Principal RF Software Engineer (Starshield)

SpaceX

Quick summary

Work type: On-site
Location: Hawthorne, CA
Salary: $200,000–$285,000 / yr
Posted: today

Market check

Salary context

Above market

How this pay compares to similar roles

Similar $164k

This role $242k

$117k most similar roles pay here $303k

This role pays more than 95% of similar roles. Most pay $135,000–$193,000 — the shaded band above. At the midpoint, this role pays about $242k 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 Software Engineer (Starshield)

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As a Principal RF Software Engineer on the Starshield team, you will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to design and build advanced RF capabilities for low Earth orbit communications and remote sensing. Your daily tasks include designing and automating test benches using Python and C++, creating electromagnetic simulation models, and validating custom RF designs with various lab equipment such as VNAs, VSAs, and oscilloscopes. You will need at least 8 years of experience in C/C++ or Python, along with expertise in radio test equipment and common RF concepts like gain, linearity, and S-parameters. The role requires a Master’s degree in electrical engineering and the ability to obtain an Active Top Secret SCI clearance.

Skills

Python C++ VNA VSG VSA Spectrum Analyzers RF Power Meters High-Speed Oscilloscopes Linux Windows

What you'll do

Design and build RF test benches using various lab equipment for full characterization of custom RF designs.
Develop modular, scalable RF test infrastructure and automation sequences in Python and C++ to support validation and production.
Create electromagnetic simulation models to design and evaluate hardware performance.
Test both active and passive RF devices such as filters, amplifiers, mixers, and upconverters/downconverters.
Apply common RF concepts like gain, linearity, P1dB, ACLR, EVM, PAE, S-parameters in testing.

What we're looking for

8+ years of professional experience in C/C++ or Python
Experience with radio test equipment including VNAs, VSAs, and spectrum analyzers
RF experience with antennas and communication systems
Master's degree in electrical engineering or related field
Expertise in testing active and passive RF devices like filters and amplifiers
Knowledge of common RF concepts such as gain, linearity, P1dB, ACLR, EVM, PAE, S-parameters
Experience with environmental test methodologies and equipment

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