Phd Signal Processing Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Anduril's Space team is dedicated to expanding our AI-powered capabilities into the final frontier, enhancing Space Domain Awareness, Space Control, and Command and Control for U.S. military and allied partners. We're developing fully integrated hardware and software systems, including Lattice for Space Missions and modular payloads, to address growing threats in space and ensure our Guardians maintain a decisive advantage in this contested war-fighting domain.

We are looking for a Signal Processing Engineer to join our rapidly growing team in Washington DC. In this role, you will be responsible for developing discrimination algorithms that separate threats from non-threats, decoys, and debris using EO/IR sensor data for space and missile defense missions. You will design signal processing pipelines including detection, feature extraction, image processing, and develop advanced decision logic to enhance classification performance. This will require deep expertise in signal processing for EO/IR sensors, classification algorithms, detection theory, and proficiency in algorithm development. If you are someone who loves the challenge of extracting signal from noise, thrives on building algorithms that work in contested and degraded environments, and wants to see your work protecting forces against emerging threats in space, then this role is for you.

• Develop discrimination algorithms for EO/IR sensors that classify and distinguish threats from decoys, debris, and clutter in real-time operational environments
• Design and implement signal processing pipelines including detection algorithms, feature extraction, image processing, and measurement generation from sensor data
• Develop and integrate advanced decision logic to enhance classification performance and adapt to evolving threat environments
• Analyze and optimize algorithms for EO/IR sensor phenomenology including noise characteristics, SNR considerations, resolution limits, and environmental effects
• Build physics-based models and conduct modeling and simulation including Monte Carlo analysis, recorded sensor playback, and hardware-in-the-loop testing to validate discrimination performance
• Develop analysis tools to characterize discrimination algorithm performance under challenging conditions such as countermeasures, clutter, and degraded sensing environments
• Collaborate with software engineers to transition discrimination algorithms from prototypes to production code optimized for operational deployment
• Engage with customers and stakeholders to understand mission needs, present discrimination solutions, and demonstrate system performance

• Currently possesses and is able to maintain an active U.S. Secret security clearance
• Bachelor's degree or higher in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science, or a related technical field
• 5+ years of experience designing, implementing, and testing signal processing algorithms for EO/IR sensors or similar sensing modalities in aerospace or defense systems
• Strong understanding of EO/IR sensor phenomenology including noise characteristics, detection theory, SNR analysis, resolution limits, and environmental effects
• Experience with signal processing techniques including detection algorithms, filtering, and measurement generation from sensor data
• Proficiency in algorithm development and coding with demonstrated experience transitioning algorithms to production environments
• Experience with modeling, simulation, and testing workflows including physics-based modeling, Monte Carlo analysis, or hardware-in-the-loop environments
• Ability to work collaboratively with software engineers, systems engineers, and test teams to integrate algorithms into operational systems

• Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in Engineering, Physics, Applied Mathematics, or related technical field
• Experience with space or missile defense systems, threat discrimination, or intercept systems
• Experience developing advanced decision logic or adaptive algorithms for classification workflows
• Demonstrated experience with pattern recognition, computer vision, or image processing for defense applications
• Experience handling discrimination challenges including countermeasures, spoofing, and contested/degraded sensing environments
• Background in fire control systems, guidance/navigation/control (GNC) integration, or kill vehicle systems
• Experience with radar systems, RF signal processing, or multi-modal sensor fusion
• Demonstrated experience working within systems engineering processes including requirements management, trade studies, and verification/validation
• Experience with MBSE tools (Cameo, Rhapsody, DOORS) or systems engineering toolchains