RF Engineer (Crew Starship)

RF Engineer (Crew Starship)

Hawthorne, CA

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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 (CREW STARSHIP)

Become a part of the Crew Starship RF team and support the mission to revolutionize orbital flight and space travel - opening access for humankind to establish new frontiers in space, and ultimately make humans a multi-planetary species.

The Crew Starship RF team develops RF systems and hardware for the SpaceX Human Landing System, which will soon carry astronauts to the moon as part of NASA's Artemis program. Starship will be one of the most sophisticated and largest crewed vehicles flown in space and will be developed at a cost and rate previously considered unthinkable in the space industry. Become a part of this fast moving and world class development team, working with super smart and motivated engineers, and achieve truly audacious goals. If you’re ready for a challenge, then you’ve come to the right place. Come join our team and help take humanity back to the moon!

RESPONSIBILITIES:

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  Design hardware for RF communication or sensing systems, from system specification through hardware design, build and verification

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  Perform analysis to support system architecture trades or verify the system design – including antenna pattern coverage, co-site interference, link budgets, multiple access, etc.

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  Test RF system compatibility and end-to-end performance

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  Develop and support simulation and data review infrastructure for RF communications and sensors/instruments

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  Conduct or participate in customer and/or program technical review or flight readiness presentations

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  Ensure compliance through analysis, test, and operations with spectrum licensing and regulations

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  Lead and conduct troubleshooting and root cause system level performance anomalies

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BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

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  Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or computer science

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  1+ years of experience with RF engineering (school projects and internships apply)

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PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

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  Master's degree in electrical engineering with focus on signal processing, communication and navigation systems, or RF design

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  Experience designing circuit boards in Altium

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  Experience using RF simulation tools, such as HFSS, CST, AWR Design Environment or ADS

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  Experience with link budget analysis, cascade analysis, power flux density, etc

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  Experience with digital communication theory and testing, Bit Error Rate, EVM and System Noise Figure

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  Experience with testing antennas in far-field or near-field measurement chambers

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  Experience with revision control systems such as Git and SVN, and familiar with Linux terminal

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  Experience with Python (or other language) for data analysis

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  Competency with simulation/modeling software development including testing and continuous integration

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  Knowledge of digital communication systems including spread spectrum, forward error correction, and modulation types such as FSK, BPSK, QPSK, QAM, and PCM/FM

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  Excellent communication and documentation skills, and ability to collaborate with other engineering disciplines

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ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

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• Willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed to support critical milestones
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COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay Range:

RF Engineer/Level I: $120,000.00 - $145,000.00/per year

RF Engineer/Level II: $140,000.00 - $170,000.00/per year

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock, stock options, or long-term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive 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, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Employees accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law.

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:

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• 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 ITARhere ( .
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SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX’s Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to