Principal RF Engineer (Starshield)

SpaceX

Quick summary

Work type: On-site
Location: Hawthorne, CA
Salary: $210,000–$300,000 / yr
Posted: today

Market check

Salary context

Above market

How this pay compares to similar roles

Similar $164k

This role $255k

$115k most similar roles pay here $320k

This role pays more than 97% of similar roles. Most pay $135,000–$193,000 — the shaded band above. At the midpoint, this role pays about $255k versus about $164k 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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At a glance

TL;DR · Principal RF Engineer (Starshield)

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The Principal RF Engineer role at Starshield in Hawthorne, CA is a senior position within the company’s advanced development programs supporting US National Security. This engineer will collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to design and build RF capabilities for low Earth orbit communications and remote sensing systems. Daily responsibilities include full lifecycle support of RF hardware from testing and defect detection through on-orbit anomaly resolution, as well as modifying electrical schematics and mechanical drawings for flight applications. The ideal candidate possesses expertise in modeling tools like HFSS, CST, ADS, MATLAB, C/C++, Python, and experience with RF test equipment such as VNAs and spectrum analyzers. Additional skills in software-defined radios and frameworks like GNU Radio are highly valued, along with the ability to obtain a Top Secret SCI clearance.

Skills

HFSS CST ADS MATLAB Python C++ GNU Radio VNA Spectrum Analyzer

What you'll do

Develop and support full life cycle of RF hardware, from testing to on-orbit anomaly resolution.
Modify electrical schematics for flight applications focusing on reliability and manufacturability.
Create and maintain link budgets and analysis related to communications or remote sensing systems.
Use modeling/analysis tools like HFSS, CST, ADS, MATLAB, C/C++, Python for RF engineering tasks.
Perform testing with RF test equipment such as VNA, spectrum analyzer.

What we're looking for

Bachelor’s degree in computer engineering or electrical engineering
8+ years of experience in RF engineering
Experience with modeling/analysis tools like HFSS, CST, ADS, MATLAB, C/C++, and Python
Proficiency in using RF test equipment such as VNA and spectrum analyzer
Ability to create and maintain link budgets for communications or remote sensing systems
Master’s degree in electrical engineering with emphasis on microwave/RF engineering
Experience modeling RF channel impairments and working with software-defined radios

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