IT Systems Engineer - Top Secret Clearance

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

401(k) retirement plan

Comprehensive medical coverage

Paid parental leave

Paid vacation and holidays

Job summary

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP (SpaceX) in Hawthorne, CA seeks a Systems Engineer to support IT systems and personnel. The ideal candidate has deep experience with Windows technologies and networking. Responsibilities include developing software solutions, managing enterprise-level systems, and ensuring robust architecture. The position offers a compelling pay range of $130k-$160k, 401(k), medical benefits, and paid vacation. Candidates must have a Bachelor's in a STEM field or equivalent experience and must hold active security clearance.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in IT systems or 7+ years in lieu of a degree.
• 3+ years with Windows servers in enterprise environments.
• 1+ years of experience with networking technologies.

Responsibilities

• Gather requirements and support enterprise software platforms.
• Design and deliver creative solutions to internal business units.
• Drive scripting and automation for common problems.

Skills

Windows servers experience

Scripting experience

Networking technologies

Active Directory

Linux operating system

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline

Tools

Microsoft Exchange

DHCP

DNS

IIS

MS-SQL

Job description

Location

Hawthorne, CA

Company Overview

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.

Position Overview

SpaceX is looking for a Systems Engineer with deep knowledge and broad experience across Microsoft-based technologies, in addition to broader experience and capability with networking and Linux technologies. This employee will be a member of the Information Technology team and will support SpaceX personnel and systems. The ideal candidate is flexible and flourishes in a fast‑paced and challenging environment. He or she should be a self‑starter, self‑motivated and possess ingenuity to excel at this position.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with other SpaceX IT administrators and engineers to gather requirements, research, evaluate, design, plan, deploy, and support enterprise software platforms and related technologies in a world‑class environment that meets the needs of the demanding SpaceX engineering teams. Build highly‑resilient, high‑performance, scalable, and flexible systems.
• Take lessons learned and technology standards from the SpaceX Enterprise and apply them in smaller air‑gapped environments.
• Exercise a high degree of responsibility for the processes, systems, and tools you create and manage; all supporting the goal of making humanity an interplanetary species.
• Make recommendations, justify, and implement improvements using an accepted change control methodology.
• Work within a diverse group to design and deliver creative solutions and resolve problems in a timely and proactive manner by interacting with internal business units.
• Define, document and follow standards and best practices for systems design, testing, and implementation.
• Drive scripting and automation to develop solutions to common problems.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM discipline and 5+ years of experience in IT systems; or 7+ years of experience in IT systems in lieu of a bachelor’s degree.
• 3+ years of experience with Windows servers in physical and virtualized enterprise level environments.
• 3+ years of experience with Active Directory, Kerberos, and multi‑platform authentication/identification environments.
• 1+ years of experience with networking technologies and the Linux operating system environment.
• 1+ year of scripting experience.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Expertise in creating repeatable, reliable, scalable systems architectures, with high availability, fault tolerance, performance tuning, monitoring, and statistics/metrics collection.
• Expert working knowledge (including the ability to set up, configure, upgrade, manage, and troubleshoot) Windows‑based systems and services such as DHCP, DNS, IIS, MS‑SQL, NPS, etc.
• Experience with Enterprise Microsoft Exchange deployments.
• Expertise in source code and version control tools.
• Experience with configuration management, provisioning, infrastructure as code, and other DevOps concepts and tools.
• Strong familiarity with Windows Server 2016/2019 (i.e. AD, DNS, DHCP, etc).
• Networking experience in IPv4, switching, routing, firewalls and HA architecture.
• Must be comfortable working with mission critical and sensitive systems, with a sense of urgency appropriate to the responsibilities.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to communicate with internal/external customers, vendors, management etc. in both formal and informal situations.

Additional Requirements

• Active Top Secret or TS/SCI with Polygraph. Note that 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.
• Must be willing to do some travel domestically and globally (< 10%) in the future as needed.
• Willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed.

Compensation and Benefits

Pay Range: IT Systems Engineer: $130,000.00 - $160,000.00 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. Those with an active clearance will receive a 10% differential, up to an additional $20,000 annually, once officially briefed into a classified program.

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.

Equal Employment Opportunity

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 [e-mail].