Job Description

Job Description

The Virginia Tech National Security Institute’s (VTNSI) Spectrum Dominance Division (SDD) is seeking to fill multiple mid-career and senior-level software developer positions, joining our team at the forefront of research and development in wireless spectrum solutions.

With a presence in both Blacksburg, VA and Washington D.C. metro areas, VTNSI serves dual missions of (1) performing cutting edge research and development for externally sponsored Department of Defense and Intelligence Community programs and (2) cultivating the next generation of national security workforce and thought leaders by engaging students in curricular, extracurricular, and research and development opportunities. As one of the fastest growing thematic research institutes at Virginia Tech, sponsors and collaborators benefit from VTNSI through both highly experienced student talent pipelines and senior technical leadership that addresses some of our nation’s greatest national security challenges and threats.

VTNSI’s SDD is a leader in research and development of national security technologies and solutions for maintaining radio frequency spectrum superiority. Key areas of focus include resilience of commercial wireless infrastructures and technologies (5G and beyond), development of signal processing algorithms for spectrum awareness (signal detection, estimation, classification, etc.), next generation radio hardware and front-ends (antenna design, multiple aperture arrays, etc.), and the general application of state-of-the-art AI/ML within the radio frequency spectrum space.

To help achieve the overarching aspirations of VTNSI, and the specific technical goals of the SDD, we are looking for applicants with expertise in software development, CI/CD tools for test and evaluation, and an interest in leading and working within team-based development projects. An interest in developing software for radio frequency applications is required, while prior knowledge in wireless communications is not.

General activities of this position will consist of:
• Lead at least one team of software developers through standard development methodologies (issue tracking, continuous testing & integration, task scheduling, code quality reviews, documentation, and build deployments) for projects in wireless communications application areas.
• Learn about the underlying technical concepts of assigned programs (through both independent learning as well as through program mentors).
• Participate in weekly program meetings and periodic sponsor meetings (requiring oral and/or written updates).
• Develop thorough test, evaluation, and documentation of developed software through continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines.
• (As desired) participate in research paper writing and business development proposal writing.


Required Qualifications

General:
- Given the nature of the research and requirements from federal sponsors, the candidate must be a US citizen.
Experience:
- Demonstrated professional work experience in software development, integration, and testing
- Experience leading a team of developers to provide an integrated software product
- An earned Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related STEM discipline to the position summary
Software Development:
- Proficiency in real-time compiled programming languages (e.g., C, C++), as well as interpreted languages (e.g. Python)
- Familiarity with version control tools (e.g., Git)
- Demonstrated ability to work as a lead member of a development team in executing sponsored projects
Test and Evaluation:
-Familiarity with CI/CD processes and concepts for code validation
- Strong ability and desire to document and define test cases for developed software
- Strong troubleshooting and debugging skills

Preferred Qualifications

One or more of the following:
- Proficiency in Linux and Docker
- Familiarity with GPU-based code development (e.g., CUDA, TensorFlow)
- Familiarity with AI/ML development toolkits (e.g. PyTorch, Keras)
- Prior experience with radio frequency (RF) applications