Senior RFIC Design Engineer

SpaceX

Confirmed live 2 days ago Low trust

Quick summary

Work type: On-site
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Salary: $175,000–$280,000 / yr
Posted: 52 days ago
Freshness: Confirmed live 2 days ago
Nearby: 99+ roles within 25 mi

Market check

Salary context

Above market

How this pay compares to similar roles

Similar $187k

This role $228k

$130k most similar roles pay here $296k

This role pays more than 85% of similar roles. Most pay $158,987–$215,312 — the shaded band above. At the midpoint, this role pays about $228k versus about $187k 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 680 open roles on FindRole.

Listed pay typically runs $130,000–$165,000 across 442 roles with salary data.

Most-posted roles

View all roles at SpaceX

At a glance

TL;DR · Senior RFIC Design Engineer

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Sr. RFIC Design Engineer (RFIC Engineering) joins a cross-disciplinary team to develop next-generation RFICs for space and ground infrastructure. The role involves designing, simulating, and modeling RF, analog, and mixed-signal circuits while deriving specifications for subsystems. Key responsibilities include developing circuits in SiGe or CMOS processes, performing IC floor planning and layout, modeling package parasitics, and characterizing prototype performance. Candidates will collaborate with system architects and ASIC engineers to partition hardware and software functions. Required expertise includes experience with linear and non-linear circuits like phase-locked loops, oscillators, and power amplifiers. Technical skills involve using tools such as Spectre, ADS, HFSS, or Momentum, alongside knowledge of Ku, K, and Ka-band frequencies. The role addresses the technical challenge of providing reliable connectivity through advanced satellite network hardware and radio performance analysis in microwave frequencies.

Skills

RFIC Analog IC Mixed-Signal SiGe CMOS Spectre ADS HFSS Momentum Phase-Locked Loops Vector Modulators Oscillators Mixers Filters Power Amplifiers QPSK APSK QAM Spectrum Analyzers Network Analyzers

What you'll do

Design, simulate, and model RF, analog, and mixed-signal circuits and systems.
Derive technical specifications for RFIC subsystems and individual circuits.
Develop hardware components using SiGe or CMOS processes.
Perform IC floor planning and layout while modeling package and parasitic components.
Evaluate and characterize prototypes to analyze full radio performance.
Develop automated test lab equipment for measurement purposes.
Collaborate with manufacturing engineers on production testing and qualification of RFIC components.

What we're looking for

Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or computer science.
5+ years of RF integrated circuit experience.
Master's degree or PhD in electrical engineering or computer engineering with an emphasis in RF/Analog/Mixed-signal IC design.
Experience using simulation tools such as Spectre, ADS, HFSS, or Momentum.
Proficiency in designing and simulating linear and non-linear circuits like PLLs, oscillators, mixers, filters, and amplifiers.
Knowledge of digital communication systems, spread spectrum techniques, and modulation types such as QPSK, APSK, and QAM.
Experience with RF/microwave design in the Ku-band, K-band, and Ka-band frequency ranges.
Must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or eligible for required export control authorizations.

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