Senior RF Software Engineer

SpaceX

Confirmed live today Low trust

Quick summary

Work type
On-site
Location
Hawthorne, CA
Salary
$165,000–$230,000 / yr
Posted
147 days ago
Freshness
Confirmed live today

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Salary context

Competitive pay

How this pay compares to similar roles

Similar $179k
This role $198k
$132k $240k
below market most similar roles pay here above market

This role pays more than 62% of similar roles. Most pay $142,687–$215,000 — the blue band above. At the midpoint, this role pays about $198k 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 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 · Senior RF Software Engineer

JOB TITLE: Sr. RF Software Engineer (Starshield) The Sr. RF Software Engineer (Starshield) joins the Starshield team to develop advanced RF capabilities for proliferated communications and remote sensing in low earth orbit. This role supports national security efforts by designing and building RF systems for earth observation and hosted payloads. You will drive program-level decisions, research novel solutions for large-scale satellite systems, and create electromagnetic simulation models. Daily responsibilities include designing, building, and automating RF test benches and scalable test infrastructure. You will utilize Python, C++, and C/C++ alongside hardware like vector network analyzers, spectrum analyzers, and high-speed oscilloscopes. Key competencies include experience with antennas, communication systems, and software architecture. You will collaborate with hardware, FPGA, and DSP engineers to validate active and passive RF devices like filters and amplifiers.

What you'll do

  • Drive program-level decisions on RF system designs.
  • Research novel solutions for unique large-scale satellite RF systems.
  • Design, build, and validate RF test benches using VNA, VSG, and spectrum analyzers.
  • Develop modular RF test infrastructure and automation sequences in Python and C++.
  • Create electromagnetic simulation models of hardware to evaluate performance.
  • Collaborate with hardware, FPGA, and DSP engineers to design and validate RF systems.

What we're looking for

  • Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or other engineering discipline.
  • 5+ years of professional development experience in C/C++ or Python.
  • Experience with radio test equipment such as spectrum analyzers, vector signal analyzers, vector signal generators, and network analyzers.
  • RF experience with antennas or communication systems.
  • Master's degree in electrical engineering or other engineering discipline (preferred).
  • Experience with testing active and passive RF devices, common RF concepts, and software design principles (preferred).
  • Experience with environmental test methodologies, troubleshooting hardware/software interactions, and version control (preferred).
  • Active TS/SCI clearance or the ability to obtain and maintain one (preferred).
  • Must be a U.S. citizen, national, lawful permanent resident, refugee, asylee, or eligible for Department of State authorization.

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