Sr. DSP Systems Engineer (Silicon Engineering) Verified today
About the role
SpaceX is deploying Starlink, the world's largest satellite constellation, providing fast reliable internet to millions globally. You will develop next-generation ASICs for deployment in space and ground infrastructures, enabling connectivity where it was previously unavailable, unaffordable, or unreliable.
What you will do
- Drive program-level decisions on sensor firmware, software, and AI-driven architecture for large-scale RF sensing and satellite broadband systems
- Research and develop novel solutions incorporating advanced digital beamforming, massive MIMO, and direct-to-device technology for on-orbit and ground-based applications
- Design, model, and test algorithms for system-level and link-level performance, including floating-point and fixed-point simulations of modem, beamforming, and sensor data processing
- Collaborate with ASIC, FPGA, RF, antenna, and software engineers to design, validate, and bring up silicon-based RF sensing and communication systems
- Generate spacecraft and consumer equipment specifications, requirements, test procedures, and bit- and cycle-accurate vectors; support silicon bring-up, on-orbit demonstrations, and system validation
- Analyze overall system performance including link budgets, impairments, and multi-access schemes; implement system test plans under dynamic program needs
Basic requirements
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, electrical engineering, computer engineering, physics, math, or other STEM discipline
- 5 or more years of experience in system-level modeling, digital signal processing, or RF and wireless system design
Preferred experience
- Master's degree in electrical engineering with emphasis in communication systems, digital signal processing, or related fields
- Experience with AI-driven architecture, advanced digital beamforming, massive MIMO, and direct-to-device technologies
- Professional experience working on RF sensors or wireless modems
- Experience modeling RF and channel impairments including multipath, phase noise, group delay, fading, and nonlinear distortion; building system-level simulators
- Expertise in multiple access schemes (TDMA, CDMA, OFDMA), high-data-rate modem design and verification, and wireless standards (LTE, WiFi)
- Proficiency in MATLAB, C/C++, and/or Python; experience with software-defined radios such as GNU Radio
- Strong understanding of link budgets, modem algorithms, hardware architectures, ASIC and FPGA development flows, and lab equipment
- Experience with Git, Atlassian tools (JIRA, Confluence, Bitbucket, Bamboo), and cross-functional collaboration
Additional requirements
- Ability to work extended hours and weekends as needed to support critical project and mission milestones
- Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. lawful permanent resident, Refugee, or Asylee, or be eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State to comply with ITAR regulations
Compensation
Base salary for Level 3: $175,000 to $280,000, determined on a case-by-case basis based on job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.
Total rewards include long-term incentives in company stock or long-term cash awards, discretionary bonuses, employee stock purchase plan, comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, 401(k) retirement plan, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, 3 weeks paid vacation, 10 or more paid holidays per year, and paid sick leave.