Sr. RF & Wireless Compliance Engineer (Starlink)

Bastrop, TX

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. RF & WIRELESS COMPLIANCE ENGINEER (STARLINK)

SpaceX is leveraging its experience building rockets and spacecraft to deploy Starlink, the world's most advanced broadband internet system. Starlink is the world's largest satellite constellation and provides fast, reliable internet to millions of users worldwide. We design, build, manufacture, and operate all parts of the system — including thousands of satellites and millions of customer kits. We are looking for best-in-class engineers to help maximize Starlink's utility for individuals, communities, and businesses. 

Starlink radio products must certify in the United States and internationally before they ship. This role is the RF compliance owner for those products, split about 50/50 between: 

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Own RF regulatory strategy and certification for Starlink wireless hardware on a 50/50 WiFi and cellular mix across US and international markets 
  • WiFi (2.4 / 5 / 6 GHz): develop and own compliance strategy, test setups, and methods for typical WiFi products, including DFS where required and 6 GHz / AFC paths as those products come online 
  • Cellular (5G, LTE, GPRS, 3GPP): develop and own compliance strategy for cellular hardware, including base stations and related devices, covering US licensed-service rules and international 3GPP / ETSI requirements 
  • Apply core FCC and ETSI radio standards in day-to-day work — including FCC Part 15 for WiFi (2.4 / 5 / 6 GHz, DFS) and FCC licensed-service rules for cellular; ETSI EN 300 328 (2.4 GHz), EN 301 893 (5 GHz), EN 303 687 (6 GHz WAS/RLAN), and EN 301 908 / 3GPP for cellular devices and base stations 
  • Read RF designs (architecture, radio chains, antennas, filters, power tables, firmware limits) and turn standards into actionable design and test requirements 
  • Plan and run RF compliance test campaigns with accredited labs — conducted and radiated, spurious, power, DFS, exposure (MPE/SAR) as applicable, and cellular / base-station conformance 
  • Work directly with RF hardware, firmware, and software teams to implement the design or power-table changes required for certification 
  • Validate and generate transmit power tables with RF design, software, and test labs 
  • Audit labs and vendors so methods and results are consistent and defensible 
  • Prepare and maintain technical files, test reports, and certification applications (FCC / ISED / RED and equivalent global filings) 
  • Support global market access when Starlink adds bands, power levels, or new WiFi / cellular SKUs 
  • Provide RF regulatory guidance to Product Compliance Engineers and RF design teams 

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or another STEM discipline 
  • 5+ years of experience in RF / wireless regulatory compliance and certification 
  • Working knowledge of basic FCC and ETSI radio standards for WiFi and/or cellular 
  • Demonstrated ability to follow an RF product from design → test → compliance (not test-only or paperwork-only) 

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

  • Hands-on mix of WiFi (2.4, 5, and 6 GHz) and cellular (5G, LTE, GPRS/2G, 3GPP) — including base stations — in both US and international certifications 
  • Deep working knowledge of: 
  • WiFi: FCC Part 15 (15.247 / 15.407), ETSI EN 300 328, EN 301 893, EN 303 687; DFS; 6 GHz / AFC 
  • Cellular: 3GPP (LTE / NR and GPRS/GSM as applicable), ETSI EN 301 908 (devices and base stations), FCC Parts 22 / 24 / 27 (and related licensed-service rules); PTCRB / GCF for cellular hardware 
  • Ability to read RF schematics, block diagrams, antenna / layout choices, and firmware power limits, and to explain why a design will or will not pass 
  • Experience defining test setups and methodologies, not only witnessing lab tests 
  • Experience running RF compliance campaigns and driving design changes to close failures 
  • Track record certifying high-volume wireless products (consumer, infrastructure, or both) 
  • Ability to translate standards into requirements RF and firmware teams can implement 

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

  • Ability to work extended hours or weekends as needed for mission-critical certification deadlines 
  • Willingness to work on-site with RF design, test, and lab teams 

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. 

Create a Job Alert

Interested in building your career at SpaceX? Get future opportunities sent straight to your email.

Apply for this job

*

indicates a required field

Resume/CV*

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Education

Select...
Select...
Select...
Portfolio or Cover Letter

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Select...

If event or other, please specify below.

Select...

Please convert your GPA to a 4.0 scale. Select "Not applicable/Do not recall" if you do not have or do not remember your undergraduate GPA. 

Select...

Please convert your GPA to a 4.0 scale. Select "Not applicable/Do not recall" if you do not have or do not remember your graduate GPA. 

Select...

Please convert your GPA to a 4.0 scale. Select "Not applicable/Do not recall" if you do not have or do not remember your doctorate GPA. 

Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...
Select...

This includes internships and full-time employment.

Select...
Select...
Select...

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 ITAR here.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in SpaceX’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Select...
Select...
Race & Ethnicity Definitions

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305
Page 1 of 1
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 07/31/2029

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer (past or present)
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
  • Diabetes
  • Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
  • Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual or developmental disability
  • Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
  • Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
  • Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
  • Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
  • Short stature (dwarfism)
  • Traumatic brain injury
Select...

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.