RFIC Systems Test Engineer at SpaceX
Irvine, CA, United States
SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.
RFIC SYSTEM TEST ENGINEER
As a member of our multifaceted RFIC team, you will have the rare and phenomenal opportunity to craft upcoming SoCs that will enable our Starlink chips. These chips help connect, enable, and empower humanity every single day with performance that far surpasses that of traditional satellite internet and ground infrastructure limitations. Starlink delivers high-speed, low latency broadband internet to locations where access has been unreliable, expensive, or completely unavailable.
In this critical role, you will be actively working on validating SoCs starting from the point when the first samples arrive from the fab. You will be performing initial bring-up of the SoC, testing core functionality, characterizing electrical and power utilization and paving the path for other teams, such as flight software, to cleanly integrate the SoC into the overall Starlink system. As part of these efforts, you will also be working with a variety of high-speed interfaces, both industry standard and proprietary. You will also be responsible for developing and maintaining software that is needed for these validation efforts.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Model high frequency circuits
Develop RF/microwave system using standalone blocks
Supervise modeling of package and external parasitic components
Perform PCB floor planning and guide the layout
Evaluate and characterize prototypes of the design
Characterize and analyze full radio performance
Work with the antenna team to optimize the radio performance
Develop automated test lab equipment for lab measurements
Work with manufacturing engineers on production testing and qualification of the RFIC components and systems
Create specification to compliance (STC) files that define all required tests
Create and modify general unified test solution (GUTS) programs that drive automated test solutions
Drives design verification test (DVT) testing and actively provide feedback to design
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering or computer science
Experience with RF engineering
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
Advanced degree in electrical engineering with emphasis in RF/microwave integrated circuits
2+ years of experience with circuits at a frequency greater than 10 GHz
2+ years of experience in simulation tools such as ADS, HFSS or Momentum
Experience characterizing radio performance at microwave frequencies
Strong RF/microwave modeling skills, and ability to characterize and model both linear and non-linear circuits such as phase-locked loops, vector modulators/demodulators, oscillators, mixers, filters, low noise and power amplifiers
Knowledge of digital communication systems and modulation types such as QPSK, APSK and QAM
Knowledge of RF transceiver architectures.
RF/Microwave design in the Ku-band, K-band and Ka-band frequency range.
Expert on radio related test equipment such as spectrum analyzers, vector signal analyzers, vector signal generator and network analyzers
Familiar with wafer probe testing
ITAR REQUIREMENTS:
SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX 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 SpaceX's Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should notify the Human Resources Department at (310) 363-6000.
