Senior Wireless Communication Systems Engineer

Company Overview

At Motorola Solutions, we believe that everything starts with our people. We’re a global close-knit community, united by the relentless pursuit to help keep people safer everywhere. We build and connect technologies to help protect people, property and places. Our solutions foster the collaboration that’s critical for safer communities, safer schools, safer hospitals, safer businesses, and ultimately, safer nations. Connect with a career that matters, and help us build a safer future.

Department Overview

Silvus Technologies, a leading provider of advanced MANET and MIMO communications systems, is reshaping mesh network technology for mission-critical applications – on the ground, in the air and at sea. Its battle-proven StreamCaster family of MANET radios and proprietary MN-MIMO waveform provides the vital communications link for defense, law enforcement and public safety agencies around the world, and in the toughest operational environments.

Silvus Technologies is a wholly owned subsidiary of Motorola Solutions, Inc.

Job Description

Would you like to join an incredibly talented group of people, doing very challenging work, with the prime directive of “Keeping Our Heroes Connected”?

THE OPPORTUNITY

Silvus is seeking a full-time Senior Wireless Communication Systems Engineer who will report to the Senior Engineering Director on the Irvine Engineering team. This engineer will develop and validate wireless architectures and algorithms from requirements through implementation and field testing.

This position is fully onsite, Monday through Friday. The location for this role is Silvus Technologies’ Engineering and R&D Office in Irvine, CA, near the vibrant Irvine Spectrum.

The following is a list of at least some of the current essential job functions of the position. Management may assign or reassign duties and responsibilities at any time at its discretion.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Translate product and mission needs into measurable wireless system requirements, architecture and interface specifications, and verification plans across the RF, PHY, MAC, and network layers.
• Develop and evaluate modem and signal-processing algorithms, including synchronization, channel estimation, MIMO/OFDM processing, and adaptation to changing channel conditions.
• Build link- and system-level models to assess range, throughput, latency, reliability, and performance under mobility, interference, and challenging propagation; use the results to guide design tradeoffs.
• Work with FPGA, embedded software, and RF teams on implementation specifications, fixed-point modeling, test vectors, integration, and performance optimization.
• Plan and execute simulation, bench, and field tests; correlate measured results with models, investigate performance gaps, and drive issues to resolution.
• Document architectures, algorithms, assumptions, test methods, and results; present technical findings and recommendations at design reviews.
• Assess current products and emerging technologies, identify opportunities to improve performance and robustness, and contribute to future product architecture and enhancements.
• Travel occasionally to support customer interactions, testing, or demonstrations, as needed.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• M.S. with minimum 4 years of relevant wireless system design experience or Ph.D in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Communications Engineering, Computer Science, or a related engineering field, preferably focused on wireless communications and signal processing.
• Hands-on experience designing or integrating wireless modem functions and understanding interactions among the PHY, MAC, and higher layers.
• Working knowledge of RF propagation, link budgets, fading, interference, and channel modeling for mobile wireless systems.
• Strong foundation in digital communications and signal processing, including MIMO, OFDM, synchronization, channel estimation, equalization, and channel coding.
• Understanding of RF systems and impairments, including automatic gain control, phase noise, carrier and sampling offsets, and I/Q imbalance, and their effects on system performance and digital compensation.
• Proficiency in MATLAB for algorithm development, simulation, data analysis, and performance characterization.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen due to clients under U.S. government contracts.
• Employment is contingent upon the successful clearance of a background check.

PREFERRED KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Experience with mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs), including distributed medium access, routing, mobility, and multi-hop performance.
• Experience taking wireless systems from simulation and prototype through integration, laboratory characterization, and field validation.
• Knowledge of RF front ends, antennas, link budgets, and the practical tradeoffs between waveform algorithms and hardware constraints.
• Experience operating in congested or contested spectrum, including interference detection and mitigation, RF sensing, or adaptive/cognitive radio.
• Hands-on fixed-point design and verification, including quantization analysis and reference models for FPGA or embedded software implementations.
• Experience with RF test equipment, over-the-air measurements, and systematic laboratory troubleshooting.
• Working knowledge of TCP/IP networking and its interactions with wireless links and mobile ad hoc networks.
• Experience using Python or C/C++ for analysis, prototyping, test automation, or debugging.
• Ability to organize work independently, prioritize competing tasks, and collaborate across systems, RF, FPGA, software, and test teams.
• Clear technical writing and communication skills, including the ability to explain performance tradeoffs and test results to colleagues and customers.

WORKING CONDITIONS & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Office environment.
• Occasional exposure to heat, cold, and allergens while performing tests or demonstrations in the field.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to do the following:
  • Lift equipment up to 20 lbs. for the set-up of demonstrations and testing.
  • Perform bending and reaching movements to place items on lower and higher shelves.
  • Kneeling or squatting to access lower shelves.
  • Walking/Moving in the labs.

COMPENSATION: $155,000 - $195,000 / annually

#silvuscareers

Consistent with Motorola Solutions values and applicable law, we provide the following information to promote pay transparency and equity. Pay within this range varies and depends on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The actual offer will be based on the individual candidate.

NOTE - As a US Federal Contractor, Silvus Technologies requires that ALL candidates being considered for employment for any position (regardless of level) MUST be a U.S. Person (permanent resident or citizen). Stricter U.S. Citizen ONLY requirements (needed for some Engineering or R&D roles) will be included in the Required Qualifications section of the posted position. This does NOT apply to international positions; only job postings for positions located in the US.

Basic Requirements

• M.S. with minimum 4 years of relevant wireless system design experience or Ph.D in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Communications Engineering, Computer Science, or a related engineering field, preferably focused on wireless communications and signal processing.
• Must be a U.S. Citizen due to clients under U.S. government contracts.
• Employment is contingent upon the successful clearance of a background check.

Travel Requirements

None

Relocation Provided

Domestic

Position Type

Experienced

Referral Payment Plan

Yes

Our U.S. Benefits include:

• Incentive Bonus Plans

• Medical, Dental, Vision benefits

• 401K with Company Match

• 10 Paid Holidays

• Generous Paid Time Off Packages

• Employee Stock Purchase Plan

• Paid Parental & Family Leave

• and more!

EEO Statement

Motorola Solutions is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other legally-protected characteristic.

We are proud of our people-first and community-focused culture, empowering every Motorolan to be their most authentic self and to do their best work to deliver on the promise of a safer world. If you’d like to join our team but feel that you don’t quite meet all of the preferred skills, we’d still love to hear why you think you’d be a great addition to our team.

We’re committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruiting experience for candidates with disabilities, or other physical or mental health conditions. To request an accommodation, please complete this Reasonable Accommodations Form so we can assist you.