RF Software Engineer (Starshield)

SpaceX•Hawthorne, CA

2d•$125,000 - $195,000

About The Position

The RF Software Engineer will work on SpaceX’s Starshield team, which leverages Starlink technology and launch capability to support national security efforts. Starshield is designed for government use, with an initial focus on earth observation, communications, and hosted payloads. The role supports advanced development programs for U.S. National Security and involves designing and building RF capabilities for proliferated communications and remote sensing in low Earth orbit. The engineer will collaborate with RF, DSP, software, and hardware engineers and end users in a fast-paced environment. The team tackles unsolved problems and iterates rapidly to move from design and demonstrations to operational capabilities. The role involves RF system design decisions, research, RF test infrastructure and automation, design validation, and electromagnetic simulation.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or another engineering discipline.
At least 1 year of professional development experience in C/C++ or Python.
At least 1 year of professional experience with radio test equipment such as spectrum analyzers, vector signal analyzers, vector signal generators, and network analyzers.
At least 1 year of professional RF experience with antennas or communication systems.
Willingness to work extended hours and weekends as needed.
Must meet the stated U.S. government export-control eligibility requirements or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in electrical engineering or another engineering discipline.
Experience testing active and passive RF devices such as filters, amplifiers, mixers, and upconverters/downconverters.
Experience with RF concepts such as gain, linearity, P1dB, ACLR, EVM, PAE, S-parameters, and input/output matching.
Experience with software design principles, software architecture, design patterns, and unit/integration testing methodology.
Experience with environmental test methodologies and equipment such as thermal chambers and temperature forcing systems.
Experience troubleshooting interactions between software and hardware, such as network devices and lab instrumentation.
Experience using Windows and Linux operating systems.
Experience with configuration management and version control software.
Active TS/SCI clearance or the ability to obtain and maintain one.

Responsibilities

Drive program-level decisions on RF system designs.
Research novel solutions for unique large-scale satellite RF systems.
Design, build, validate, and automate RF test benches for full characterization of custom RF designs.
Design and build modular, scalable RF test infrastructure and test automation sequences in Python and C++ to support design validation, qualification, and production.
Collaborate with hardware, FPGA, DSP, and software engineers to design and validate RF systems.
Create electromagnetic simulation models of hardware to design and evaluate performance.

Benefits

Potential eligibility for long-term incentives in the form of company stock or long-term cash awards.
Potential discretionary bonuses.
Ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
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.
Accrual of 3 weeks of paid vacation.
Eligibility for 10 or more paid holidays per year.
Paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy.
For employees with an active clearance who are officially briefed into a classified program, a 10% differential up to an additional $20,000 annually.