Principal Antenna Engineer (Starshield)

SpaceX • Hawthorne, CA

84d • $200,000 - $270,000

About The Position

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. Starshield leverages SpaceX’s Starlink technology and launch capability to support national security efforts. While Starlink is designed for consumer and commercial use, Starshield is designed for government use, with an initial focus on earth observation, communications, and hosted payloads. As an antenna engineer on the Starshield team, you will be working on advanced development programs in support of U.S. National Security. SpaceX is looking for antenna engineers with experience in small antenna design, phased array and reflector antenna systems, and/or antenna test and design validation. You will work in a highly collaborative and fast-paced environment, where we are exploring unsolved problems and applying the SpaceX mindset of iterating rapidly to go from design and demo to operational capability at lightning pace.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in computer engineering or electrical engineering
• 8+ years of research or development experience in the areas of RF and antennas
• Experience using one of the 3D EM simulation tools such as CST, HFSS, FEKO, EMPro, TICRA, or XFDTD
• Experience with RF concepts such as impedance matching, linear and aperture antennas, smith chart, power handling metrics (IIP2, IMD), microwave network analysis, and/or RF filter design

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree or PhD in electrical engineering with some research/thesis work on RF or antennas
• Experience with RF systems including SIGINT, ELINT, radar, or communications
• Experience programming in Python, C#, C++, or MATLAB
• Experience designing RF systems including radio astronomy, SIGINT, ELINT, radar, or wireless communications
• Familiar with antenna measurement techniques and tools such as anechoic/reverb chambers, near field EM measurements
• Familiar with one of the mainstream RF circuit simulation tools: AWR, ADS, Genesys
• Familiar with antenna prototyping tools and techniques
• Ability to work in a fast paced, autonomously driven, and demanding start­up atmosphere
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal
• Passion for advancing the commercial and National Security space industry
• Ability and willingness to obtain a Top Secret clearance

Responsibilities

• Design of advanced antenna and feed systems in support of next generation products including phased array and reflector products
• Fabricate and characterize prototypes of antennas, feed systems and RF front ends
• Contribute to development of software and testing of digital beamforming systems to demonstrate full phased array functionality
• Provide phased array expertise to set specifications and debug problems covering satellite phased array products
• Lead or support integration of antennas to spacecraft and other systems
• Analyze in-the-field operational RF performance data of units and investigate methods to improve performance and debug issues

Benefits

• Pay range: Antenna Engineer/Principal: $200,000.00 - $270,000.00/per year
• Long-term incentives, in the form of company stock, stock options, or long-term cash awards
• Potential discretionary bonuses
• Ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage
• Access to a 401(k) retirement plan
• Short and long-term disability insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid parental leave
• Various other discounts and perks
• 3 weeks of paid vacation
• 10 or more paid holidays per year
• Paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees