Systems Engineer 5

Engineering

Systems Engineer 5 El Segundo, CA Posted: 9/15/2026

Job Description

Job ID#:

225498

Job Category:

Engineering

Position Type:

Associate - W2

Duration:

52

Shift:

1

PDS Defense, Inc. is seeking a Systems Engineer 5, in El Segundo, CA. Job ID#225498

Pay Rate: $114 - $119/hr

Job Description:

Applies an interdisciplinary, collaborative approach to lead activities to plan, design, develop and verify complex lifecycle balanced system of systems and system solutions. Leads others to evaluate customer/operational needs to define system performance requirements, integrate technical parameters and assure compatibility of all physical, functional and program interfaces. Leads analyses to optimize total system of systems and/or system architecture. Leads analyses for affordability, safety, reliability, maintainability, testability, human systems integration, survivability, vulnerability, susceptibility, system security, regulatory, certification, product assurance and other specialties quality factors into a preferred configuration to ensure mission success. Leads, develops, maintains and identifies improvements the planning, organization, implementation and monitoring of requirements management processes, tools, risk, issues, opportunity management and technology readiness assessment processes.

As a DSP Algorithms Engineer, you will design and develop state-of-the-art, space-based communication systems for commercial, civil and/or national security programs. You will actively drive a highly-motivated team that works with domestic or international customers on their latest satellite systems.

Project assignments typically span the unit life cycle, from internal trades, concept studies and system definition, to satellite unit development and test. Candidates will belong to or lead a systems engineering team interacting with customers, suppliers, program management, integration and test engineers, and senior technologists.

Position Responsibilities:

• Designing and developing next generation RF and digital satellite communication systems

• Developing and verifying multi-rate, fixed-point signal processing algorithms

• Conducting performance analysis of signal processing models

• Performing waveform development and characterization

• Performing trade studies

• Supporting integration and test of our payloads and spacecraft from unit level through in-orbit operations

• Supporting HDL-level design and verification

• Performing detailed system design and verification activities

• Leading teams

• Leading IR&D activities

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills/Experience):

• This position requires a final U.S. Secret Clearance Pre-Start.

• Bachelor of Science degree in engineering, engineering technology (includes manufacturing engineering technology), chemistry, physics, mathematics, data science, or computer science.

• Experience in Digital signal processing (DSP) / Digital Communications algorithms and techniques (equalization, turbo/viterbi coding/decoding, channel estimation, filter design, resampling theory, etc.)?

• 3+ years of experience with Matlab or Simulink.

• 5+ years of experience in core digital communications and signal processing theory

• 3+ years of experience in systems engineering (requirements definition, allocation, verification, architecture design and trade design).

• 1+ years of experience working with FPGAs or ASICs.

Preferred Qualifications (Desired Skills/Experience):

• Experience with lab equipment (oscilloscope, waveform generator, spectrum analyzer).

• Experience leading teams of engineers.

• Senior level: 14 or more years' related work experience or an equivalent combination of technical education and experience.

Education / Experience: Bachelor's degree with 14 or more years' experience, Master's degreee with 12 or more years' experience or PhD with 9 or more years' experience. Bachelor, Master or Doctorate of Science degree from an accredited course of study, in engineering, computer science, mathematics, physics or chemistry.

Benefits offered to vary by the contract. Depending on your temporary assignment, benefits may include direct deposit, free career counseling services, 401(k), select paid holidays, short-term disability insurance, skills training, employee referral bonus, affordable medical coverage plan, and DailyPay (in some locations). For a full description of benefits available to you, be sure to talk with your recruiter.

Job Requirements

Minimum Security Clearance:

Secret

Military connected talent encouraged to apply.

VEVRAA Federal Contractor / Request Priority Protected Veteran Referrals / Equal Opportunity Employer / Veterans / Disabled

To read our Candidate Privacy Information Statement, which explains how we will use your information, please visit http://www.tadpgs.com/candidate-privacy/ or https://pdsdefense.com/candidate-privacy/

The Company will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with federal, state, and local laws and/or security clearance requirements, including, as applicable:

• The California Fair Chance Act

• Los Angeles City Fair Chance Ordinance

• Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers

• San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

VEVRAA Federal Contractor / Request Priority Protected Veteran Referrals / Equal Opportunity Employer / Veterans / Disabled