Sr. RF Engineer (Starshield)

SpaceX

Quick summary

Work type: On-site
Location: Hawthorne, CA
Salary: $165,000–$230,000 / yr
Posted: today

Market check

Salary context

Above market

How this pay compares to similar roles

Similar $164k

This role $198k

$123k most similar roles pay here $241k

This role pays more than 82% of similar roles. Most pay $135,000–$193,000 — the shaded band above. At the midpoint, this role pays about $198k 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 · Sr. RF Engineer (Starshield)

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As a Senior RF Engineer on the Starshield team, you will collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to develop and support advanced RF hardware for low Earth orbit communications and remote sensing systems. Your daily tasks include testing PCBA boards, resolving functional issues in assembled units, and addressing anomalies in operational satellites. You will also refine electrical schematics and mechanical drawings for flight applications. The role requires expertise in modeling tools like HFSS, CST, ADS, MATLAB, C/C++, and Python, as well as proficiency with RF test equipment such as VNAs and spectrum analyzers. Additionally, experience with software-defined radios and frameworks like GNU Radio is preferred. This position demands a strong background in microwave/RF engineering and the ability to obtain a Top Secret SCI clearance.

Skills

HFSS CST ADS MATLAB Python C C++ GNU Radio VNA spectrum analyzer link budgets communications systems remote sensing systems Multipath RF channel impairments phase noise group delay fading nonlinear distortion

What you'll do

Develop and support the full lifecycle of RF hardware, from testing to on-orbit anomaly resolution.
Create and modify electrical schematics for flight applications focusing on reliability and manufacturability.
Utilize modeling/analysis tools like HFSS, CST, ADS, MATLAB, C/C++, Python for design and analysis.
Perform functional testing using RF test equipment such as VNAs and spectrum analyzers.
Conduct link budget creation and analysis related to communications or remote sensing systems.

What we're looking for

Bachelor’s degree in computer engineering or electrical engineering
5+ years of experience in RF engineering
Experience with modeling/analysis tools like HFSS, CST, ADS, MATLAB, C/C++, Python
Proficiency with RF test equipment such as VNA and spectrum analyzer
Ability to create and maintain link budgets for communications systems

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