Principal Hardware System Architect

About the Team:

STR’s 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 position is within the Undersea Systems and Acoustics (USA) Group in the STR Sensors Division. In this group we develop and deliver advanced undersea sensor and signal processing systems centered around intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). Our applications range from low size, weight, and power (SWAP) distributed real-time embedded processing on uncrewed systems to advanced algorithms leveraging high performance computing. Using modeling and simulation, experimental campaigns, and prototyping coupled with testing that progresses through bench-top, tank, lake, and at-sea demonstrations, we mature innovative concepts into prototypes and fielded systems to address critical defense needs with agility, persistence, and scale.

Job Description:

The USA Group is a seeking a Principal Hardware System Architect to implement their product engineering skills in a Research & Development environment. In this role you will be part of a small team focused on the development of embedded digital signal processing systems. Selection of processors, component interfaces, communication and synchronization approaches and how they relate to signal processing algorithm performance and system SWAP are key aspects of this role. As the system architect on programs, you will work with the principal investigator and program manager to define and execute the program’s objectives, requirements, and development plan. You will support efforts to evaluate current and future system capabilities and provide technical development expertise on business development efforts. Additionally, this role provides you with opportunities for career growth in a dynamic and fast-growing company.

Responsibilities Include:

• Leading the system architecture and hardware development on a team building a low power distributed underwater acoustic sensor system
• Identifying the system development roadmap to address technical risks in early prototypes while collaborating with other team leads to test and integrate the system
• Leading the execution of all aspects of the system hardware development process (especially processing hardware architecture) relative to that roadmap from early prototypes through low-rate initial production
• Technical project management including interfacing with the customer’s program management team and overseeing subcontractor development efforts
• Collaborating in a multi-disciplined team of scientists, mathematicians, and engineers across groups and divisions
• Providing guidance, coaching, and mentoring to junior staff

Required Qualifications:

• Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret Security Clearance
• BS, MS, or Ph.D Degree in electrical engineering, physics, applied mathematics, or related technical discipline
• 7+ years relevant design experience for low power battery operated sensors with real-time or near-real-time requirements (for example, wearable sensors, low power Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, or sensor payloads on uncrewed systems)
• Relevant experience designing, integrating, and testing printed circuit boards
• Relevant experience working with subcontractors to fabricate, build, and assemble printed circuit boards
• Relevant experience working with subcontractors on test and integration testing
• Relevant experience working with mechanical engineers to develop system packaging concepts and solutions

Desired Qualifications:

• Strong communication skills and the ability to describe complex technical concepts to fellow engineers as well as researchers and non-technical stakeholders
• Experience with related undersea sensor and signal processing applications (acoustic modems, low-swap sonars, uncrewed vehicles, distributed sensor buoys, acoustic releases, etc.)
• Experience providing technical contributions to business development and proposal efforts
• Active Security Clearance at the Secret or Top Secret (TS) level
• Experience working in a fast-paced environment
• Experience with audio electronics and mixed signal design for audio applications
• Experience with embedded acoustic signal processing systems
• Experience integrating and testing acoustic transducers
• Embedded software development skills
• Experience with field test planning and execution
• FPGA experience

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 [email protected] 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.