Sr. DSP Systems Engineer (Silicon Engineering)

The job

LIVE Employer public job feed (private-sector employer) Source: the employer's public careers feed · Data: listed 2026-08-13

Job description

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. DSP SYSTEMS ENGINEER (SILICON ENGINEERING) 

At SpaceX we’re leveraging our experience in building rockets and spacecraft to deploy Starlink, the world’s most advanced broadband internet system. Starlink is the world’s largest satellite constellation and is providing fast, reliable internet to millions of users worldwide. We design, build, test, and operate all parts of the system – thousands of satellites, consumer receivers that allow users to connect within minutes of unboxing, and the software that brings it all together. We’ve only begun to scratch the surface of Starlink’s potential global impact and are looking for best-in-class engineers to help maximize Starlink’s utility for communities and businesses around the globe. 

We are seeking a motivated, proactive, and intellectually curious engineer who will work alongside world-class cross-disciplinary teams (systems, firmware, architecture, design, validation, product engineering, ASIC implementation). In this role, you will be developing cutting-edge next-generation ASICs for deployment in space and ground infrastructures around the globe. These chips are enabling connectivity in places it has previously not been available, affordable or reliable. Your efforts will help deliver cutting-edge solutions that will expand the performance and capabilities of the Starlink network.   

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Drive program-level decisions on sensor firmware, software, and AI-driven architecture for large-scale RF sensing and satellite broadband systems
• Research and develop novel solutions incorporating advanced digital beamforming, massive MIMO, and direct-to-device technology for on-orbit and ground-based applications
• Design, model, and test algorithms for system-level and link-level performance, including floating-point/fixed-point simulations of modem, beamforming, and sensor data processing
• Work in close collaboration with ASIC/FPGA, RF/antenna, and software engineers to design, validate, and bring up silicon-based RF sensing and communication systems
• Generate spacecraft/consumer equipment specifications, requirements, test procedures, and bit-/cycle-accurate vectors; support silicon bring-up, on-orbit demonstrations, and system validation
• Analyze overall system performance (including link budgets, impairments, and multi-access schemes) and implement system test plans under dynamic program needs

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, electrical/computer engineering, physics, math, or other STEM discipline
• 5+ years of experience in system-level modeling, digital signal processing, or RF/wireless system design

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Master’s degree in electrical engineering with emphasis in communication systems, digital signal processing, or related fields
• Experience with AI-driven architecture, advanced digital beamforming, massive MIMO, and direct-to-device technologies
• Professional experience working on RF sensors or wireless modems
• Experience modeling RF and channel impairments (multipath, phase noise, group delay, fading, nonlinear distortion) and building system-level simulators
• Expertise in multiple access schemes (TDMA, CDMA, OFDMA), high-data-rate modem design/verification, and wireless standards (LTE, WiFi, etc.)
• Proficiency in MATLAB, C/C++, and/or Python; experience with software-defined radios (e.g., GNU Radio)
• Strong understanding of link budgets, modem algorithms, hardware architectures, ASIC/FPGA development flows, and lab equipment
• Experience with Git, Atlassian tools (JIRA, Confluence, Bitbucket, Bamboo), and cross-functional collaboration

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to work extended hours and weekends as needed to support critical project and mission milestones

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay Range:
Level 3: $165,000.00 - $265,000.00

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 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. 

Explore around this job

Field: Engineering, Construction and Energy Sub-niche: Manufacturing and hardware engineering All jobs at SpaceX Jobs in California Jobs in Irvine, CA Irvine city guide California state guide Orange County economy

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About the role

This is a — role in the Engineering, Construction and Energy field (Manufacturing and hardware engineering) at SpaceX.

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The city

The job is in Irvine, CA. Below is what the official statistics say about living and working there.

How Irvine compares. Among the 145 largest places in California, Irvine is #14 by population, #14 for college degrees (#1 = most), #127 for rent (#1 = cheapest), #123 for homeownership (#1 = highest). Its county, Orange County, is #9 of 58 counties for average pay ($81,403).

The place in numbers

Irvine has 311,690 residents (ACS 2020–2024), about 0.8% of the population of California. It covers 66 square miles of land, which works out to roughly 4,750 people per square mile. The median age is 34.0, 10% younger than the state median (34.0 against 37.9).

Housing

The median gross rent is $2,997 a month (rent plus utilities), 47% above the state median ($2,997 against $2,036). Over a year that is 26.3% of the median household income. US housing guidance treats housing as affordable when it takes 30% of income or less, so the typical household is under that line. The median home value is $1,191,500, which is 8.7 times the median household income ($136,719); a ratio above 5 usually means buying is out of reach without savings or a second income. 44.5% of households own their home, 20% below the state average (44.5% against 55.9%). A low ownership share points to a rental-heavy market with more apartments and shorter stays.

Work and pay

The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metropolitan area has 6,271,560 jobs in the BLS wage survey, and the median pay across all occupations is $55,850 a year, 10% above the national median ($55,850 against $50,980). The biggest occupation groups are office and administrative support (702,480 jobs, median $52,710); food preparation and serving related (588,660 jobs, median $38,460); healthcare support (537,460 jobs, median $35,630). The area is most specialised in arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media (2.2 times) and healthcare support (1.7 times), where the share of workers is well above the national share. The best-paying groups with at least 5,000 jobs are management ($136,490) and legal ($128,110). In 2026M09 the unemployment rate of Orange County was 4.3%. 67.1% of residents aged 16 and over are in the labour force. The city lies in Orange County; its jobs, pay by industry and GDP are on the county page.

Getting around

Among workers, 59.1% drive alone, 1.1% use public transit, 3.7% walk, 28.0% work from home. 11.9% of workers commute 45 minutes or more, 39% below the state average (11.9% against 19.4%). Remote work is more common than in the state as a whole, which widens the set of employers a resident can work for without moving.

People and education

70.6% of adults aged 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 90% above the state share (70.6% against 37.1%). 39.8% of residents were born outside the United States, 48% above the state share (39.8% against 27.0%). The poverty rate is 10.8%, 10% below the state rate (10.8% against 12.0%).

Climate

The warmest month is Aug, averaging 73°F (23.0°C), and the coolest is Dec at 56°F (13.2°C). About 299 mm (12 inches) of precipitation falls in a year; Feb is the wettest month (68 mm) and Jun the driest (1 mm). These values come from NASA satellite-based climatology on a grid of about 50 km, so they describe the wider area, not a weather station in the city.

Nearby cities to compare

Closest cities in this guide: Tustin (4 miles, rent 18% lower); Lake Forest (6 miles, rent 11% lower); Santa Ana (8 miles, rent 31% lower); Mission Viejo (8 miles, rent 5% lower). Rent differences are against Irvine; use the Compare tab to put any two cities side by side.

Full guide to Irvine →California guideAll jobs in Irvine

Official links for Irvine

• Census Bureau data profile for Irvine
• Official website of Orange County: ocgov.com
• Official state website: ca.gov
• BLS Economy at a Glance: California

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Where to live

CITY Official statistics Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year (via Census Reporter) · Data: ACS 2020–2024

Places within 50 miles (straight line) of Irvine, CA that have a guide, with what living there costs. No pay estimate is shown because the title did not match one occupation.

Career paths

We could not match this title to one occupation, so here are the other sub-niches in Engineering, Construction and Energy, where your skills may carry over:

Construction and field engineering (447) Energy and utilities (599)

Distances

CITY Calculation (straight line) Source: U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer (coordinates) · Data: 2024

How far Irvine, CA is from the 20 largest US cities, in straight-line miles (not driving distance). Click a column to sort.

Nearby cities with open jobs (within 120 miles)

The employer

SpaceX is the employer in this listing. See all its open jobs here →

We do not hold headcount or revenue for this employer. Check its careers site and, if it is listed on a stock exchange, its public filings (SEC EDGAR search).

What it is like to work at a company (culture, schedules, benefits) is not in the source data, so we do not describe it. Read the description and ask the questions under "How to prepare".

Other open jobs at SpaceX

Similar jobs

Same sub-niche: Manufacturing and hardware engineering

More jobs in Irvine, CA

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FAQ

What is the Sr. DSP Systems Engineer (Silicon Engineering) job at SpaceX?

A private-sector role in engineering, construction and energy (manufacturing and hardware engineering) listed 88 days ago. The full description is on this page and on the employer's page.

Where is this job?

Irvine, CA.

How do I apply?

Use the "View this job and apply on the employer's page" button. AtiveSite does not receive applications.

How much does it pay?

The listing does not publish pay, and we could not match the title to one official occupation.

What is the cost of living there?

Median rent in Irvine is $2,997 a month and median household income $136,719 (ACS 2020–2024).

How old is this listing?

It was posted on 2026-08-13 (88 days ago). Jobs older than 90 days are not shown.

Are there similar jobs?

Yes: browse manufacturing and hardware engineering jobs in California.

Sources and terms

• Job data: SpaceX careers page public feed (listing dated 2026-08-13). The job disappears from this site when it disappears from the source.
• Wages and projections: BLS OEWS (May 2025) and Employment Projections 2025–35.
• City and county figures: Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024, BEA, BLS QCEW and LAUS, NASA POWER climatology; distances from Census Gazetteer coordinates.

AtiveSite is not affiliated with or endorsed by the employer or any government agency, and does not process applications. Verify every detail with the employer before acting.

Sources

• BLS OEWS (wages and employment by occupation, May 2025)
• BLS Employment Projections 2025–35
• BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics
• BLS JOLTS
• BLS State and Metro Area Employment
• Census Bureau American Community Survey (via Census Reporter)
• BEA GDP by state and Regional Price Parities
• IRS 2026 tax adjustments
• U.S. Department of Labor, minimum wage by state
• Tax Foundation state income tax rates 2026
• USAJOBS
• USCIS
• U.S. Department of State, visas
• NASA POWER climatology
• GeoNames / Census Gazetteer (coordinates)