onsite work. 

What You’ll Be Doing

• Configuring and testing FPGA testbeds including interfacing with IP
• Configuring FPGA data streams for data transfer
• Implementing and benchmarking new and existing EO/IR processing algorithms on an FPGA testbed
• Supporting the design, development, and characterization of EO/IR collection capabilities
• Developing and evaluating prototype payloads and components for airborne and CubeSat applications 
• Designing, developing, demonstrating new testing capabilities for laboratory and field testing
• Implementing, developing, and/or assessing image processing algorithms for EO/IR data sets
• Applying scientific knowledge to solve novel problems relating to modeling and data analysis
• Maintaining a core competency while being willing and able to support efforts outside of the core
• Work with team members across Aerospace and multiple customers on technical studies as both contributor and leader
• Work in conjunction with contractors and customers to assess system performance and develop improved methodologies ­­­.

What You Need to be Successful

Minimum Requirements for the Sensor Engineer (Senior Member of Technical Staff )

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field including, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Astronomy, Optical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Remote Sensing, Imaging Science, or equivalent is required
• 5 years of relevant work experience is required
• Experience Programming and configuring FPGA setups
• Knowledge of FPGA programming languages (VHDL/Verilog)
• Ability to interface FPGA IP and data transfer to, from, and between FPGA setups
• Experience implementing existing code bases into FPGA platforms
• Experience in scientific and research laboratory environments
• Strong scientific programming skills in Python, MATLAB, IDL, or C++
• Strong analytical and creative problem-solving skills
• Technical writing and documentation skills (such as publications)
• Experience presenting and communicating results of analytical and experimental findings  
• Prior experience working independently and collaboratively across a technical organizations
• Travel as necessary to support customer requirements (< 10%)
• This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance, which is issued by the U.S. government. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.

In addition to the above, the minimum requirements for the Sensor Engineering Specialist include:

• 8 years of relevant work experience
• Experience in FPGA Programming, setup, and implementation
• Understanding of EO/IR remote sensing performance characteristics
• Experience running and supporting laboratory experiments

How You Can Stand Out

It would be impressive if you have one or more of these:

• Advanced degree in a STEM field including, Electrical Engineering, Physics, Astronomy, Optical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Remote Sensing, Imaging Science, or equivalent is strongly preferred
• At least 5 years of experience with at least one of the following:
  • Performance modelling of remote sensing EO/IR systems
  • Design and development of EO/IR remote sensing systems
  • Image processing requirements and analysis
• Implementation of EO/IR processing algorithms in FPGA setups
• Strong understanding of radiometric concepts
• Strong scientific programming skills in Python, MATLAB, IDL, or C++
• Understanding of EO/IR remote sensing performance characteristics
• Knowledge of advanced radiometric concepts and atmospheric processes
• Experience with production of space qualified hardware
• Experience designing and implementing laboratory experiments
• Scientific programming experience with image analysis and/or other data sets
• Understanding of focal plane arrays and image processing techniques
• A current TS/SCI security clearance, which is issued by the U.S. government is strongly preferred. U.S. citizenship is required to obtain a security clearance.

Leadership Competencies

Our leadership philosophy is simple: every employee, regardless of level and role, can demonstrate leadership. At Aerospace, our commitment is our people. To cultivate our talent and ensure that we have a strong pipeline of future leaders, we want individuals who:

• Operate Strategically
• Lead Change   
• Engage with Impact   
• Foster Innovation   
• Deliver Results  

Ways We Reward Our Employees

During your interview process, our team will provide details of our industry-leading benefits.

Benefits vary and are applicable based on Job Type.  A few highlights include:

• Comprehensive health care and wellness plans
• Paid holidays, sick time, and vacation
• Standard and alternate work schedules, including telework options
• 401(k) Plan — Employees receive a total company-paid benefit of 8%, 10%, or 12% of eligible compensation based on years of service and matching contributions; employees are immediately eligible and vested in the plan upon hire
• Flexible spending accounts
• Variable pay program for exceptional contributions
• Relocation assistance
• Professional growth and development programs to help advance your career
• Education assistance programs
• An inclusive work environment built on teamwork, flexibility, and respect

We are all unique, from diverse backgrounds and all walks of life, yet one thing bonds all of us to each other—the belief that we can make a difference. This core belief empowers us to do our best work at The Aerospace Corporation.

Equal Opportunity Commitment

The Aerospace Corporation is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. We believe that a diverse workforce creates an environment in which unique ideas are developed and differing perspectives are valued, producing superior customer solutions. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, color, religion, genetic information, marital status, ancestry, national origin, protected veteran status, physical disability, medical condition, mental disability, or disability status and any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. If you’re an individual with a disability or a disabled veteran who needs assistance using our online job search and application tools or need reasonable accommodation to complete the job application process, please contact us by phone at 310.336.5432 or by email at ieo.mailbox@aero.org. You can also review Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal, as well as the Pay Transparency Policy Statement.