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.

SR. SERDES CHARACTERIZATION AND VALIDATION ENGINEER (SILICON ENGINEERING)

As a member of our multifaceted ASIC 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 high speed SerDes IP evaluation and working closely with internal and external teams to provide input on the SerDes features and requirements. You will be actively leading the interoperability tests across multiple chips and preparing characterization reports that describe your lab measurements and observations. As part of these efforts, you will also be bringing up and validating high speed serial interfaces such as SerDes physical media attachment(PMA) blocks in new ASICs.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Bring up, validate and perform electrical characterization of the SerDes (PMA) blocks in new and existing silicon chips
• Develop test methods to evaluate performance and calculate operating margins of high-speed serial interfaces (SerDes) across PVT and additional environmental conditions specific to space applications
• Work closely with the ASIC design team to add/improve testability and define various loopback and test infrastructure logic to ensure adequate silicon test coverage
• Work closely with electrical design team to review signal integrity, power integrity and radiated/conducted emissions concerns as well as propose design changes or operational workarounds
• Evaluate new SerDes IP from internal and external IP providers and test for logical and electrical compatibility with existing chips and FPGAs
• Write software routines (Python, C/C++) to bring up and validate the SerDes while working with the software cross functional team members to help integrate SerDes drivers in the software track

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering or computer science
• 5+ years of experience working on SerDes platforms

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Experience working with various high speed SerDes architectures (NRZ, PAM4) and clocking modes
• Working experience with ethernet, PCIe and other high-speed protocol layers is a definite plus
• Understanding of design blocks adjacent to SerDes PMA blocks like MAC and PCS
• Understanding of SerDes calibration, including how equalization (CTLE, DFE, FFE), CDR and PLL parameters are chosen
• Understanding of RF/Microwave fundamentals, circuits, test and measurement techniques
• Working knowledge of SerDes Signal Integrity eye diagrams, Bathtub Curves, etc.
• Ability to study and analyze internal and external team’s test results and provide interpretations to help drive SerDes IP selections and discussions
• Experience writing comprehensive test reports covering test boundary conditions and test results
• Strong debugging and problem-solving skills

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be willing to travel when needed (typically <10%)
• Willing to work extended hours and weekends to meet critical deadlines, as needed
• This position can be based out of either Redmond, WA or Irvine, CA

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.