Lead Engineer - Signal Processing

Are you an elite engineer looking for the freedom and resources to achieve the impossible? THEN COME BUILD GIANT TERRAFORMING ROBOTS THAT WILL BUILD A BETTER FUTURE!

At TerraFirma, we're not just building robots —we’re redefining how the world moves earth for construction.

Our team, founded by former SpaceX engineers and backed by Bain Capital Ventures, is driven by a mission to make construction faster, more efficient, and more sustainable through pragmatic human-in-the-loop automation.

Our Mission

TerraFirma was founded to build a brighter future for humanity by revolutionizing how we construct the large-scale physical infrastructure our planet desperately needs. From enabling mega-scale renewable energy projects and constructing resilient cities, to building efficient transportation and eco-friendly water infrastructure, our work today paves the way for a brighter, more sustainable future. The first step in all of these projects is to move massive amounts of dirt incredibly efficiently. As we look to the stars, we recognize that mining, processing, and moving raw materials will be the foundation of humanity's expansion into the cosmos. TerraFirma is pioneering the technology that will not only secure a sustainable future for humanity on Earth but also unlock the boundless possibilities of interplanetary expansion.

Our Company

TerraFirma was founded by two engineers named Noah who met while studying engineering at Princeton. After Princeton, both contributed to cutting-edge projects at SpaceX, where Noah Schochet (CEO) designed and mass-produced the Starlink user terminals and Starship rockets, and Noah McGuinness (CTO) developed flight software for SpaceX's satellite constellation. Now, they're taking the SpaceX Mentality -- rapid iteration based on engineering first principles -- to the construction industry. Their experience in pushing the boundaries of space exploration now fuels TerraFirma's mission to transform how we build the world's critical infrastructure here on Earth.

We are moving at light speed, and are ready to start scaling. Our fully functional ecosystem retrofits existing earthmoving machines (excavators, bulldozers, loaders, etc.) and enables one operator to control three or more machines simultaneously. Our headquarters, AKA Robot Ranch, is located in Austin, TX. We are committed to iterating and improving as rapidly as possible. To that end, we have fully stocked mechanical and electrical workshops, giant machines to retrofit, plenty of land to test on, and we are surrounded by earthworks projects with customers eager to start using our technology.

What We're Looking For

We’re seeking innovators, boundary-pushers, and people who will move heaven and earth to achieve the impossible. If you are someone who:

• Is driven by a relentless need to make the world better

• Thrives in fast-paced, high-pressure environments

• Hates being a cog in a machine and wants extreme ownership and opportunities to learn

• Has developed versatile technical skills by building amazing projects

• Can wear many hats, and loves learning new skills quickly

Then you're in the right place!

The Role:

***Additional details available upon request under NDA

In this role, you won’t just be an employee - you’ll be a trailblazer. You should expect to take hands-on ownership over a variety of new and existing systems straddling the line between hardware and software, and analog and digital domains. In this position, you will initially be responsible for taking a new DSP system from concept to functional prototype, owning the full hardware and software stack for the product. You will be given the resources to build a team under you as needed to develop, test, and refine the prototype for production and deployment in the field. Daily responsibilities will involve designing and testing RF frontends, analyzing digital signals, conducting field tests, and designing algorithms to detect patterns and synthesize sensor data to extract meaningful features from RF and EM interactions with physical environments. In addition to designing and manufacturing custom hardware solutions, you will oversee validation and testing campaigns as needed.

Responsibilities:

• Own the design and architecture of a new sensor system from concept through first prototype, including RF frontend design and signals analysis

• Design, analyze, and test digital and analog circuits for radio frequency and electromagnetic sensing

• Develop, test, and deploy algorithms for sensor fusion and signals analysis

• Work with interdisciplinary teams to design, test, and deliver custom hardware and software solutions

• Take on leadership roles when required, mentor new employees, and actively participate in the hiring process

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or a closely related field

• 3+ years of professional or project experience with RF, DSP, or electrical engineering with hands-on hardware development

• Proficiency in fundamentals of signals analysis and electrical engineering

• Demonstrated experience owning large-scale deliverables, leading teams, and driving product roadmaps

Preferred Skills & Experience:

• Experience with FPGAs, including hardware design, HDL programming, and common low-level and embedded prototcols

• Experience with analog and digital signal analysis for VHF and UHF bands

• Experience designing or testing radar systems, including antennas, frontends, and/or DSP

• Experience prototyping with SDR and open source tools like GNU Radio

• PCB design experience for rapid prototyping, including schematic capture and layout

• Familiarity with C/C++, Python, and Linux systems

• Solid understanding of antenna design and analysis

• Experience designing and running test campaigns for qualification/acceptance for custom hardware

• Experience with component selection and integration for SoCs, FPGAs, MCUs, and custom ICs

Additional Requirements:

• Must be willing to work extended hours or weekends when needed to support critical deadlines or triage urgent deployment issues

• Must be willing to relocate to Austin, TX if not within commuting distance

Compensation & Benefits:

TerraFirma is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. The annual salary range for this role is $100,000 - $170,000. Base compensation will vary based on factors such as relevant experience and education. Salaries and leveling will be determined on a case-by-case basis if an offer is extended. Our total compensation package also includes generous equity in TerraFirma. Relocation packages are available to compensate employees for moving costs if applicable.