below marketmost similar roles pay hereabove market
This role pays more than
52%
of similar roles. Most pay
$137,500–$197,500
— the blue band above.
At the midpoint, this role pays about
$145k
versus about
$168k
for comparable roles.
Based on 240 similar postings.
Employer
About SpaceX
SpaceX designs, manufactures, and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft with the mission of enabling humans to become a multi-planetary species. It operates the Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, and Starship launch vehicles, as well as the Starlink satellite internet constellation.
SpaceX currently has
851 open roles
on FindRole.
Listed pay typically runs
$130,000–$165,000
across 590 roles with salary data.
JOB TITLE: Antenna Engineer - Parabolic & Waveguide (Starlink)
As a member of the Antenna Engineering team, you will have extreme ownership of parabolic reflector antennas, waveguide feed systems, and associated RF components for satellites and gateways. You will drive the design, optimization, and implementation of high-performance reflectors and waveguide-based networks from concept through manufacturing and on-orbit operation. Key responsibilities include designing multi-band feed systems, waveguide components like orthomode transducers and filters, and antenna radomes. You will conduct design validation using vector network analyzer measurements and pattern measurements while collaborating with mechanical and thermal teams. Required skills include experience with 3D EM simulation tools such as CST, HFSS, FEKO, or TICRA GRASP, along with proficiency in Python or MATLAB for data analysis. This role solves critical RF performance challenges for the Starlink broadband internet system.
Design and optimize parabolic reflector antennas and multi-band feed systems.
Design waveguide components including orthomode transducers, polarizers, diplexers, and filters.
Conduct design validation using vector network analyzer measurements and integrated active network testing.
Fabricate and characterize prototypes of feed horns and waveguide assemblies for gain and efficiency.
Partner with mechanical engineers to analyze surface accuracy and thermal distortion effects on RF performance.
Design and test antenna radomes and high-power waveguide networks.
Oversee the mechanical integration of reflector antennas and waveguide systems into spacecraft.
Analyze in-the-field operational RF performance data to improve antenna and waveguide performance.
What we're looking for
Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline.
2+ years of research or development experience in RF, antennas, or microwave engineering.
1+ years of experience using 3D EM simulation tools such as CST, HFSS, FEKO, TICRA GRASP, or equivalent.
Master’s degree or PhD in electrical engineering with research focused on reflector antennas, waveguide components, or microwave engineering (preferred).
Strong experience in parabolic reflector antenna design, including reflector shaping, feed optimization, and efficiency analysis (preferred).
Hands-on design experience with waveguide components like horns, OMTs, polarizers, filters, and couplers (preferred).
Deep understanding of waveguide propagation modes, discontinuities, matching techniques, and high-power phenomena (preferred).
U.S. citizen, national, lawful permanent resident, refugee, asylee, or eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
Phased Array Antennas
CST
HFSS
FEKO
EMPro
TICRA
XFDTD
Python
C#
C++
MATLAB
AWR
ADS
Genesys
Digital Beamforming
Near Field EM Measurements
Impedance Matching
Microwave Network Analysis
Phased Array
Antenna Theory
Python
C++
C#
MATLAB
Electromagnetic Simulation
Digital Signal Processing
Spectrum Analyzers
Vector Signal Analyzers
Network Analyzers
mmWave
Link Budgets
PCB Layout
RF Front Ends
Waveguide Systems
Phased Array
Antenna Theory
Python
C++
C#
MATLAB
Electromagnetic Simulation
Digital Signal Processing
Spectrum Analyzers
Vector Signal Analyzers
Network Analyzers
mmWave
PCB Layout
RF Front Ends
Waveguide Systems