Senior Linux Systems Engineer (SDR/RF Integration)

Paidefence is a British-Ukrainian air defence tech company building distributed systems across the frontline. Our core value is impact for Ukraine: we build technology that makes a real difference on the actual battlefield, not in labs or on paper specs. We operate with a deep-tech mindset, pushing new technologies where engineering rigor truly matters.

We’re looking for an experienced Linux engineer whose primary responsibility will be integrating various SDR (Software Defined Radio) devices into our software platform. This is a role for those who love working at the hardware-software boundary, understand how data travels from physical ports to high-level applications, and can make that path as fast and reliable as possible.

What you’ll do:

• Integrate different SDR models into a unified Linux-based ecosystem
• Work with vendor SDKs and develop high-performance userspace applications
• Optimize high-throughput data processing in real-time
• Write clean, stable, and performant code in C++ or Python
• Debug inter-process communication, manage buffering and latency

Requirements:

• 5+ years of professional Linux systems experience
• Linux Power User: comfortable in terminal, understands kernel-space vs user-space, knows systemd and driver configuration
• Hardware Interface Expert: hands-on experience with USB 2.0/3.0, Ethernet, or other high-throughput interfaces
• Data Stream Architect: understands IPC principles, ring buffers, memory overflow prevention, and latency minimization for raw data transmission
• C++ Developer: writes reliable code that doesn’t crash on the first unexpected packet from hardware
• English: B2 or higher

Nice to have:

• SDR experience: familiar with RTL-SDR, HackRF, USRP, or has GNU Radio experience
• Experience with ROS/ROS2 (node development, topics/services)
• Understanding of data transmission protocols and digital signal processing (DSP)
• Hobbies related to electronics, radio communication, or robotics

We offer:

• Meaningful, high-impact work in Ukraine’s air defense domain
• Deep-tech engineering challenges where rigor and performance matter
• High ownership and autonomy from day one
• Work format: Kyiv office with occasional remote days
• Senior engineering team with direct communication and minimal bureaucracy
• Full-time position with standard hours; occasional off-hours for testing/updates