Research Engineer, SDD

Based on the foundation of the Ted and Karyn Hume Center for National Security and Technology, Virginia Tech launched the Virginia Tech National Security Institute in September 2021. With a presence in Blacksburg and the Washington, D.C., metro area, the institute aspires to be the nation's preeminent academic organization at the nexus of interdisciplinary research, technology, policy, and talent development, the national security institute will advance national security in pursuit of a secure America.

The Institute serves dual missions of performing cutting edge research for externally sponsored DoD/IC-relevant research and in cultivating the next generation of national security leaders by developing and executing curricular, extracurricular, and research opportunities to engage students. One of the fastest growing thematic research institutes at VT, sponsors and collaborators benefit from both highly experienced student talent and senior technical leadership that address some of our nation’s greatest security challenges. Transition of high impact technology deliverables is affected directly by researchers, through industry partnerships and/or numerous individual startups. Restricted research is conducted at state of art facilities in Arlington and a 45,000 sq foot building in beautiful Blacksburg, and these positions could be located in either.

Motivated Research Engineer applicants are sought to begin their careers in a junior research position, supporting rapid growth in our Spectrum Dominance Division (SDD), which leads ideation and research execution for:
• Secure digital communication
• Signals Intelligence (SIGINT)
• Digital Signal Processing
• Radio Frequency Machine Learning (RFML)
• Electromagnetic materials
• 5G / 6G communications
• Electronic Warfare / Radar
• Quantum algorithm development
Successful candidates will have an earned Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related engineering discipline. VTNSI pays industry competitive salary and benefits within a university setting. The successful applicant will work as part of team-based research efforts, support the development of research proposals, developing skills to assist in the presentation of research results to sponsors and academic communities, support documentation for intellectual properties developed on research efforts, and support external engagement with customers during program execution. Research engineers must regularly exercise professional discretion and judgment and take professional initiative in carrying out their primary roles and assignments.

- Given the nature of the research conducted and the requirements from federal sponsors, the candidate must be a US citizen.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.
- An earned Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related engineering discipline.
- Demonstrated ability to work as a member of a team in executing upon research projects.

- Practical hands-on experience with hybrid real-time hardware/software systems such as software-defined radios (SDR) is a plus, with Python, C++, and Matlab being SDD’s primary development languages.

Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Restricted

Salary Commensurate with Experience, starting at $70,000

40 hrs per week

5/16/25

Due to the nature of the Institute's work, all applicants must be US citizens and have the ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance.

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to an enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.

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