Senior Silicon Photonics & RFIC Design Engineer

Starlink; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 175,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking a Sr Silicon Photonics Design Engineer (RFIC Engineering) to develop next‑generation PICs for Starlink ground and space infrastructure. You will design, simulate, and validate optical building blocks and interfaces, partnering with systems, DSP, and ASIC teams to balance hardware and software responsibilities.

Requires 5+ years in photonics or electro‑optical IC design and a BS in EE/CE/CS; MS/PhD preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in electrical/computer engineering or computer science
• 5+ years of photonics or electro‑optical IC design
• Master's or PhD with emphasis on electro‑optics IC design
• Experience with RF, analog, mixed-signal circuits
• High-speed SerDes designs with >100 Gbps and GHz BW
• Knowledge of NRZ/PAM4 modulation and link protocols
• Experience with test equipment (spectrum analyzers, VSA, VSG, oscilloscopes, BERTs)
• ITAR eligibility and US work authorization
• Willingness to work long hours to meet milestones

Responsibilities

• Design, analyze, and simulate optical building blocks (MZM, microring, GePD, dWDM, waveguides, couplers, polarization management)
• Derive specifications for Photonics IC systems and circuits
• Model package optical interfaces (edge/grating couplers)
• Collaborate with system architects, DSP, electro‑optics, and ASIC engineers
• Perform IC floor planning and layout
• Characterize and measure electrical and optical building blocks of high‑speed optical link solutions
• Assist in automated test lab equipment development
• Work with manufacturing on production testing and qualification

Skills

Photonics/EO IC design

RF/Analog/Mixed-signal circuits

High-speed SerDes concepts

NRZ/PAM4 modulation

Education

Bachelor's degree in EE/CE/CS

Master's or PhD in EE/CE/Applied physics

Tools

Spectre

ADS

Lumerical

COMSOL

HFSS

Job description

SpaceX is seeking a Sr Silicon Photonics Design Engineer (RFIC Engineering) to develop next‑generation PICs for Starlink ground and space infrastructure. You will design, simulate, and validate optical building blocks and interfaces, partnering with systems, DSP, and ASIC teams to balance hardware and software responsibilities.

Requires 5+ years in photonics or electro‑optical IC design and a BS in EE/CE/CS; MS/PhD preferred.