RF Engineer

SpaceX

Confirmed live today High trust

Quick summary

Work type: On-site
Location: Hawthorne, CA
Salary: $125,000–$150,000 / yr
Posted: 133 days ago
Freshness: Confirmed live today
Nearby: 99+ roles within 25 mi

Market check

Salary context

Below market

How this pay compares to similar roles

Similar $176k

This role $138k

$114k $225k

below market most similar roles pay here above market

This role pays less than 80% of similar roles. Most pay $145,000–$206,737 — the blue band above. At the midpoint, this role pays about $138k 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 851 open roles on FindRole.

Listed pay typically runs $130,000–$165,000 across 590 roles with salary data.

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At a glance

TL;DR · RF Engineer

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The RF Engineer (Starship) joins the Starship RF team to revolutionize communications and navigation for orbital flight and space travel. This role involves designing, developing, analyzing, and validating RF systems for communication and sensing from concept through production. Key responsibilities include analyzing antenna pattern coverage, link budgets, and co-site interference, as well as deriving hardware specifications and developing simulation infrastructure. The candidate will verify end-to-end performance, conduct troubleshooting for system anomalies, and lead technical reviews. Required skills include experience with radio test equipment like spectrum analyzers and signal generators, along with programming in Python, C++, or Matlab. The work focuses on building advanced electronics for space travel, requiring knowledge of digital communication theory, signal processing, and RF concepts like impedance matching and transmission line theory.

Skills

Python C++ Matlab AWR ADS Git SVN Linux Signal Processing Link Budget Analysis Digital Communication Theory Layout Design Near-field Measurement

What you'll do

Design, develop, analyze, and validate RF systems for communication and sensing from concept through production.
Analyze antenna pattern coverage, link budgets, co-site interference, and multiple access.
Derive hardware specifications for RF systems and blocks while coordinating with other engineering disciplines.
Develop and support simulation and data review infrastructure for RF systems.
Verify end-to-end performance and compliance with spectrum licensing and regulations through analysis and testing.
Lead troubleshooting and root cause analysis for system-level performance anomalies.
Conduct technical reviews and flight readiness presentations for customers and programs.

What we're looking for

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer science, or a STEM discipline.
1+ years of experience as an RF engineer.
1+ years of professional experience with radio test equipment such as spectrum analyzers, signal generators, and network analyzers.
1+ years of programming experience in Python, C++, or Matlab.
Master's degree in electrical engineering with focus on signal processing, communication and navigation systems, or RF design (preferred).
Experience with link budget analysis, power flux density, dilution of precision, doppler, and digital communication theory (preferred).
Experience with RF concepts, simulation tools like AWR or ADS, and revision control systems like Git (preferred).
Must be a U.S. citizen, national, lawful permanent resident, refugee, asylee, or eligible for required Department of State authorizations.

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