Senior 3GPP RAN Standardization Engineer (NTN/5G-6G)

SpaceX; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Medical coverage

401(k) plan

Paid parental leave

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking a Sr. 3GPP Standardization Engineer for STARLINK MOBILE to lead and represent SpaceX in 3GPP RAN2/RAN3 activities. You will draft contributions, defend proposals, and coordinate with system engineering, RF, regulatory, and product teams to align roadmaps with 3GPP evolution.

The role requires deep knowledge of 5G NR, NTN, and spectrum considerations, plus excellent communication skills. Expect travel up to 25% and extended hours to meet deadlines while shaping SpaceX’s external

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in STEM required.
• 6+ years of experience with cellular RAN design and/or system architecture.
• 4+ years of experience working with/on 3GPP standardization.

Responsibilities

• Act as the company’s subject matter expert in the 3GPP RAN2 and RAN3 Working Groups.
• Present, negotiate, and defend company contributions and proposals to ensure alignment of emerging standards with product and regulatory goals.
• Build and maintain relationships with other 3GPP members, operators, chipset vendors, and regulatory bodies.
• Draft, review, and submit technical contributions on topics such as 5G/6G NR, 5G/6G NTN, RAN architecture, spectrum bands, and performance evaluation.
• Provide detailed technical analysis on topics relevant to the Working Group discussion, such as:
• Design and analyze mobility features and enhancements
• Develop signaling and protocol analysis of control plane and user plane features
• Maintain ASN.1 for internal requirement consumption
• Prior experience with RAN4 RRM is a plus
• Develop architecture and interconnect features
• Participate in internal design reviews to translate 3GPP outcomes into actionable engineering requirements.
• Track standardization timelines, Study Item/Work Item progress, and Release planning (e.g., Release 20, 21, and beyond).
• Summarize and communicate 3GPP meeting outcomes to internal stakeholders through concise reports and recommendations.
• Identify emerging standardization opportunities, risks, and competitive moves.
• Partner with system engineering, RF design, regulatory, and product teams to align internal technical roadmaps with 3GPP evolution.
• Support business and partnership discussions with standards-based technical insights.

Skills

Cellular RAN design

3GPP standardization

NTN/satellite integration

Education

Bachelor degree in STEM

Job description

SpaceX is seeking a Sr. 3GPP Standardization Engineer for STARLINK MOBILE to lead and represent SpaceX in 3GPP RAN2/RAN3 activities. You will draft contributions, defend proposals, and coordinate with system engineering, RF, regulatory, and product teams to align roadmaps with 3GPP evolution.

The role requires deep knowledge of 5G NR, NTN, and spectrum considerations, plus excellent communication skills. Expect travel up to 25% and extended hours to meet deadlines while shaping SpaceX’s external