Antenna Engineer Jobs for OPT Students
Antenna Engineer roles are strong OPT fits because the work falls squarely within electrical engineering, a STEM-designated field that qualifies for the 24-month STEM OPT extension. Most positions require a bachelor's or master's in electrical engineering, RF engineering, or a related discipline, giving recent graduates a direct path from degree to authorization.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
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.
ABOUT THE ROLE
ANTENNA ENGINEER (STARLINK)
SpaceX is leveraging our experience building rockets and spacecraft to deploy Starlink, the world’s most advanced broadband internet system. Starlink is the world’s largest satellite constellation that provides 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. As a Starlink Antenna Engineer, you will have full ownership of all phased array, Wi-Fi, and other RF systems for this customer-facing hardware. Our customers currently include teachers in the most remote parts of the Amazon, researchers in Antarctica, digital nomads who travel via RV, emergency responders, commercial airlines, cruise lines, and residential users who live in more rural or developing areas. In addition, you will own advanced parabolic antenna systems for our gateways/ground stations, which we deploy regionally throughout the world. You will design, implement, and verify small router antennas, phased arrays, and reflector antenna systems. You will interact regularly with senior leadership to influence the fundamental operation of our constellation and network while collaborating with electrical, silicon, software, mechanical, and manufacturing teams to steer this project from initial concept development to full-scale production.
Responsibilities
- Design, fabricate, and characterize prototypes of antennas, feed systems, and RF front ends for next-generation phased arrays, gateways, and consumer wireless products
- Create electromagnetic simulation models of hardware (antennas, filters, PCB layout) to design and evaluate performance
- Work in close collaboration with electrical, mechanical, digital signal processing, and software engineering teams to design and validate RF systems
- Create and test phased array alignment solutions
- Rapidly develop design, validation, and production test solutions for our high-volume consumer products and gateway antennas
- Write automation software in python to interact with units under test, test equipment, instrumentation, and documentation systems
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or other engineering discipline
- 1+ years of experience with antennas or communication systems (internships and extracurricular projects are applicable)
- 1+ years experience with radio test equipment such as spectrum analyzers, vector signal analyzers, vector signal generators, and network analyzers
- 1+ years of programming experience in Python, C#, C++, or MATLAB
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Master’s degree or PhD in electrical engineering with emphasis in RF/antenna engineering
- Experience designing wireless communications systems
- Experience with basic principles of antenna theory
- Understanding of link budgets and analysis related to communications
- Thorough understanding of RF active and passive components
- Experience characterizing radio performance at microwave frequencies
- Experience working with waveguide systems at mmWave frequencies
- Excellent communication skills both written and verbal
- Passion for problem solving
- Demonstrated ability to work in a highly cross-functional role
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
- Ability to work extended hours or weekends as needed for mission critical deadlines
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.
INTRODUCTION
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.
ABOUT THE ROLE
ANTENNA ENGINEER (STARLINK)
SpaceX is leveraging our experience building rockets and spacecraft to deploy Starlink, the world’s most advanced broadband internet system. Starlink is the world’s largest satellite constellation that provides 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. As a Starlink Antenna Engineer, you will have full ownership of all phased array, Wi-Fi, and other RF systems for this customer-facing hardware. Our customers currently include teachers in the most remote parts of the Amazon, researchers in Antarctica, digital nomads who travel via RV, emergency responders, commercial airlines, cruise lines, and residential users who live in more rural or developing areas. In addition, you will own advanced parabolic antenna systems for our gateways/ground stations, which we deploy regionally throughout the world. You will design, implement, and verify small router antennas, phased arrays, and reflector antenna systems. You will interact regularly with senior leadership to influence the fundamental operation of our constellation and network while collaborating with electrical, silicon, software, mechanical, and manufacturing teams to steer this project from initial concept development to full-scale production.
Responsibilities
- Design, fabricate, and characterize prototypes of antennas, feed systems, and RF front ends for next-generation phased arrays, gateways, and consumer wireless products
- Create electromagnetic simulation models of hardware (antennas, filters, PCB layout) to design and evaluate performance
- Work in close collaboration with electrical, mechanical, digital signal processing, and software engineering teams to design and validate RF systems
- Create and test phased array alignment solutions
- Rapidly develop design, validation, and production test solutions for our high-volume consumer products and gateway antennas
- Write automation software in python to interact with units under test, test equipment, instrumentation, and documentation systems
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering or other engineering discipline
- 1+ years of experience with antennas or communication systems (internships and extracurricular projects are applicable)
- 1+ years experience with radio test equipment such as spectrum analyzers, vector signal analyzers, vector signal generators, and network analyzers
- 1+ years of programming experience in Python, C#, C++, or MATLAB
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Master’s degree or PhD in electrical engineering with emphasis in RF/antenna engineering
- Experience designing wireless communications systems
- Experience with basic principles of antenna theory
- Understanding of link budgets and analysis related to communications
- Thorough understanding of RF active and passive components
- Experience characterizing radio performance at microwave frequencies
- Experience working with waveguide systems at mmWave frequencies
- Excellent communication skills both written and verbal
- Passion for problem solving
- Demonstrated ability to work in a highly cross-functional role
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS
- Ability to work extended hours or weekends as needed for mission critical deadlines
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.
How to Get Visa Sponsorship as an Antenna Engineer
Lead with your STEM OPT timeline upfront
Antenna engineering is STEM-eligible, so you have up to three years of OPT work authorization. Mention this early in conversations with recruiters. Employers are far more receptive when they understand you're not on a tight 12-month clock.
Target defense contractors and aerospace employers
Companies like Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, and L3Harris hire antenna engineers regularly and have established OPT and H-1B sponsorship infrastructure. These employers are accustomed to sponsoring technical talent and often have dedicated immigration support teams.
Align your degree field explicitly to the role
OPT requires your job to be directly related to your major. In your resume and cover letter, connect your electrical engineering or RF coursework to the specific antenna design or RF systems work the employer needs. Vague connections raise flags.
Highlight hands-on RF and simulation tool experience
Proficiency in tools like HFSS, CST Studio, or MATLAB distinguishes candidates in a competitive field. Employers sponsoring OPT want engineers who can contribute immediately. Leading with concrete tool experience reduces perceived hiring risk for international candidates.
Ask about E-Verify enrollment before applying
OPT students can only work for E-Verify enrolled employers. Antenna engineering roles at smaller RF consultancies may not be enrolled. Confirm E-Verify status before investing time in an application process, especially for roles at smaller or newer firms.
Use Migrate Mate to filter for OPT-friendly antenna roles
Not every antenna engineering posting is open to OPT candidates. Migrate Mate surfaces roles from employers with active sponsorship track records, so you spend time on applications that are actually viable for your work authorization status.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Does an Antenna Engineer job qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
Yes. Antenna engineering falls under electrical engineering, which is a STEM-designated field under the DHS STEM OPT extension list. If your degree is in electrical engineering, RF engineering, or a closely related discipline, you're eligible to apply for the 24-month extension, giving you up to three years of total OPT authorization.
What degree fields satisfy the OPT relatedness requirement for Antenna Engineer roles?
USCIS requires your OPT job to be directly related to your major. Electrical engineering, computer engineering, applied physics, and RF or microwave engineering degrees all have a strong direct connection to antenna engineering work. Degrees in adjacent fields like telecommunications or systems engineering may qualify depending on your specific coursework and job duties, so document the connection clearly.
Do Antenna Engineer employers typically sponsor OPT and H-1B visas?
Large defense and aerospace employers, government contractors, and telecommunications companies commonly sponsor both OPT and H-1B visas for antenna engineers because demand for RF talent consistently outpaces the domestic supply. Smaller RF consultancies vary widely. Browse Migrate Mate to identify employers with documented sponsorship histories before targeting your applications.
Can I work as an Antenna Engineer at a government facility on OPT?
It depends on the facility's security clearance requirements. Many federal antenna and RF engineering roles require U.S. citizenship or a security clearance that OPT students cannot obtain. However, cleared defense contractors working on government programs often hire OPT students for non-classified or commercially funded positions, so the contractor layer opens more options than direct federal employment.
What should I include in my OPT employer verification documents for an Antenna Engineer position?
Your employer needs to confirm the job is related to your degree in writing. For antenna engineering, this means documenting that the role involves RF design, electromagnetic simulation, antenna testing, or related technical work tied to your electrical or RF engineering degree. Your offer letter should describe specific technical duties, not just a job title. Vague descriptions can create complications during DSO reporting or future H-1B petitions.
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