Senior Optical Transceiver Engineer - High-Speed Links

SpaceX; Union Hill-Novelty Hill (WA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 235,000; Full time

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking a Sr. Optical Transceiver Engineer to advance the Starlink satellites' high‑speed optical links.

The role focuses on optical datacom system design, validation, and operation within SpaceX's Starlink fleet, driving performance in a resource‑constrained environment. You will work across photonics, electrical engineering, and mechanical disciplines to optimize interconnects, improve reliability, and support manufacturing and qualification testing.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in physics, computer science, electrical engineering, or related STEM field.
• 5+ years in photonics, SERDES/optical DSP or signal integrity design.
• 5+ years of programming in C++, MATLAB, and/or Python.

Responsibilities

• Apply interdisciplinary knowledge to data communication system development, including design, analysis, and validation.
• Represent optical data communication network in program-level trades.
• Perform trade space analysis to minimize SWaP-C while meeting throughput/reliability requirements.
• Participate in verification testing including environmental and reliability testing.
• Review test data and lead anomaly investigation and resolution.
• Interface with manufacturing and supply chain teams to ensure manufacturability.
• Collaborate with software and automation teams to develop tools for automated link tuning and qualification.
• Represent optical datacom systems in reliability and risk discussions.

Skills

Phonics?

Education

Bachelor's degree in physics, computer science, electrical engineering, or other engineering/STEM discipline

Tools

Keysight ADS

VPI Photonics

Lumerical Interconnect

HFSS

HFSS 3D Layout

CST

Zemax

Python

C++

MATLAB

Job description

SpaceX is seeking a Sr. Optical Transceiver Engineer to advance the Starlink satellites' high‑speed optical links.

The role focuses on optical datacom system design, validation, and operation within SpaceX's Starlink fleet, driving performance in a resource‑constrained environment. You will work across photonics, electrical engineering, and mechanical disciplines to optimize interconnects, improve reliability, and support manufacturing and qualification testing.