Optical Transceiver Engineer - High Speed Links, Satellites (Starlink)

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.

OPTICAL TRANSCEIVER ENGINEER – HIGH SPEED LINKS, SATELLITES (STARLINK)

The Starlink Space Lasers team develops, produces and deploys systems for transferring data over optical media. We are looking for engineers to contribute to the development of optical physical layer systems for the groundbreaking constellation of Starlink satellites. All SpaceX optical systems (transceivers and other optical products) require a blend of theoretical expertise, practical implementation skills, and a passion for solving complex problems in real-time, resource-constrained systems.

As a SpaceX optical datacom engineer, you will be responsible for optical datacom system design, validation, and operation. You will shape the future of optical data communications and interconnect systems and directly contribute to the optical networks that convey high bandwidth data within our payloads.

• Apply interdisciplinary knowledge, spanning photonics, electrical engineering/signals, and mechanical engineering concepts to data communication system development, including design, analysis, and validation

• Represent the optical data communication network in program-level, cross-disciplinary trades and issue resolution

• Perform trade space analysis between various optical interconnect technologies and approaches to minimize SWaP-C while meeting throughput and reliability/uptime requirements

• Participate in verification testing, including environmental qualification, functional qualification, reliability testing, and fault injection testing

• Review test data and lead anomaly investigation and resolution

• Maintain link models, design specifications, and system capabilities data

• Interface with manufacturing and supply chain teams to ensure final designs can be manufactured in accordance with overall project goals

• Collaborate with software and automation teams to develop tools and protocols for automated link tuning, operation and qualification

• Represent optical datacom systems for reliability and risk discussions with internal reliability teams, management, customers, and vendors

• Bachelor’s degree in physics, computer science, electrical engineering, or other engineering/STEM discipline

• 1+ years of hands-on laboratory or work experience in photonics, SERDES/optical DSP design, or signal integrity design (university lab, student project, or internship experience can apply)

• 1+ years of experience in a computer programming language (e.g. C++, MATLAB, and/or Python)

• Master's degree or PhD in physics, computer science, or an engineering/STEM discipline

• Proficiency with data communication system simulation tools such as Keysight ADS, VPI Photonics, or Lumerical Interconnect

• Proficiency with signal integrity design tools such as HFSS, HFSS 3D Layout or CST

• Proficiency with optical design tools such as Zemax

• Hands-on experience in system design, integration, tuning/optimization, and test of data communication systems

• Knowledge of and experience in SERDES, signal equalization/conditioning/decision functional blocks, ability to interpret SERDES receiver adaptation details and other queried information along an optical link to identify and resolve impairments

• Knowledge of and experience in lasers, modulators, photodiodes, fiber optics, optics testing/troubleshooting techniques, high speed