RF Engineer, Life Cycle Avionics

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about 2 years old

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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.

RF ENGINEER, LIFE CYCLE AVIONICS

As a Life Cycle Engineer you will have the unique opportunity to streamline the design and production process on Avionics hardware across SpaceX’s fleet of spacecraft and launch vehicles; optimizing for reliability, manufacturability, and speed.  You will be responsible for spearheading improvement throughout the life cycle of a given RF product by troubleshooting electronic assemblies, incorporating new hardware functionality, designing fixtures/tools, improving reliability/manufacturability, and identifying opportunities for improvement in products and processes.  SpaceX’s fundamental goal is to allow humanity to explore the stars.  Helping your team achieve this vision comes extreme responsibility to ensure the safety of the crew and payload. 

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Design new hardware, redesign existing hardware, and perform modifications to PCBAs and mechanical drawings to improve their reliability and manufacturability
  • Responsible for troubleshooting of avionics hardware spanning PCBA board testing and defect detection, full functional testing of an assembled unit, and resolving on-vehicle anomalies
  • Write and execute verification test plans, test procedures, and test reports against product requirements
  • Modify electrical schematics and mechanical drawings for flight applications as they relate to reliability and manufacturability
  • Design and troubleshoot RF (UHF, S-Band, X, Ka, or Ku bands) test setups and associated support equipment to support execution of testing strategies
  • Participate in manufacturing assessments of new RF designs and drive optimization for manufacturability and cost

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering or physics
  • 1+ years of experience with electronic components, environments testing, unit level testing, or RF systems (significant academic projects, internships, and traditional professional experience all qualify)
  • 1+ years of experience with Matlab, LabVIEW, Python, SPICE, SQL, and/or National Instruments hardware
  • Laboratory experience with test equipment such as spectrum analyzers, signal generators, network analyzers, channel emulators, oscilloscopes, and power meters

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

  • Master’s degree in an engineering discipline
  • Ability to design and integrate RF circuit elements such as LNAs, PAs, filters, mixers, and antennas
  • Creative problem solver that can bring multiple disciplines together with the ability to assess risk and make design and development decisions without all available data
  • Experience working in project teams such as Formula SAE or Hybrid Electric Vehicle
  • Experience with electronic components, wire harnesses, and electrical test equipment (spectrum analyzers, network analyzers, oscilloscopes, power supplies, etc.)
  • Knowledge of digital communication systems, spread spectrum, single and multi-carrier techniques and modulation types such as QPSK, APSK and QAM
  • Proficiency with one or more RF simulation software platforms such as CST, HFSS, ADS, Microwave Office, & Momentum
  • Understanding and experience in environmental testing such as vibration, shock, thermal, burn-in, and TVAC
  • Experience with 3D CAD (NX, Unigraphics, Solidworks or similar) and electrical schematic capture software
  • Independently operate electrical simulation and layout software (LTspice, Altium, SIMetrix, or similar)
  • Strong sense of accountability and integrity with excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Ability to work in a fast paced, autonomously driven, and demanding atmosphere
  • Self-motivated with strong multi-tasking, organizational, communication and documentation skills

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

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

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:

  • To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.  

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.