RF Engineer (Starlink)

About the role

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

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.