About Panop
Panop is an Australian defence tech startup building advanced electromagnetic and cognitive systems for Defence and national security clients. We build advanced systems that perceive the electromagnetic spectrum, think, and autonomously act.
We are a high-performance engineering team building real systems quickly, and deploying them into demanding operational environments.
We are hiring engineers—junior through to principal—who specialise in RF systems, digital signal processing, and/or AI applied to signals.
If your background is not genuinely technical in these domains, this role is not for you.
The Work
You will work on systems that operate in contested electromagnetic environments. You will be expected to move between theory, implementation, and hardware without friction or a rigid framework.
This includes:
* Designing and integrating software-defined radio (SDR) architectures
* Building real-time DSP pipelines (detection, classification, demodulation, geolocation)
* Developing AI/ML models for RF signal classification, anomaly detection, adaptive behaviour, and spectrum modelling
* Working with real-world RF data, not just simulated datasets
* Integrating RF front ends with embedded compute (CPU, GPU, FPGA where required)
* Rapid prototyping, lab validation, and field testing
Mandatory Background & Core Technologies
You must have meaningful experience in one or more of the following:
* RF systems engineering
* Software-defined radio development
* Digital signal processing for radio systems
* Machine learning applied to time-series or RF data
* Embedded or high-performance compute for real-time systems
We would like to see proficiency with at least three of the following core technologies:
* Python
* C++
* CUDA
* Linux (Debian-based preferred)
* SDR and/or GNU Radio
* Digital Signal Processing (DSP)
* Applied Machine Learning in DSP contexts
A strong understanding of signal theory and its underlying mathematics are highly beneficial.
Please note that we are not seeking generalist software engineers who do not have RF/DSP depth.
Desirable Experience
We are looking for builders whose curiosity extends beyond the workplace.
* A demonstrated interest in radiofrequency systems, such as holding an active amateur radio licence or active participation in hobbies involving RF telemetry and systems, such as amateur rocketry.
* A demonstrated interest in extracurricular hobbies with a strong scientific, engineering, or maker aspect (e.g., photography, astronomy, astrophotography, robotics, drone building/racing, modifying your car extensively, or hardware hacking).
What Working at a Startup Means
You are not just an employee. We won't tell you that "this is not a 9-5 and we are a family", because we really aren't your standard employer. In practice, you can expect the following:
* You will have high autonomy and high responsibility.
* Work intensity varies depending on delivery milestones and field activities.
* While you will never be required to travel to locations with active military operations, you should be open to the idea of travel to locations where you may need to seek shelter in response to an active air raid alert.
* You will work across the stack—hardware, firmware, algorithms, and systems integration.
* There is no bureaucracy insulating you from outcomes. Your work directly shapes the product.
* You will build systems end-to-end.
* You will see your work deployed, not buried in a slide deck.
* You will operate alongside highly capable, highly motivated engineers.
Remuneration & Equity
We pay for capability and execution.
* Base Salary:
Ranging from $150,000 to $220,000 (excl. superannuation), your remuneration will scale with your technical depth and ability to deliver.
* Equity:
You will benefit from our Employee Stock Option Plan (ESOP). We know startup equity isn't standard in Australia, so here is what that means in plain English: Alongside your salary, you earn the right to own shares in Panop. Why is that valuable? Because if we succeed in our mission, the company's value grows significantly. In the future, you can sell those shares to investors or acquiring companies for a substantial sum, or retain them as a long-term asset. You aren't just trading your time for a paycheck; you are building an asset that has the potential to deliver life-changing financial returns.
Benefits
We believe in looking after our team, so we try to go above and beyond where we can.
* 5 weeks annual leave, plus TOIL.
* Flexible working hours around core team collaboration time. If you need to leave to pick up your kids, make it to an appointment, or just want to go to the gym - we fully support it.
* Private health insurance, and we'll cover your gym membership.
* Annual professional development budget - we want you to be at the forefront.
* Superannuation, paid parental and personal/carer's leave.
* Wellness days as needed.
* Relocation assistance for interstate candidates.
* A say in the direction of the company. Whether suggesting new benefits or additions to our product lines, your input is taken seriously.
Security Requirements
Citizenship of a NATO or NATO Partner nation (including Australia) is mandatory, and the ability to obtain and/or maintain an Australian security clearance is essential.
Please note that certain dual citizenships may be ineligible for this role due to strict legislative and security considerations.
Who Should Apply
Engineers who:
* Prefer building real systems
* Are comfortable working in ambiguity
* Want ownership, not narrow tasking
* Care about technical excellence and operational relevance
We clearly delineate between engineers who specialise in compliance and administration, and engineers who can rapidly build, test, and iterate on novel solutions. We exist to build, and we are looking exclusively for the latter.
Diversity:
Panop expressly encourages women, neurodivergent engineers, individuals from underrepresented backgrounds and individuals from non-traditional educational backgrounds to apply for this role.
If you're reading the requirements list and thinking you don't tick every box — apply anyway.
We are solving deeply complex problems, and we believe that a homogeneous team produces predictable solutions. We need a diverse technical team to foster the creative friction necessary for developing truly novel ideas.
Graduates & Interns:
We encourage graduates and interns to express their interest. We do not expect you to have deep industry experience yet. If you can describe your technical motivations and demonstrate interesting extracurricular engineering projects, we welcome a discussion. Please note that the salary range above does not include intern or graduate roles.
How To Apply
* Combine your CV and cover letter into one PDF file. Your cover letter should outline your motivations to work with us, as well as your experience in RF, DSP, and/or AI systems.
* Click "Easy Apply" and attach your combined CV and cover letter.
* Follow the prompts.
* Submit
Please do not use an LLM to write or to edit your cover letter. We are not hiring based on your ability to write beautiful prose.
If you are invited to an interview, you can expect a technical conversation with the founder and the core team.