Senior Software Engineer Electronic Warfare (All Genders)

About the Team

STARK’s Electronic Warfare team is a systems-focused engineering group delivering software-defined, mass-scalable RF solutions for autonomous systems. Combining deep domain expertise in hardware board design, thermal/structural packaging, real-time C++ signal processing, and resilient directional mesh networking, we rapidly build and field advanced EW capabilities designed to survive and operate in contested spectrum environments.

Your Mission

At STARK, we are building the next generation of autonomous platforms capable of navigating the world’s most contested environments. We are currently hiring for multiple Software Engineering positions where the primary mission is to ensure our fleet maintains command, control, and situational awareness against near-peer threats.

Electronic Warfare (EW) is at the heart of everything we do. We’re looking for engineers who are passionate about the electromagnetic spectrum and eager to join a team that lives and breathes RF. Whether you specialise in signal processing, communications, or EW effects, your background in EW and high-performance C++ is what matters most. We prioritise deep expertise and a drive to solve complex problems over meeting every single sub-specialty requirement.

Responsibilities

• Design high-performance C++ software for real-time signal processing, waveform manipulation, and mission-critical EW functions.

• Develop anti-jamming techniques, frequency hopping (FHSS), and adaptive filtering to bypass active electronic countermeasures.

• Design algorithms for RF sensing, signal detection, and situational awareness to identify and neutralise threats in dynamic environments.

• Collaborate with hardware and systems teams to tune RF front-ends, ensuring software is perfectly calibrated to physical constraints.

• Own the stack from initial design and mathematical modelling to rigorous bench testing and field trials.

Required Skills

We are looking for candidates with a strong foundation in Modern C/C++ and a professional background in Electronic Warfare, ideally involving one or more of the following:

• Deep understanding of the electromagnetic spectrum, DSP, Fourier methods, and modulation theory (QAM, QPSK, OFDM).

• Experience with low-probability-of-intercept (LPI) links, digital modulation schemes, and the underlying physics of RF propagation.

• Proficiency in embedded systems, Linux networking, specifically regarding radio-based mesh networks or point-to-point links.

• Exposure to jamming theory, threat-driven RF effects, or cognitive radio for automated interference avoidance.

• Strong engineering skills at both the systems design and detailed implementation levels. 

• Strong proficiency in modern C/C++ (memory management, concurrency, performance analysis).

• Significant interest in physics/RF or a strong preexisting understanding of RF processing fundamentals and the electromagnetic spectrum.

• Clear and structured communication skills for cross-functional technical collaboration.

Nice-To-Have

• Experience with MIMO antenna systems and beam-forming.

• High performance computing and software benchmarking experience.

• Familiarity with cryptographic standards for securing over-the-air transmissions.

• Custom protocol design for low-bandwidth, high-latency environments.

• Hands-on experience with RF waveform design or amateur radio.

• Strong interest in physics, electromagnetic propagation, and waveform engineering.

• Hands-on experience with RF waveform design and amateur radio.

• Familiarity with wireless & cable-borne data formats (QAM-64, QPSK).

• Exposure to jamming theory, threat-driven RF effects, and EW tactics.

• Experience in signal processing and mathematical modelling (Fourier methods, modulation theory, filtering, etc.).

Relevant Background

• High end system software engineering in any context where both details and system level architecture is critical to mission success

• Defence & Aerospace: Radar systems, electronic countermeasures, or encrypted tactical comms

• Robotics: Long-range, encrypted data links for UAS/UGV or autonomous systems.

• SDR Development: Extensive experience with platforms like USRP, pluto SDR, LimeSDR and frameworks like GNU Radio.

• Advanced Engineering: Backgrounds in radio-waveform development, X-ray systems, or mathematically driven system design.