Sr. RF Silicon Software Engineer (RFIC Engineering)
SpaceXJob Title
Senior RF Silicon Software Engineer (RFIC Engineering)
Role Summary
Develop low-level software and bring-up infrastructure for custom RF silicon used in satellites, ground gateways, and user terminals. Work at the hardware/embedded-software boundary to deliver production-ready driver libraries, validation test platforms, and integration support for flight and production teams.
Experience Level
Senior - requires 5+ years of professional software development experience, with strong embedded and hardware-interfacing experience.
Responsibilities
Primary duties focus on silicon bring-up, driver development, and validation across hardware and embedded software systems.
- Perform first-power bring-up of new RF silicon and iterate on firmware/driver fixes.
- Design and implement modular, production-quality low-level driver libraries with attention to timing, throughput, and performance.
- Build hardware-in-the-loop test platforms, FPGA emulators, and automated integration/regression tests to validate drivers on physical hardware.
- Integrate and support silicon driver software across multiple project teams (satellite phased-arrays, user terminals, production firmware).
- Debug and optimize embedded software on target hardware; collaborate with electrical and firmware engineers to resolve system-level issues.
Requirements
Technical must-haves and relevant constraints for candidates.
- 5+ years professional development experience in C, C++, or Python.
- Experience working at the hardware / embedded software boundary (device drivers, register-level control, low-latency interfaces).
- Proven experience developing, debugging, and deploying software used in real-world embedded applications.
- Proficiency with debugging, performance optimization, and unit testing for low-level software.
- Hands-on experience using lab equipment (power supplies, logic analyzers, oscilloscopes) for troubleshooting hardware/software integration.
- Willingness to work extended hours and weekends as needed to meet critical milestones.
- Must meet export-control eligibility (ITAR) - see location limits for details.
Nice-to-have:
- Familiarity reading schematics and PCB layouts.
- Experience with FPGA design and HDLs (SystemVerilog, etc.) and low-level register access.
- Experience designing hardware test platforms and FPGA-based emulation.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to work in dynamic teams.
Education Requirements
Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or Computer Science.
About the Company
Company: SpaceX
Headquarters: Hawthorne, California, United States
SpaceX is focused on developing space technologies to enable human exploration of Mars and beyond. The company is known for its advancements in rocketry and its Starlink satellite constellation, which delivers high-speed internet globally.
