Signal Processing Engineer

This role supports a high-priority Navy program focused on real-time undersea acoustic systems. You will join a rapidly growing, long-term engineering effort that is mission critical and deeply technical. The position offers the opportunity to work across the full system lifecycle, from requirements through deployment, while developing and optimizing advanced signal processing algorithms for high-throughput sonar applications.

• Develop, implement, and optimize signal processing algorithms for real-time sonar systems that process data streams in the range of 100–300 MB/s.
• Work across the entire V-model lifecycle, including requirements analysis, system and software design, coding, integration, testing, and final delivery.
• Perform bug fixes, performance tuning, and algorithmic enhancements to improve system accuracy, reliability, and throughput.
• Conduct hands-on testing in a large-scale integration lab environment that includes multiple full system replicas.
• Collaborate within an Agile development framework, actively participating in sprints, reviews, planning sessions, and iterative development cycles.
• Take full ownership of assigned features and components, from initial concept and design through implementation, integration, and deployment into operational environments.
• Translate complex signal processing and acoustic algorithms into efficient, production-quality code suitable for real-time execution.
• Work closely with cross-functional engineering teams to ensure seamless integration of signal processing capabilities into broader system architectures.

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related technical field.
• 5+ years of professional engineering experience.
• Strong programming skills in C and C++ as primary languages.
• Proficiency in Python for scripting, tooling, or algorithm development.
• Proficiency with MATLAB for algorithm development, analysis, and prototyping.
• Experience with undersea acoustics and real-time sonar data processing.
• Ability to understand complex algorithms at a deep level and implement them as efficient, production-quality code.
• Experience working in Linux-based development environments.
• Familiarity with Git and GitLab for source control and collaborative development.
• Experience working within Agile development practices, including iterative development and team-based workflows.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Secret clearance, with interim clearance acceptable.

• Experience with the ARCI (Acoustic Rapid COTS Insertion) program, strongly preferred for senior-level consideration.
• Background in high-throughput, real-time systems involving large data streams and low-latency processing.
• Experience using VS Code or similar Linux-based development tools and IDEs.
• Strong debugging skills, including the ability to isolate complex issues in real-time and distributed systems.
• Experience with performance profiling and optimization of computationally intensive algorithms.
• Exposure to large-scale integration and test environments, particularly for complex real-time systems.

You will work in a highly technical, mission-focused engineering environment supporting a critical Navy program. The role involves significant hands-on work in a large integration lab of approximately 100,000 square feet, equipped with multiple full system replicas to enable realistic testing and validation of real-time sonar and acoustic processing systems. The team follows Agile development practices and uses Linux-based development environments, Git/GitLab for version control, and tools such as VS Code or similar IDEs. The work is long term and offers the opportunity to contribute directly to operational capabilities in a collaborative, engineering-driven culture focused on quality, reliability, and continuous improvement.

This is a Contract position based out of Manassas, VA.

The pay range for this position is $50.00 - $80.00/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in Manassas,VA.

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 23, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications withoutregard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protectedby law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification oradjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability,please email for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in thecity and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicantswith arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as acondition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this lawshall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process,including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applicationsand qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, youacknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.