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Contract Rfic Design Engineer Jobs in Los Angeles, CA

As a RFIC Design Engineer on the Starshield team, you will be working on advanced development programs in support of U.S. National Security. In this role, you will be developing cutting-edge next ...

As a RFIC Design Engineer on the Starshield team, you will be working on advanced development programs in support of U.S. National Security. In this role, you will be developing cutting-edge next ...

You'll work across fields to transform improved hardware elements into a single, coordinated design ... Description The wireless RFIC team architects, designs, and validates radio transceivers integrated ...

RFIC - PLL Design Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

$216K/yr

As Sr. RFIC - PLL Design Engineer within the Wireless Radio team, you will be at the center of a wireless SoC design group with a critical impact on getting Apple's state-of-the-art wireless ...

RFIC - PLL Design Engineer

Irvine, CA · On-site

$216K/yr

As Sr. RFIC - PLL Design Engineer within the Wireless Radio team, you will be at the center of a wireless SoC design group with a critical impact on getting Apple's state-of-the-art wireless ...

As Sr. RFIC - PLL Design Engineer within the Wireless Radio team, you will be at the center of a wireless SoC design group with a critical impact on getting Apple's state-of-the-art wireless ...

As Sr. RFIC - PLL Design Engineer within the Wireless Radio team, you will be at the center of a wireless SoC design group with a critical impact on getting Apple's state-of-the-art wireless ...

As Sr. RFIC - PLL Design Engineer within the Wireless Radio team, you will be at the center of a wireless SoC design group with a critical impact on getting Apple's state-of-the-art wireless ...

As Sr. RFIC - PLL Design Engineer within the Wireless Radio team, you will be at the center of a wireless SoC design group with a critical impact on getting Apple's state-of-the-art wireless ...

As Sr. RFIC - PLL Design Engineer within the Wireless Radio team, you will be at the center of a wireless SoC design group with a critical impact on getting Apple's state-of-the-art wireless ...

As Sr. RFIC - PLL Design Engineer within the Wireless Radio team, you will be at the center of a wireless SoC design group with a critical impact on getting Apple's state-of-the-art wireless ...

As Sr. RFIC - PLL Design Engineer within the Wireless Radio team, you will be at the center of a wireless SoC design group with a critical impact on getting Apple's state-of-the-art wireless ...

As Sr. RFIC - PLL Design Engineer within the Wireless Radio team, you will be at the center of a wireless SoC design group with a critical impact on getting Apple's state-of-the-art wireless ...

In this role, you will be part of an RFIC design team and perform the tests, debugging, and ... programming. Synchronize radio register settings between the simulation environment and test ...

In this role, you will be part of an RFIC design team and perform the tests, debugging, and ... programming. Synchronize radio register settings between the simulation environment and test ...

In this role, you will be part of an RFIC design team and perform the tests, debugging, and ... programming. Synchronize radio register settings between the simulation environment and test ...

Showing results 21-40

Contract Rfic Design Engineer information

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a contract RFIC design engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Contract RFIC Design Engineer, you need expertise in RF/microwave circuit design, semiconductor physics, and familiarity with industry standards, typically supported by a degree in electrical engineering or a related field. Mastery of EDA tools like Cadence, ADS, and experience with simulation and layout software are critical, along with knowledge of relevant test equipment. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication set top engineers apart in collaborative and deadline-driven environments. These skills ensure the delivery of high-performance, reliable RFIC solutions that meet project specifications and industry demands.

What is a contract RFIC design engineer?

Contract RFIC (Radio Frequency Integrated Circuit) Design Engineers are specialists who design and develop integrated circuits that operate at radio frequencies, typically for wireless communication devices. Working on a contract basis, they may be hired by companies to complete specific projects or to provide expertise on a temporary basis. Their responsibilities include circuit design, simulation, layout, testing, and optimization of RFICs to meet performance, cost, and timeline requirements. Contract RFIC Design Engineers often collaborate with teams of hardware and software engineers to ensure seamless integration of RFICs within larger systems. They are also expected to stay updated on the latest technologies and design tools in the RF and semiconductor industries.

What are some common challenges faced by contract RFIC design engineers when working with multiple clients or projects simultaneously?

Contract RFIC Design Engineers often juggle multiple projects and clients, which can lead to challenges in balancing differing technical requirements, project timelines, and communication styles. Coordinating with various teams, adapting to distinct design flows, and managing version control across projects demand strong organizational and interpersonal skills. Successfully navigating these challenges helps ensure timely delivery of high-quality RFIC designs, while also building a reputation for reliability and adaptability in the industry.

What is the difference between Contract Rfic Design Engineer vs RFIC Design Engineer?

AspectContract RFIC Design EngineerRFIC Design Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in Electrical Engineering, specialized in RFIC designSame as Contract RFIC Design Engineer
Work EnvironmentProject-based, often freelance or temporary roles in various companiesFull-time employment within a company or research lab
Industry UsageCommon in consulting, contract work, or short-term projectsStandard role in semiconductor and telecommunications industries

Both roles require similar technical skills and educational background, but Contract RFIC Design Engineers typically work on short-term projects and are hired on a contractual basis, whereas RFIC Design Engineers are usually full-time employees with ongoing responsibilities.

What are the most commonly searched types of Rfic Design Engineer jobs in Los Angeles, CA? The most popular types of Rfic Design Engineer jobs in Los Angeles, CA are:
What are popular job titles related to Contract Rfic Design Engineer jobs in Los Angeles, CA? For Contract Rfic Design Engineer jobs in Los Angeles, CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Contract Rfic Design Engineer jobs in Los Angeles, CA look for? The top searched job categories for Contract Rfic Design Engineer jobs in Los Angeles, CA are:
What cities near Los Angeles, CA are hiring for Contract Rfic Design Engineer jobs? Cities near Los Angeles, CA with the most Contract Rfic Design Engineer job openings:
Infographic showing various Contract Rfic Design Engineer job openings in Los Angeles, CA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 87% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution.

Sr. RFIC Engineer (Starshield)

SpaceX

Hawthorne, CA • On-site

$165K - $230K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 10 days ago


SpaceX rating

8.8

Company rating: 8.8 out of 10

Based on 147 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

15th of 72 rated aerospace companies


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. RFIC DESIGN ENGINEER (STARSHIELD)
Starshield leverages SpaceX's Starlink technology and launch capability 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. As a RFIC Design Engineer on the Starshield team, you will be working on advanced development programs in support of U.S. National Security. In this role, you will be developing cutting-edge next-generation RFICs for deployment in space and ground infrastructures around the globe. You will work in a highly collaborative and fast-paced environment, where we are exploring unsolved problems and applying the SpaceX mindset of iterating rapidly to go from design and demo to operational capability at lightning pace.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
  • Design, simulate and model RF/analog/mixed-signal circuits and systems
  • Derive specifications for the RFIC subsystems and circuits
  • Develop analog/mixed-signal/RF/microwave circuits in SiGe, GaAs, GaN, or CMOS processes
  • Work with system architects, modem/DSP and ASIC engineers to partition functions between hardware and software domains
  • Perform IC floor planning and layout
  • Own packaging prototypes, product development, and release to production. Model package and external parasitic components
  • Evaluate and characterize prototypes of the design
  • Assist in the development of automated test lab equipment for lab measurements
  • Work with manufacturing engineers on production testing and qualification of the RFIC components and systems

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, computer engineering, or computer science
  • 5+ years of professional RF integrated circuit experience

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
  • Master's degree or PhD in electrical engineering or computer engineering with an emphasis in RF/analog/mixed-signal integrated circuit design
  • Experience using simulation tools such as Spectre, ADS, HFSS or Momentum
  • Circuit design skills, and experience performing analysis and simulation of both linear and non-linear circuits such as phase-locked loops, vector modulators/demodulators, oscillators, mixers, filters, low noise and power amplifiers
  • Knowledge of digital communication systems, spread spectrum, single and multi-carrier techniques and modulation types such as QPSK, APSK and QAM
  • Knowledge of RF transceiver architectures
  • Deep understanding of theory and MMIC design of RF front end blocks, from S-band to W-band frequency ranges
  • Familiarity with radio related test equipment such as spectrum analyzers, vector signal analyzers, vector signal generator, network analyzers
  • Experience characterizing radio performance in microwave frequencies

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
  • Ability to work long hours and weekends as necessary to support critical milestones
  • Willingness to travel for off-site testing
  • An active clearance may provide the opportunity for you to work on sensitive SpaceX missions; if so, you will be subject to pre-employment drug and random drug and alcohol testing

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
Pay Range:
Level 3: $165,000.00 - $230,000.00
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.
Those with an active clearance will receive a 10% differential, up to an additional $20,000 annually, once officially briefed into a classified program.
ITAR REQUIREMENTS:
    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

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About SpaceX

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Industry

Aerospace product and parts manufacturing, data services, guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing and satellite telecommunications

Company size

1,001 - 5,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Hawthorne, CA, US