Antenna Engineer (Starshield) Verified today

About the role

Starshield leverages SpaceX's Starlink technology and launch capability to support national security efforts. It is designed for government use, with an initial focus on earth observation, communications, and hosted payloads. As an antenna engineer on the Starshield team, you will work on advanced development programs in support of U.S. National Security in a highly collaborative and fast-paced environment, exploring unsolved problems and applying rapid iteration to go from design and demo to operational capability.

Responsibilities

• Design of advanced antenna and feed systems in support of next generation products including phased array and reflector products
• Fabricate and characterize prototypes of antennas, feed systems and RF front ends
• Contribute to development of software and testing of digital beamforming systems to demonstrate full phased array functionality
• Provide phased array expertise to set specifications and debug problems covering satellite phased array products
• Lead or support integration of antennas to spacecraft and other systems
• Analyze in-the-field operational RF performance data of units and investigate methods to improve performance and debug issues

Required qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer engineering or electrical engineering
• 1+ years of research or development experience in the areas of RF and antennas (internship and thesis work are acceptable)
• 1+ years of experience using one of the 3D EM simulation tools such as CST, HFSS, FEKO, EMPro, TICRA, or XFDTD
• Experience with basic RF concepts such as impedance matching, linear and aperture antennas, smith chart, power handling metrics (IIP2, IMD), microwave network analysis, RF filter design

Preferred qualifications

• Master's degree or PhD in electrical engineering with some research or thesis work on RF or antennas
• Experience with RF systems including SIGINT, ELINT, radar, or communications
• 1+ years of programming experience in Python, C#, C++, or MATLAB
• Experience designing RF systems including radio astronomy, SIGINT, ELINT, radar, or wireless communications
• Familiar with antenna measurement techniques and tools such as anechoic or reverberant chambers, near field EM measurements
• Familiar with one of the mainstream RF circuit simulation tools: AWR, ADS, Genesys
• Familiar with antenna prototyping tools and techniques
• Ability and willingness to obtain a Top-Secret clearance

Additional requirements

• Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed
• An active clearance may provide the opportunity for you to work on sensitive SpaceX missions; if so, you will be subject to pre-employment drug and random drug and alcohol testing

Compensation

Pay range: Antenna Engineer Level I: $135,000 to $160,000 per year. Antenna Engineer Level II: $155,000 to $195,000 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 clearance will receive a 10% differential, up to an additional $20,000 annually, once officially briefed into a classified program.

Base salary is one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may be eligible for long-term incentives in the form of company stock 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 receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You will accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Employees accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law.

ITAR requirements

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, you must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. Section 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. Section 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.