How to apply for Senior FPGA RF Signal Processing Engineer

About Muon Space

Muon Space builds Earth-sensing satellite technology aimed at climate action. The company is a startup, so employees work in a fast-changing environment with direct impact on the product. The High Performance Compute team works on RF systems for satellites.

About the role

You will implement HDL for digital signal processing of RF systems on FPGAs, and design and optimize DSP algorithms. The work spans RF theory, DSP algorithm development, software defined radio, and high performance digital FPGA design. Your output supports wireless communication and RF sensing products for Earth observation.

A typical day

A typical day may involve writing and simulating HDL for an RF DSP block, reviewing results with RF hardware engineers, and updating design specifications. You might also prototype an algorithm in Python or port code to an ARM SoC. Exact routines depend on the team, so ask about daily workflows and tooling in the interview.

Who Muon Space is looking for

• BS/MS in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years of professional FPGA development for RF DSP, including translating prototype algorithms into FPGA implementations.
• Hands-on experience with RF DSP techniques such as communications, ESM, or radar signal processing.
• Comfortable prototyping algorithms in Python and porting them to ARM SoCs.
• Able to work remotely and collaborate with RF hardware engineers and other software teams.

Tips for this application

• Show at least one project where you took an RF DSP algorithm from prototype to FPGA implementation, with details on the toolchain, FPGA family, and measured results.
• Name the RF DSP areas you have worked in (communications, ESM, radar) and the specific techniques you implemented.
• Include examples of Python prototyping and porting to ARM SoCs, since the job description calls this out directly.
• Mention any work with RF hardware engineers on bring-up, calibration, or system integration.
• List technical documentation you have authored, such as design specifications or test reports, because the role requires it.

What to cover in your cover letter

Point to concrete FPGA RF DSP projects and the algorithms you implemented. Explain how you translated prototype algorithms into FPGA implementations. Describe your experience with Python prototyping and ARM SoC porting. State your familiarity with communications, ESM, or radar DSP techniques.

Research before applying

• Read Muon Space's public materials on its Earth-sensing satellite technology and climate action focus.
• Look up the High Performance Compute team and any public information about its FPGA or RF work.
• Check what FPGA vendors and toolchains Muon Space uses, if published, to align your examples.
• Find any Muon Space talks, papers, or job posts that describe its RF sensing or SDR products.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• Walk through an RF DSP algorithm you implemented on an FPGA, including design choices and tradeoffs.
• How do you prototype a DSP algorithm in Python and then port it to an ARM SoC?
• Describe your experience with RF DSP for communications, ESM, or radar.
• How have you collaborated with RF hardware engineers on instrument bring-up and calibration?
• What is your process for writing design specifications and test reports for FPGA DSP work?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Listing FPGA experience without naming the RF DSP algorithms you implemented.
• Claiming Python and ARM SoC experience without project examples.
• Ignoring the hardware collaboration and documentation parts of the role.