Principal RF Software Engineer (Starshield) Software Hardware

Front Door Defense; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 210,000 - 340,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

401(k) plan

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Parental leave

Paid vacation

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking a Principal RF Software Engineer (Starshield) in Hawthorne, CA, to lead RF software design for national security satellite communications. You will drive RF system decisions and collaborate across hardware, FPGA, DSP, and software teams to deliver scalable test infrastructure.

The role requires 8+ years of C/C++ or Python experience and RF expertise, with preference for a Master’s degree and active clearance eligibility.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or other engineering discipline.
• 8+ years of professional development experience in C/C++ or Python.
• Experience with radio test equipment such as spectrum analyzers, vector signal analyzers, vector signal generators, and network analyzers.
• RF experience with antennas or communication systems.

Responsibilities

• Drive program-level decisions on RF system designs.
• Research novel solutions for large-scale satellite RF systems.
• Design, build, validate, and automate RF test benches for full characterization of custom RF designs.
• Design and build modular, scalable RF test infrastructure and test automation sequences in Python and C++ to support design validation, qualification, and production.
• Work in close collaboration with hardware, FPGA, DSP, and software engineers to design and validate RF systems.
• Create electromagnetic simulation models of hardware to design and evaluate performance.

Skills

C/C++

Python

Radio test equipment

RF systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Master's degree (preferred)

Job description

Principal RF Software Engineer (Starshield)

Lead RF software design and validation for Starshield satellite communications

Location: Hawthorne, California

Compensation: $210,000 - 340,000 USD / year

About The Role

Principal RF Software Engineer (Starshield)

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.

Starshield leverages SpaceX's Starlink technology and launch capability to support national security efforts. While Starlink is designed for consumer and commercial use, Starshield is designed for government use, with an initial focus on earth observation, communications, and hosted payloads. As a RF software engineer on the Starshield team, you will be working on advanced development programs in support of US National Security. You will work with a team of RF engineers, DSP engineers, software engineers, hardware engineers and end users to design and build RF capabilities for proliferated communications and remote sensing in low earth orbit. You will work in a highly collaborative and fast-paced environment, where we are exploring unsolved problems and applying the SpaceX mindset of iterating rapidly to go from design and demo to operational capability at lightning pace.

Responsibilities:

• Drive program-level decisions on RF system designs
• Research novel solutions for unique large-scale satellite RF systems
• Design, build, validate, and automate RF test benches for full characterization of custom RF designs, often involving vector network analyzers (VNA), vector signal generators (VSG), vector signal analyzers (VSA), spectrum analyzers, load pulls, RF power meters, high-speed oscilloscopes, and other common lab equipment
• Design and build modular, scalable RF test infrastructure and test automation sequences in Python and C++ to support design validation, qualification, and production
• Work in close collaboration with hardware, FPGA, DSP, and software engineers to design and validate RF systems
• Create electromagnetic simulation models of hardware to design and evaluate performance

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering or other engineering discipline
• 8+ years of professional development experience in C/C++ or Python
• Experience with radio test equipment such as spectrum analyzers, vector signal analyzers, vector signal generators, and network analyzers
• RF experience with antennas or communication systems

Preferred Skills and Experience:

• Master's degree in electrical engineering or other engineering discipline
• Experience with testing both active and passive RF devices such as filters, amplifiers, mixers, and upconverters/downconverters
• Experience with common RF concepts such as gain, linearity, P1dB, ACLR, EVM, PAE, S-parameters, and input/output matching
• Experience with software design principles, software architecture, design patterns, and unit/integration testing methodology
• Experience with environmental test methodologies and equipment such as thermal chambers and temperature forcing systems
• Experience troubleshooting interactions between software and hardware such as network devices and lab 1 instrumentation
• Experience using Windows and Linux operating systems
• Experience with configuration management and version control software
• Ability to obtain and maintain an active Top Secret or Top Secret SCI clearance

Additional Requirements:

• 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
• Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed

Compensation and Benefits: Pay Range: Principal: $210,000.00 - $340,000.00

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case‑by‑case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job‑related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.

Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also 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 also 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 may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will 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.

Those with an active clearance will receive a 10% differential, up to an additional $20,000 annually, once officially briefed into a classified program.

ITAR Requirements:

• To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, 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 eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.

SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX's Affi