Sr. Wireless Software Engineer (Starlink)

About the role

SpaceX is leveraging its experience in building rockets and spacecraft to deploy Starlink, the world's most advanced broadband internet system. Starlink is the world's largest satellite constellation and is providing fast, reliable internet to millions of users worldwide. We design, build, test, and operate all parts of the system – thousands of satellites, consumer receivers that allow users to connect within minutes of unboxing, and the software that brings it all together. As a Sr. Wireless Software Engineer, you will be solving a wide range of novel engineering challenges: firmware, embedded, and signal processing software running on custom hardware that flies the world's largest fleet of spacecraft; cutting-edge networking algorithms capable of connecting thousands of satellites to millions of users in real time; and infrastructure and tools enabling a highly reliable, software-defined global network. Our software engineers are responsible for the complete lifecycle of the software they create, including development, testing, and support.

Responsibilities

• Design, implement, test, and maintain physical and MAC layer software of the wireless software stack for the Starlink communications network.
• Participate in architecting current and next-gen Starlink hardware and signal processing algorithms.
• Participate in hardware bring-up, debugging, verification and launch.
• Work with other teams for cross-layer integration of the end-to-end system.
• Develop prototypes to prove out key design concepts and quantify technical constraints.
• Collaborate with other engineers to plan and organize the development of our products.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, math, or STEM discipline; OR 2+ years of professional software engineering experience, programming with C or C++ in lieu of a degree.
• Experience working with wireless software or network protocols.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Strong knowledge of wireless communications, signal processing and/or network protocols.
• Knowledge of RF systems and fundamentals: noise figure, link budget, non-linearity.
• Experience writing software for RF/mixed-signal integrated circuits and/or systems, such as phase-locked loops, mixers, data-converters, RF attenuators.
• Familiar with design and implementation of Digital Signal Processing algorithms and techniques: FFT, time and frequency domain equalizer, channel estimation, pilot tracking, digital pre-distortion, doppler compensation.
• Experience with lab equipment such as RF spectrum analyzer, network analyzer, signal generator, oscilloscope.
• Experience in any of physical and/or MAC layers in broadband access technologies such as: Wi-Fi, LTE, 5G or satellite broadband.
• Creative approach to problem solving, exceptional analytical skills and engineering fundamentals.
• Strong skills in debugging, performance optimization, and unit testing.
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal.
• Ability to work effectively in a dynamic environment with changing needs and requirements.

Additional Requirements

• Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed.

Pay

Sr. Software Engineer: $160,000.00 - $225,000.00 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 and skills, education, and experience.

Benefits

• Long-term incentives in the form of company stock or long-term cash awards
• Potential discretionary bonuses
• Ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage
• Access to a 401(k) retirement plan
• Short and long-term disability insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid parental leave
• Various other discounts and perks
• 3 weeks of paid vacation accrual
• 10 or more paid holidays per year
• Paid sick time in compliance with state and federal law (for employees in Washington State)
• Company shuttles from select Seattle locations to the SpaceX Redmond office Monday to Friday