SpaceX: Seeking RF Test Engineer

[dbowers48]

Please contact Dave Bowers at David.Bowers@spacex.com for further inquiries.

 

 

Engineer The Future

SpaceX is a U.S.-based advanced technology company founded by residing CEO and CTO, Elon Musk. Founded in 2002, SpaceX builds rockets and spacecraft from the ground up, including cutting edge electronics, software, vehicle structures, and engine systems. The Falcon Launch Vehicle and Dragon Spacecraft programs are some of the most ambitious engineering systems in the world, designed to support our ultimate goals of aviation-like spaceflight capability and making humanity a multi-planet species. Our team is made up of more than 3,000 SpaceXers located across our Hawthorne, California headquarters; and other facilities in Florida, Texas, and Washington, DC.

 

Advance the course of human history and pave the ways to Mars

This is SpaceX. We are not like most companies. Our goal is to do what has never before been done--enabling mankind to live on other planets. We push the boundaries of what is currently possible, and understand it takes rare individuals to help us make this happen. We celebrate our successes, and each other. We seek future colleagues with a rare mix of drive, passion, scrappiness, intelligence, and curiosity to seek what’s beyond the stars.

Playing a direct role in advancing the course of human history is no small endeavor. Join us, and find your place in the SpaceX legacy.

 
The Department
 
Avionics (Electronics) - Our Avionics group works to design, develop, test, analyze and integrate all the electronic hardware and software for our vehicles. This includes but is not limited to: flight software, flight computers, power conversion units, analog and digital circuit boards, FPGA’s, communication system units, guidance, navigation and control as well as enclosure and wire harness development.

RF Test Engineer
 
Responsibilities

• Responsible for development and execution of testing strategies for RF products spanning PCBA board testing, full functional testing of LNAs, transceivers, receivers, transmitters, radar, filters and antennas.
• Write Verification Test Plans, Test Procedures, and Test Reports against product requirements
• Expert with RF test equipment and measurement techniques to verify and validate product requirements.
• Work closely with Design Engineers, Manufacturing Engineers, and Production Test Labs to ensure a testable product is being developed and influence design to increase product reliability and test coverage. Make recommendations for design, process improvements, and data collection.
• Develop requirements for test racks/ATEs to be deployed to Production working with Hardware Engineers to build and develop custom test equipment for integration.
• Create automation software to interact with ATEs, Unit Under Test, instrumentation, and production systems to implement test plan in a fast moving production environment.
• Assist Design Engineers with setting specifications and test line limits using statistical analysis of data and measurement uncertainty analysis.
• Root-cause analysis of test failures and communicating recommended actions.
• Develop modular, reusable test architectures for manufacturing test and engineering design verification.
• Define and implement project plans, manage milestones and hold reviews to assure reliable test systems are delivered to production.

Basic Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering or related technical degree required.
• Minimum 5 years experience with RF measurement techniques and technologies.
• Ability to write object-oriented software as part of a team
• Extensive understanding of RF instrumentation and measurements including Spectrum Analyzers, Signal Generators, VNAs, Power Meters, Noise Sources, Software Defined Radio, BER, EVM, Spectral Mask, ACPR, Noise Figure, IP3 and other non-linear distortions, and phase noise.
• Strong understanding of RF electrical components and architectures including mixers, filters, diplexers, directional couplers, power splitters, attenuators, oscillators, PLLs, RF switches, and Î¼circuits.

 Preferred skills:

• Masters Degree preferred.
• Certified LabVIEW Architect highly preferred.
• Experience with various modulation and coding schemes including BPSK, SOQPSK, GFSK, CDMA, SQPN. Familiarity with NASA's TDRSS SNUG guidelines is a plus.
• Understanding of metrology, sources of measurement error, and uncertainty analysis for RF measurements.
• Familiarity with SMT lines and RF device manufacturing.
• Experience with Python, LabVIEW FPGA, C++ and unit testing/continuous integration
• Familiarity with National Instruments and Keysight platforms including DAQmx, PXI, RIO, FlexRIO, SDR, USRP, PNA, PXA, and ESG.
• Understanding and experience in environmental testing such as vibration, shock, thermal, burn-in, and TVAC.
• Experience with production test solutions involving Mass Termination and scalable/modular hardware and software solutions for test.

ITAR Requirements:

• To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant 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.

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.