Senior RFIC Design Engineer

SpaceX

Confirmed live today Low trust

Quick summary

Work type
On-site
Location
Irvine, CAPalo AltoRedmond, WA
Salary
$165,000–$265,000 / yr
Posted
98 days ago
Freshness
Confirmed live today

Market check

Salary context

Above market

How this pay compares to similar roles

Similar $188k
This role $215k
$129k $280k
below market most similar roles pay here above market

This role pays more than 70% of similar roles. Most pay $157,837–$217,500 — the blue band above. At the midpoint, this role pays about $215k versus about $188k 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 RFIC Design Engineer

The Sr. RFIC Design Engineer (RFIC Engineering) joins a cross-disciplinary team to develop next-generation RFICs for space and ground infrastructures. This role focuses on building the hardware necessary to expand the performance and capabilities of the Starlink network. Key responsibilities include designing, simulating, and modeling RF, analog, and mixed-signal circuits, deriving subsystem specifications, performing IC floor planning and layout, and characterizing full radio performance. The engineer will utilize SiGe or CMOS processes and simulation tools like Spectre, ADS, HFSS, or Momentum. Required expertise includes linear and non-linear circuit analysis for components like phase-locked loops, oscillators, and power amplifiers. The role requires deep knowledge of RF transceiver architectures, digital communication systems, and microwave design across the Ku-band, K-band, and Ka-band frequency ranges.

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 circuits using SiGe or CMOS manufacturing processes.
  • Perform IC floor planning and layout for integrated circuits.
  • Model package characteristics and external parasitic components.
  • Evaluate and characterize physical prototypes of the designs.
  • Analyze full radio performance and characterize microwave frequencies.
  • Assist in developing automated test lab equipment for measurements.

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 integrated circuit design (preferred).
  • Experience using simulation tools such as Spectre, ADS, HFSS, or Momentum (preferred).
  • Circuit design skills and experience simulating linear and non-linear circuits like PLLs, modulators, oscillators, mixers, filters, and amplifiers (preferred).
  • Knowledge of digital communication systems, spread spectrum, multi-carrier techniques, and modulation types like QPSK, APSK, and QAM (preferred).
  • Knowledge of RF transceiver architectures and RF/microwave design in Ku, K, and Ka-bands (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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