DSP Engineer (Starship Avionics)
SpaceX
hawthorne, ca, usa
USD 120k-170k / year + Equity
Posted on Nov 19, 2025
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.
DSP ENGINEER (STARSHIP AVIONICS)
Starship revolutionizes orbital flight and space travel, opening access for humankind to establish new frontiers in space and ultimately become a multi-planetary species. Our team builds some of the most advanced electronics ever flown in space at a cost and rate previously considered unthinkable in the space industry. As a DSP engineer on the Starship RF team, you will develop communication systems and RF sensors, enabling new vehicle capabilities and taking components from concept to orbit, to the Moon, and to Mars! Become a part of this fast moving and world class development team, work with super smart and motivated engineers, and achieve truly audacious goals. If you’re ready for a challenge and want to make our civilization multi-planetary then you’ve come to the right place!
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- System-level and link-level design in support of spacecraft communications and sensing systems
- Work across disciplines with RF/antenna, FPGA, and software engineers to design and validate comm systems
- Develop floating-point and fixed-point models and run simulations to analyze and validate overall system performance, including modem performance
- Support FPGA designers with bit-accurate and cycle-accurate RTL verification
- Own the end-to-end results of your products, from requirements gathering through production and flight, including verification and documentation
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor's degree in mathematics, computer science, or an engineering discipline
- 1+ years of experience designing and verifying modems and sensors
- 1+ years of experience developing signal processing algorithms in Python, Matlab, or C/C++
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
- Master’s degree in electrical engineering with emphasis in communication systems or digital signal processing
- Expertise modeling with both floating-point and fixed-point signal processing algorithms in Python, Matlab, or C/C++
- Experience in coherent digital demodulation of waveforms such as BPSK, QPSK, QAM, PCM/FM, APSK, OFDM, including spread spectrum
- Experience with continuous wave or pulse radar
- Experience with software-defined radios and frameworks, such as GNU Radio
- Experience developing firmware for Xilinx FPGA platforms using the Xilinx toolchain
- Experience with verification between simulation and RTL FPGA implementation
- Experience modeling RF and channel impairments such as multipath, phase noise, group delay, fading and nonlinear distortion
- Understanding of RF concepts such as AGC, noise figure, power amplifiers, phase noise, PLL, oscillators/mixers
- Understanding of RF link budgets and noise analysis, intermodulation analysis, and trade-offs of frequency conversion topologies
- Familiarity with test equipment such as spectrum analyzers and signal generators
- Excellent communication and documentation skills, and ability to collaborate with other engineering disciplines
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Extended hours and weekend work may be required to support critical project and mission milestones
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
Pay range:
DSP Engineer/Level I: $120,000.00 - $145,000.00/per year
DSP Engineer/Level II: $140,000.00 - $170,000.00/per year
Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.
Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock, stock options, or long-term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Employees accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law.
ITAR REQUIREMENTS:
- To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be 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 reach out to EEOCompliance@spacex.com.