This paper presents a parallel processing searcher structure for the initial synchronization of a direct sequence ultra-wideband (DS-UWB) system, which is suitable for the digital implementation of baseband functionalities with a 1.32 Gsample/s chip rate analog-to-digital converter. An initial timing acquisition algorithm and a data demodulation method are also studied. The proposed searcher effectively acquires initial symbol and frame timing during the preamble transmission period. A hardware efficient receiver structure using 24 parallel digital correlators for binary phase-shift keying DS-UWB transmission is presented. The proposed correlator structure operating at 55 MHz is shared for correlation operations in a searcher, a channel estimator, and the demodulator of a RAKE receiver. We also present a pseudo-random noise sequence generated with a primitive polynomial, $1+x^2+x^5$, for packet detection, automatic gain control, and initial timing acquisition. Simulation results show that the performance of the proposed parallel processing searcher employing the presented pseudo-random noise sequence outperforms that employing a preamble sequence in the IEEE 802.15.3a DS-UWB proposal.