Acoustic Signal Processing Engineer

The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory

Job Location:

Cambridge, MA - USA

Monthly Salary: $ 75000 - 150000

Posted on: 11-09-2025

Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Overview:

Draper is an independent nonprofit research and development company headquartered in Cambridge MA. The 2000 employees of Draper tackle important national challenges with a promise of delivering successful and usable solutions. From military defense and space exploration to biomedical engineering lives often depend on the solutions we provide. Our multidisciplinary teams of engineers and scientists work in a collaborative environment that inspires the cross-fertilization of ideas necessary for true innovation. For more information about Draper visit .

Job Description Summary:

Drapers Acoustic and Vibration Technologies group is seeking a signal processing professional to develop computational methods for technology that solves critical problems of national importance. As an Acoustic Signal Processing Engineer your role will focus on the research and development of sensing and communications systems from concept through design and delivery. You will also contribute to the development of presentations proposals and whitepapers that sustain and win customer business.

Job Description:

Duties/Responsibilities
Develops and applies advanced design methods theories and research techniques.
Analyzes develops and recommends design approaches to meet prototype or production requirements.
Responsible for planning and conducting hardware projects or phases of projects.
Develops and applies advanced design methods theories and research techniques.
May provide technical consultation and work leadership to other team members.
Development of quantum optical and/or photonic sensors and instruments.
Provide recommendations for performance improvements and cost reduction efforts.
Apply quantitative analysis in determining root cause of highly technical problems and propose develop and implement solutions for corrective action.
Develop and maintain effective internal/external relationships
Performs other related duties as assigned.

Skills/Abilities
Proficiency in programming language.
Ability to write software routines to run laboratory experiments including data collection storage and basic data reduction.
Demonstrated consistency accountability and flexibility managing multiple and competing priorities.
Proven ability to lead technical solutions to complex user requirements.
Excellent communication technical writing oral presentation and interpersonal skills.

Education
Requires a bachelors or masters degree in physics applied physics electrical engineering optics or similar. PhD degree preferred.

Experience
3-5 years experience in Physics Engineering or related with a bachelors degree.
0-3 years experience in Physics Engineering or related with a masters degree.

Additional Job Description:

The ideal candidate will use their scientific background in audio acoustic or vibration applications to develop various technologies including:

custom and COTS sensors/systems in various form factors including MEMS that are used for advanced acoustic and vibration sensing as well as RF optic magnetic inertial and other related modalities
analog signal conditioning architectures with low-noise pre-amplifiers analog-to-digital & digital-to-analog converters and complex analog filtering
embedded digital signal processors (FPGAs microcontrollers and ASICs) to implement DSP algorithms for filtering classification and control
simulation and modeling of acoustic and other phenomenology that includes the relevant physics sensors and signal processing methods

Candidates should be familiar with several of the following signal processing principles and techniques:

Phased acoustic arrays beamforming Kalman filters etc.
Audio and speech feature identification/classification
Stochastic analysis for sensors and signals
Continuous and discrete-time filter design and implementation
Communications (modulation demodulator channel modeling synchronous detection etc.)
Control systems (classical and/or modern)

Candidates should have experience with the following engineering hardware and software tools:

Familiar with C C and/or MATLAB (Python) for algorithm development on a variety of devices and instruments
Familiar with LTspice MATLAB (Python) Simulink COMSOL and/or other multi-domain modeling applications
Familiar with Audio Precision National Instruments Liquid Instruments and/or similar test and data acquisition systems

Applicants selected for this position will be requires to obtain and maintain a US government security clearance.

Connect With Draper for Future Opportunities! If you dont find the right posting in our Career Opportunities you may submit your resume for future consideration.

Job Location - City:

Cambridge

Job Location - State:

Massachusetts

Job Location - Postal Code:

02139-3563

The US base salary range for this full-time position is

$75000.00 - $150000.00

Our salary ranges are determined by role level and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target salaries for the position across all US locations. Within the range individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors including job-related skills experience and relevant education or training. Union ranges will be in compliance with the collective bargaining agreements approved rates by location and role. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only and does not include bonuses or benefits.

Our work is very important to us but so is our life outside of work. Draper supports many programs to improve work-life balance including workplace flexibility employee clubs ranging from photography to yoga health and finance workshops off site social events and discounts to local museums and cultural activities. If this specific job opportunity and the chance to work at a nationally renowned R&D innovation company appeals to you apply now is committed to creating an inclusive environment. We understand the value of inclusivity and its impact on a high-performance culture. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion sex disability age sexual orientation national origin veteran status or genetic information. Draper is committed to providing access equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment its services programs and activities. To request reasonable accommodation please contact .

Overview:Draper is an independent nonprofit research and development company headquartered in Cambridge MA. The 2000 employees of Draper tackle important national challenges with a promise of delivering successful and usable solutions. From military defense and space exploration to biomedical engine...