DSP Engineer; Starship Avionics

DSP Engineer (Starship Avionics) – Space

X – Hawthorne, CA

Space

X was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not.

As a DSP engineer on the Starship RF team, you will develop communication systems and RF sensors, enabling new vehicle capabilities and taking components from concept to orbit, to the Moon, and to Mars. You will work with super smart engineers and achieve truly audacious goals.

• System‑level and link‑level design in support of spacecraft communications and sensing systems
• Work across disciplines with RF/antenna, FPGA, and software engineers to design and validate communication systems
• Develop floating‑point and fixed‑point models and run simulations to analyze and validate overall system performance, including modem performance
• Support FPGA designers with bit‑accurate and cycle‑accurate RTL verification
• Own the end‑to‑end results of your products, from requirements gathering through production and flight, including verification and documentation

• Bachelor's degree in mathematics, computer science, or an engineering discipline
• 1+ years of experience designing and verifying modems and sensors
• 1+ years of experience developing signal processing algorithms in Python, Matlab, or C/C++

• Master’s degree in electrical engineering with emphasis in communication systems or digital signal processing
• Expertise modeling with both floating‑point and fixed‑point signal processing algorithms in Python, Matlab, or C/C++
• Experience in coherent digital demodulation of waveforms such as BPSK, QPSK, QAM, PCM/FM, APSK, OFDM, including spread spectrum
• Experience with continuous wave or pulse radar
• Experience with software‑defined radios and frameworks, such as GNU Radio
• Experience developing firmware for Xilinx FPGA platforms using the Xilinx toolchain
• Experience with verification between simulation and RTL FPGA implementation
• Experience modeling RF and channel impairments such as multipath, phase noise, group delay, fading and nonlinear distortion
• Understanding of RF concepts such as AGC, noise figure, power amplifiers, phase noise, PLL, oscillators/mixers
• Understanding of RF link budgets and noise analysis, intermodulation analysis and trade‑offs of frequency conversion topologies
• Familiarity with test equipment such as spectrum analyzers and signal generators
• Excellent communication and documentation skills, and ability to collaborate with other engineering disciplines

• Extended hours and weekend work may be required to support critical project and mission milestones

Pay range: DSP Engineer/Level I: $ – $ per year. DSP Engineer/Level II: $ – $ per year.

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

Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package. You may also be eligible for long‑term incentives (company stock or options), potential discretionary bonuses, and an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage; a 401(k) retirement plan; short and long‑term disability, life insurance; paid parental leave; discounts and perks; 3 weeks of paid vacation and 10 or more paid holidays per year;

paid sick leave per company policy. (All benefits comply with applicable law.)

• To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), refugee under 8 U.S.C. 1157, asylee under 8 U.S.C. 1158, or be eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.

Space

X is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Space

X 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 Space

X’s affirmative action plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to .