Silicon Photonics Design Engineer (RFIC Engineering)

SpaceX

Quick summary

Work type: On-site
Location: Redmond, WA
Salary: $125,000–$145,000 / yr
Posted: today

Market check

Salary context

Below market

How this pay compares to similar roles

Similar $179k

This role $135k

$114k most similar roles pay here $231k

This role pays less than 86% of similar roles. Most pay $152,875–$205,750 — the shaded band above. At the midpoint, this role pays about $135k versus about $179k 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.

Most-posted roles

View all roles at SpaceX

At a glance

TL;DR · Silicon Photonics Design Engineer (RFIC Engineering)

Apply Now Log in to save

Join our RFIC Engineering team as a Silicon Photonics Design Engineer, where you will collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams to develop next-generation PICs for global space and ground infrastructure. Your daily tasks include designing optical building blocks like MZM modulators and microring resonators, deriving specifications for photonics IC systems, and modeling package optical interfaces. You’ll use simulation tools such as Lumerical and COMSOL while working closely with system architects and ASIC engineers to partition functions between hardware and software domains. This role requires a Master’s or PhD in electrical engineering or applied physics, along with experience in RF, analog, and mixed-signal circuits, high-speed SerDes links, and optical test equipment.

Skills

Lumerical COMSOL HFSS Spectre ADS Python PostgreSQL Kubernetes Terraform AWS Docker CI/CD Prometheus Grafana

What you'll do

Design and simulate optical building blocks such as MZM, microring modulators, and Ge photo diodes.
Derive specifications for Photonics IC systems and circuits based on project requirements.
Model package optical interfaces including edge couplers and grating couplers.
Evaluate and measure electrical and optical performance of high-speed optical link solutions.
Work with manufacturing engineers to ensure PIC circuits are tested and qualified for production.

What we're looking for

2+ years of photonics or electro-optical integrated circuit design experience
Master's degree or PhD in electrical engineering, computer engineering (emphasis on electro-optics IC design), or applied physics
Experience using electrical simulation tools such as Spectre and ADS
Knowledge of advanced packaging for co-package optics solutions
Electrical circuit design skills including high bandwidth modulator drivers and filters
Familiarity with high-speed SerDes architecture and modulation schemes like NRZ/PAM4
Experience characterizing EIC/PIC performance for high speed optical Serdes