Senior Applied R&D Scientist Signal Systems, Classification

Full-Time. Onsite in Columbia, MD. Secret Clearance (or sponsorship eligible)

This isn’t shelfware science. This is applied R&D that ships. Designed, tested, and deployed in the field. You’d be joining a sharp, cleared team working on signal and classification challenges that actually matter.

Think torpedo detection, marine mammal recognition, biologically inspired DSP models, and wide-area environmental sensing. The work is nuanced. The tech is real. The mission has stakes. And the systems you help build will get used.

Why this role stands out:

Ideas don’t sit in review limbo. You build, test, and push the work forward.

This is real R&D with real momentum. The systems transition to ops, not PowerPoint.

Leadership without leaving tech. If you want to stay sharp and shape direction, you can.

It’s an agile team that thrives on fresh ideas. Diverse perspectives and creative problem-solvers aren’t just welcome. They’re essential.

The people here care. About each other, the work, and doing it right.

It’s Navy-adjacent, not buried in Navy layers. You’ll feel the difference.

What you’ll focus on first:

Signal classification, including biologically inspired algorithms for sonar and acoustic systems

Real-time detection challenges like torpedo threats and marine mammal recognition

Wide-area acoustic environmental characterization with distributed sensing

The day-to-day includes:

Designing and refining algorithms for detection, classification, and tracking

Developing and testing new sensor and signal solutions

Running models and simulations

Collaborating on proposals and helping shape future R&D directions

What you bring:

PhD in EE, Physics, Math, or similar

8+ years working on signal processing or sensing systems

Strong algorithm development skills

U.S. citizenship and active Secret clearance (or the ability to get one)

Fluency in MATLAB or Python; Linux preferred; Java or C++ a bonus

Clear, confident communication in writing and in person

This is a full-time role onsite in Columbia, MD. It’s built for someone who loves solving signal problems that aren’t yet solved and wants the autonomy to do it in a place that trusts its engineers.

If that’s you, we should talk. (Or, share it with a friend.)