Sr. Optical Transceiver Engineer - High Speed Links, Satelites (Starlink)

LinuxCareers; Redmond (WA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 235,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Long-term stock incentives

Discretionary bonuses

Employee stock purchase plan

Comprehensive medical/vision/dental

401(k)

Disability and life insurance

Paid parental leave

3 weeks paid vacation

10+ paid holidays

Shuttle service Seattle-Redmond

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking a Senior Optical Transceiver Engineer to join the Starlink Space Lasers team, focusing on optical physical layer system design, validation, and operation for high-speed inter-satellite links. You will apply photonics, electrical engineering, and signals expertise to design and analyze optical datacom systems.

The role includes leading verification testing, maintaining models and specs, and collaborating with manufacturing, supply chain, and software teams to enable automated

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in physics, computer science, electrical engineering, or related STEM discipline.
• 5+ years in photonics, SERDES/optical DSP or signal integrity design.
• 5+ years programming in C++, MATLAB, Python, or equivalent.
• Python scripting and Linux OS experience.
• Experience with optical test equipment and SI test equipment.

Responsibilities

• Design, analyze, and validate optical datacom systems across photonics and electrical domains.
• Perform SWaP-C trade space analysis for interconnect technologies to meet throughput and reliability.
• Lead verification tests: environmental, functional, reliability, and fault injection.
• Review data and drive anomaly investigations for optical link performance.
• Maintain link models, specs, and system documentation; interface with manufacturing and supply chain teams.
• Collaborate with software/automation teams to develop tools for automated link tuning and qualification.

Skills

Photonics

SERDES

Signal integrity

Python

C++

Linux

Lab testing

Education

BSc in physics, CS, or ECE

Tools

Power meters

Spectrum analyzers

Laser sources

Vector network analyzers

Oscilloscopes

Bits/BER testers

HFSS

CST

Zemax

Job description

SpaceX is seeking a Senior Optical Transceiver Engineer to join the Starlink Space Lasers team, which develops optical communication systems for satellite data transfer. The role focuses on optical physical layer system design, validation, and operation for high-speed inter-satellite links.

What You'll Do

• Apply interdisciplinary knowledge in photonics, electrical engineering, and signals to design, analyze, and validate optical datacom systems
• Perform trade space analysis on optical interconnect technologies to optimize size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) while meeting throughput and reliability requirements
• Lead verification testing including environmental qualification, functional qualification, reliability testing, and fault injection testing
• Review test data and lead anomaly investigation and resolution for optical link performance
• Maintain link models, design specifications, and system capabilities documentation; interface with manufacturing and supply chain teams
• Collaborate with software and automation teams to develop tools and protocols for automated link tuning and qualification

What You Need

• Bachelor's degree in physics, computer science, electrical engineering, or related STEM discipline
• 5+ years hands-on laboratory or work experience in photonics, SERDES/optical DSP design, or signal integrity design
• 5+ years experience in a computer programming language (C++, MATLAB, Python, or equivalent)
• Competence with Python scripting and Linux operating system environment
• Experience with optical test equipment (power meters, spectrum analyzers, laser sources) and signal integrity test equipment (sampling oscilloscopes, vector network analyzers, bit error rate testers)

Nice to Have

• Master's degree or PhD in physics, computer science, or engineering/STEM discipline
• Proficiency with data communication system simulation tools (Keysight ADS, VPI Photonics, Lumerical Interconnect)
• Proficiency with signal integrity design tools (HFSS, CST) and optical design tools (Zemax)
• Experience leading development of commercial transceivers and data communications products
• Experience with hardware development for high-reliability applicationsKnowledge of SERDES, signal equalization, lasers, modulators, photodiodes, fiber optics, and photonic integrated circuit testing

Base salary $140,000–$235,000 (Level 3). Eligible for long-term stock incentives, discretionary bonuses, employee stock purchase plan, comprehensive medical/vision/dental coverage, 401(k), disability and life insurance, paid parental leave, 3 weeks paid vacation, 10+ paid holidays. Company shuttles available from select Seattle locations to Redmond office.