Sr. RF Engineer; starshield Hardware
Listed on 2026-06-04
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Engineering
Systems Engineer, Electrical Engineering
Sr. RF Engineer (Starshield)
Location:
Hawthorne, California, United States
Compensation: $160,000 - $225,000 per year
Job Tags:
Hardware
As an RF engineer on the Starshield team, you will be working on advanced development programs in support of U.S. National Security. You will work with a team of RF engineers, DSP engineers, software engineers, hardware engineers and end users to design and build RF capabilities for proliferated communications and remote sensing in low earth orbit.
Responsibilities- Drive program-level decisions on RF system designs
- Research novel solutions for unique large-scale satellite RF systems
- Work in close collaboration with hardware, FPGA, DSP, and software engineers to design and validate RF systems
- Responsible for development and full life cycle support of RF hardware spanning PCBA board testing and defect detection, full functional testing of an assembled unit, and resolving on-orbit vehicle anomalies
- Create electromagnetic simulation models of hardware (antennas, filters, PCB layout) to design and evaluate performance
- Modify electrical schematics and mechanical drawings for flight applications as they relate to reliability and manufacturability
- Bachelor's degree in computer engineering or electrical engineering
- 5+ years of experience in RF engineering
- Experience with modeling/analysis tools/software such as HFSS, CST, ADS, MATLAB, C/C++, and/or Python
- Experience with RF test equipment such as VNA, spectrum analyzer, etc.
- Experience creating and maintaining link budgets and analysis related to communications or remote sensing systems
- Master's degree in electrical engineering with emphasis in microwave/RF engineering
- 5+ years of professional experience in a relevant field
- Experience modeling RF and channel impairments such as multipath, phase noise, group delay, fading and nonlinear distortion
- Experience designing RF systems including radio astronomy, SIGINT, ELINT, radar, or wireless communications
- Experience with basic principles of antenna theory
- Experience with software-defined radios and frameworks, such as GNU Radio
- Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret SCI clearance
- An active clearance may provide the opportunity to work on sensitive Space
X missions; if so, you will be subject to pre-employment drug testing and random drug and alcohol testing - Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed
Pay range: $160,000 - $225,000 per year. Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case‑by‑case basis and may vary based on job‑related knowledge and skills, education, and experience. Those with an active TS/SCI clearance will receive a 10% differential, up to an additional $20,000 annually, once officially briefed into a classified program.
Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package. You may also be eligible for long‑term incentives, in the form of company stock, stock options, or long‑term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, a 401(k) retirement plan, short‑ and long‑term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, other discounts and perks.
You may accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Employees accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy.
- To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen or national, a U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), a Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, an Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State
Space
X is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Space
X is governed on the basis of merit, competence, and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/aspected, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.
Applicants wishing to view a copy of Space
X's affirmative action plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to
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