Sr. Antenna Engineer (Starlink) Verified today
Sr. Antenna Engineer (Starlink)
SpaceX is deploying Starlink, the world's largest satellite constellation providing fast, reliable internet to millions of users worldwide. We design, build, test, and operate all parts of the system: thousands of satellites, consumer receivers, and the software that brings it all together.
As a Sr. Starlink Antenna Engineer, you will have full ownership of all phased array, Wi-Fi, and other RF systems for this customer-facing hardware. You will also own advanced parabolic antenna systems for our gateways and ground stations deployed regionally throughout the world. Our customers include teachers in remote Amazon regions, researchers in Antarctica, digital nomads, emergency responders, commercial airlines, cruise lines, and rural and developing area residents.
You will design, implement, and verify small router antennas, phased arrays, and reflector antenna systems. You will interact regularly 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.
Responsibilities
- Design, fabricate, and characterize prototypes of antennas, feed systems, and RF front ends for next-generation phased arrays, gateways, and consumer wireless products
- Create electromagnetic simulation models of hardware (antennas, filters, PCB layout) to design and evaluate performance
- Work in close collaboration with electrical, mechanical, digital signal processing, and software engineering teams to design and validate RF systems
- Create and test phased array alignment solutions
- Rapidly develop design, validation, and production test solutions for high-volume consumer products and gateway antennas
- Write automation software in Python to interact with units under test, test equipment, instrumentation, and documentation systems
Basic Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or other engineering discipline
- 5+ years of professional 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
Preferred Skills and Experience
- Master's degree or PhD in electrical engineering with emphasis in RF/antenna engineering
- 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
- Experience working with waveguide systems at mmWave frequencies
- Excellent communication skills both written and verbal
- Passion for problem solving
- Demonstrated ability to work in a highly cross-functional role
Additional Requirements
- Ability to work extended hours or weekends as needed for mission critical deadlines
ITAR Requirements
To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.