FPGA Engineer (Starshield)

SpaceX

Quick summary

Work type
On-site
Location
Hawthorne, CA
Salary
$120,000–$145,000 / yr
Posted
today

Market check

Salary context

Below market

How this pay compares to similar roles

Similar $176k
This role $132k
$108k most similar roles pay here $231k

This role pays less than 90% of similar roles. Most pay $143,975–$208,000 — the shaded band above. At the midpoint, this role pays about $132k versus about $176k 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 604 open roles on FindRole.

Listed pay typically runs $130,000–$155,000 across 440 roles with salary data.

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View all roles at SpaceX

At a glance

TL;DR · FPGA Engineer (Starshield)

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The FPGA Engineer role at SpaceX’s Starshield team involves designing, developing, and testing FPGAs for safety-critical logic, sensors, cryptography, and RF/optical communications systems in satellite constellations. This position requires working closely with cross-functional teams to ensure the successful deployment of space missions, from prototype through production and flight. Key responsibilities include delivering highly reliable firmware, collaborating on FPGA designs, and conducting thorough verification testing. Ideal candidates should have experience with Verilog or VHDL, complex digital design, and a range of FPGA development stages including RTL design and synthesis. Additional skills in C/C++ software development for embedded systems, scripting languages like Python, and familiarity with high-speed serial links are essential. This role demands strong leadership, communication, and teamwork abilities to contribute effectively to the cutting-edge satellite engineering projects at SpaceX.

Skills

Verilog SystemVerilog VHDL Xilinx SoC FPGA C C++ Python Perl Bash DSP algorithms GbE PCI-E Ethernet 802.3 IPV4/IPV4 UDP TCP

What you'll do

  • Design and develop FPGA firmware for safety critical logic, sensors, cryptography, and RF/optical communications systems.
  • Engage with cross-functional teams to discover mission needs and code highly reliable digital designs.
  • Take ownership of FPGA design lifecycle from development through testing and support.
  • Develop firmware for Xilinx SoC FPGA platforms and design high-throughput PS/PL interfaces.
  • Implement DSP algorithms on FPGAs, including fixed point analysis and verification.

What we're looking for

  • Bachelor’s degree in computer science, electrical engineering, math or related field; OR 2+ years of professional software development experience
  • Experience using Verilog, SystemVerilog, or VHDL for FPGA design
  • Experience with complex digital designs and full FPGA lifecycle (RTL, verification, synthesis)
  • Expertise in developing firmware for Xilinx SoC FPGA platforms and high-throughput interfaces
  • Knowledge of networking protocols, packet processing, and DSP algorithms on FPGAs

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