About this role
Job Description
ATTENTION MILITARY AFFILIATED JOB SEEKERS - Our organization works with partner companies to source qualified talent for their open roles. The following position is available to Veterans, Transitioning Military, National Guard and Reserve Members, Military Spouses, Wounded Warriors, and their Caregivers. If you have the required skill set, education requirements, and experience, please click the submit button and follow the next steps.SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.
RF ENGINEER (STARLINK)
SpaceX is leveraging our experience building rockets and spacecraft to deploy Starlink, the world’s most advanced broadband internet system. Starlink is the world’s largest satellite constellation that provides fast, reliable internet to millions of users worldwide. We design, build, test, and operate all parts of the system – thousands of satellites, consumer receivers that allow users to connect within minutes of unboxing, and the software that brings it all together. We’ve only begun to scratch the surface of Starlink’s potential global impact and are looking for best-in-class engineers to help maximize Starlink’s utility for communities and businesses around the globe.
As a Starlink RF Engineer, you will fully own all phased array, Wi-Fi, and other RF systems for this customer-facing hardware. Our customers currently include teachers in the most remote parts of the Amazon, researchers in Antarctica, digital nomads who travel via RV, emergency responders, commercial airlines, cruise lines, and residential users who live in more rural or developing areas. In addition, you will own advanced parabolic antenna systems for our gateways/ground stations, which we deploy regionally throughout the world.
You will design, implement, and verify small router antennas, phased arrays, and reflector antenna systems. You will interact regularly with senior leadership to influence the fundamental operation of our constellation and network while collaborating with electrical, silicon, software, mechanical, and manufacturing teams to steer this project from initial concept development to full-scale production.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Design, fabricate and characterize prototypes of antennas, feed systems and RF front ends for next-generation phased arrays, gateways, and consumer wireless products
Create electromagnetic simulation models of hardware (antennas, filters, PCB layout) to design and evaluate performance
Work in close collaboration with EE, ME, DSP and software engineers to design and validate RF systems
Create and test phased array alignment solutions
Rapidly develop design validation and production test solutions for our high-volume consumer products
Write automation software in python to interact with units under test, test equipment, instrumentation, and documentation systems
Additional Qualifications/Responsibilities
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or other engineering discipline
1+ years of professional RF experience with antennas or communication systems (internship and extracurricular experience is applicable)
1+ years professional experience with radio test equipment such as spectrum analyzers, vector signal analyzers, vector signal generators, and network analyzers
1+ years of professional programming experience in Python, C#, C++, or MATLAB
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
Master’s degree or PhD in electrical engineering with emphasis in RF/antenna engineering
Experience designing wireless communications systems
Experience with basic principles of antenna theory
Understanding of link budgets and analysis related to communications
Thorough understanding of RF active and passive components
Experience characterizing radio performance at microwave frequencies
Excellent communication skills both written and verbal
Passion for problem solving
Demonstrated ability to work in a highly cross-functional role
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Ability to work extended hours or weekends as needed for mission critical deadlines
ITAR REQUIREMENTS
To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.