FPGA Engineer (Starshield)

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.

FPGA ENGINEER (STARSHIELD)

Starshield leverages SpaceX’s launch capability and Starlink technology to support national security efforts. While Starlink is designed for consumer and commercial use, Starshield is designed for government use, with an initial focus on earth observation, communications, and hosted payloads.

The satellite engineering team is hiring for satellite programs that are pushing the boundaries of in-space capabilities. Our missions support scientific research, classified national security space and commercial opportunities. Software engineering and innovation is at the core of these programs. 

The satellite software team is building highly reliable in-space networks, designing secure systems to guarantee access to space, and creating autonomous satellite operation systems, and more. Aerospace experience is not required to be successful here - we want our engineers to bring fresh ideas from all areas, love solving problems, and seek to make an impact on an inspiring mission. As we expand this team, we're looking for versatile, driven, and collaborative engineers. 

As an FPGA Engineer on the satellite digital design team, you will be designing, developing, and testing FPGAs that supports safety critical logic, sensors, cryptography, and RF/optical communications systems for SpaceX’s satellite constellation. You will engage with other SpaceX engineers to discover the needs of the missions and code highly reliable digital designs which turn the mission into reality. You will be responsible for the complete lifecycle of the FPGA designs you create, including development, testing, and support.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Deliver highly reliable firmware for SpaceX-designed hardware

• Work with engineers across the department to develop new products, from prototype through production and flight

• Take ownership of your firmware products, including verification testing and writing documentation

• Follow the SpaceX flight software development process and write great firmware for spaceflight

• Work in close collaboration with avionics, software, and platform engineers to design and validate FPGA designs

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, electrical engineering, math or other engineering discipline; OR 2+ years of professional software development experience in lieu of a degree

• Experience using Verilog, SystemVerilog, or VHDL

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Experience working with complex digital designs

• Experience in different stages of FPGA development: RTL design, verification, synthesis, timing analysis, lab bring up/validation

• Experience developing firmware for Xilinx SoC FPGA platforms and designing high-throughput PS/PL interfaces

• Experience with high speed serial links, including GbE, PCI-E or similar

• Experience with networking protocols and packet processing (Ethernet 802.3, IPV4/IPV4, UDP, TCP)

• Experience implementing DSP algorithms on FPGAs, including fixed point analysis and verification

• Experience developing software for embedded systems in C or C++, or significant experience in another software language

• Scripting skills (bash, Perl, Python)

• Familiar with common electronic components and comfortable reading circuit design schematics and contributing to hardware design discussions

• Excellent leadership, communication and teamwork skills

• Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret or Top Secret SCI clearance

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• This position requires successfully obtaining and maintaining a Top Secret Security Clearance as a condition of employment. While the clearance may not be immediately necessary upon hire, we encourage you to initiate the application process promptly upon accepting this offer. Your ability to secure the necessary clearance is essential for fulfilling key responsibilities of the role. Should you be unable to obtain it, SpaceX reserves the right to modify or terminate your employment to align with operational needs

• Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay Range:

FPGA Engineer /Level I: $120,000.00 - $145,000.00/per year

FPGA 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 View email address on click.appcast.io.