Sr. Antenna Engineer, Consumer Hardware (Starlink)

$160,000 - $220,000/Yr

SpaceX - Bastrop, TX

Full-time - Mid Level

Bastrop, TX

Transportation Equipment Manufacturing

About the position

At SpaceX, we are leveraging our experience in building rockets and spacecraft to deploy Starlink, the world's most advanced broadband internet system. Starlink is the world's largest satellite constellation and is providing fast, reliable internet to over 2 million users worldwide. We design, build, test, and operate all parts of the system, including thousands of satellites, consumer receivers that allow users to connect within minutes of unboxing, and the software that integrates everything. We are looking for best-in-class engineers to help maximize Starlink's utility for communities and businesses around the globe. As a Sr. Antenna Engineer for Starlink, you will have full ownership of all phased array, Wi-Fi, and other RF systems for customer-facing hardware. Your responsibilities will include designing, implementing, and verifying small router antennas, phased arrays, and reflector antenna systems. You will regularly interact with senior leadership to influence the fundamental operation of our constellation and network while collaborating with electrical, silicon, software, mechanical, and manufacturing teams to steer this project from initial concept development to full-scale production. This role is critical in ensuring that our products meet the high standards expected by our users and contribute to the overall success of the Starlink initiative.

Responsibilities

• Design, fabricate and characterize prototypes of antennas, feed systems and RF front ends for next generation phased arrays and consumer wireless products
• Create electromagnetic simulation models of hardware (antennas, filters, PCB layout) to design and evaluate performance
• Work in close collaboration with EE, ME, DSP and software engineers to design and validate RF systems
• Create and test phased array alignment solutions
• Rapidly develop design validation and production test solutions for our high-volume Consumer Products
• Write automation software in python to interact with units under test, test equipment, instrumentation, and documentation systems

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or other engineering discipline
• 5+ years of professional RF/Antenna experience with antennas or communication systems
• 5+ years professional experience with radio test equipment such as spectrum analyzers, vector signal analyzers, vector signal generators, and network analyzers
• 5+ years of professional programming experience in Python, C#, C++, or MATLAB

Nice-to-haves

• Master's degree in electrical engineering with emphasis in RF/Antenna engineering
• Passion for problem solving
• Experience designing wireless communications systems
• Experience with basic principles of antenna theory
• Understanding of link budgets and analysis related to communications
• Thorough understanding of RF active and passive components
• Experience characterizing radio performance at microwave frequencies
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal
• Ability to work in a fast paced, autonomously driven, and demanding startup atmosphere
• Demonstrated ability to work in a highly cross-functional role

Benefits

• Life insurance
• Paid parental leave
• Paid holidays
• Sick time
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Stock options