Antenna Engineer, Satellites (Starlink)

The role

You will have ownership of phased array antennas, parabolic antennas, and other RF systems for satellites, gateways, and customer-facing hardware. You will design, fabricate, and test antenna and feed systems while collaborating with multiple engineering teams.

What you will do

• Design of advanced antenna and feed systems in support of next generation products
• Fabricate and characterize prototypes of antennas, feed systems and RF front ends
• Contribute to development of software and testing of digital beamforming systems
• Provide phased array expertise to set specifications and debug problems
• Perform design validation testing of prototype and production designs
• Contribute to various aspects of the integration of the antennas into spacecraft and other systems
• Analyze in-the-field operational RF performance data and investigate methods to improve performance

Required qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline
• 2+ years of research or development experience in the areas of RF and antennas (internship and thesis work acceptable)
• 1+ years of experience using one of the 3D EM simulation tools: CST, HFSS, FEKO, EMPro, TICRA or XFDTD
• Ability to work extended hours or weekends as needed for mission critical deadlines

Nice to have

• Master’s degree or PhD in electrical engineering with some research/thesis work on RF or antennas
• 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
• 1+ years of programming experience in Python, C#, C++, or MATLAB
• Familiarity with antenna measurement techniques and tools such as anechoic/reverb chambers, near field EM measurements
• Familiarity with one of the mainstream RF circuit simulation tools: AWR, ADS, Genesys
• Familiarity with antenna prototyping tools and techniques
• Ability to work in a fast paced, autonomously driven, and demanding start-up atmosphere
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal
• Passion for advancing the commercial space industry and human spaceflight

Benefits

• Company stock or long-term cash awards
• Potential discretionary bonuses
• Ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage
• Access to a 401(k) retirement plan
• Short and long-term disability insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid parental leave
• 3 weeks of paid vacation
• 10 or more paid holidays per year
• Paid sick time in compliance with state and federal law
• Company shuttles from select Seattle locations to the SpaceX Redmond office Monday to Friday

Before you apply

• Applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligibl

About the company

SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make human life on Mars possible. The company is leveraging its experience in building rockets and spacecraft to deploy Starlink, the world’s largest satellite constellation.