RFIC Engineer, AI Satellites (Starmind) Verified today
About the role
SpaceX is developing Starmind, a new constellation of satellites capturing solar energy in space to power low-cost, high-performance AI compute for Earth. You will design next-generation RFICs for deployment in space and ground infrastructure globally. These chips enable connectivity in places where it was previously unavailable, unaffordable, or unreliable.
You will work alongside cross-disciplinary teams including systems architects, firmware engineers, and validation specialists to develop reliable, high-performance electrical hardware for extreme space environments.
Responsibilities
- Simulate and model RF front-end systems, working with system architects, modem/DSP and ASIC engineers to partition functions between hardware and software domains
- Derive RF hardware specifications for RF systems and RF blocks
- Develop RF and microwave circuits, components, MMICs, boards and packages
- Evaluate and characterize prototypes and RF components
- Characterize and analyze full radio performance
- Assist in development of automated test equipment for lab measurements
- Work with manufacturing engineers on production testing of RF avionics components and systems
Basic qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in engineering discipline
- 2+ years research and/or industry experience in RF/microwave circuit design
Preferred skills and experience
- Master's degree or PhD in engineering with emphasis in RF/microwave circuits or electromagnetic theory
- Design of linear and non-linear circuits such as power amplifiers, low noise amplifiers, mixers, filters and PLLs
- Thorough understanding of RF passive components
- Familiarity with radio test equipment such as spectrum analyzers, vector signal analyzers, vector signal generators, network analyzers
- Experience characterizing radio performance at microwave frequencies
- Knowledge of digital communication systems, spread spectrum, single and multi-carrier techniques and modulation types such as QPSK, APSK and QAM
- RF/microwave design using ADS, HFSS, AWR or similar tools
- Understanding of electromagnetic propagation and antenna systems
- Schematic and layout using Altium Designer or other PCB design tools
- Matlab, Python, C++ or equivalent tools for modeling and analyzing RF systems
- Python and/or LabVIEW programming for test automation
- Digital communication theory with emphasis on bit error rate and system noise figure
- RF/microwave design in Ku, Ka, V and E-band frequency range
Additional requirements
- Must be willing to work extended hours and/or weekends as needed
- Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. lawful permanent resident, Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State to conform to U.S. Government export regulations