Lead Software Engineer (Full Stack) - Build Reliability

SPACEX; Hawthorne, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

401(k) plan

Medical, vision, dental coverage

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking a Lead Software Engineer for the Build Reliability team in Hawthorne, CA. You will guide architectural directions and roadmaps, while mentoring engineers to deliver highly reliable software across Falcon, Dragon, and Starship programs.

You will own the complete software life cycle, from development to testing and support, collaborating with engineers and managers to turn needs into robust solutions. Aerospace experience is not required, but problem-solving passion is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and 5+ years of professional software development experience; or 7+ years in lieu of degree.
• Experience mentoring and growing employees.
• Architectural design of robust, scalable systems with flexible UI.

Responsibilities

• Directly manage a team of software engineers.
• Own delivery and support of the Build Reliability software roadmap.
• Track usage and improve features across SpaceX applications.
• Manage multiple priorities while aligning with project goals.
• Maintain high standards of excellence and problem-solving.

Skills

Team leadership

Mentoring

Architectural design

Python

C#

Java

Go

Object-oriented programming

Software engineering fundamentals

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, math, or other engineering discipline

Tools

PostgreSQL

SQL Server

Job description

Lead Software Engineer (Full Stack) - Build Reliability

Hawthorne, CA

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.

We are seeking a Lead Software Engineer to design, develop, and continuously improve software solutions ensuring our vehicles can be built and flown reliably. This involves streamlining manufacturing quality control processes, simplifying new product introduction, ensuring product traceability, as well as optimizing rocket and spacecraft reusability across the Falcon, Dragon, and Starship programs.

As a Lead Software Engineer on our Build Reliability team, you will be responsible for driving architectural direction and roadmap execution, as well as supporting the technical and personal development of the other Software Engineers on the team. Functionally, you will engage with other SpaceX engineers to discover their needs and write highly reliable software which turns them into reality. You will be responsible for the complete life‑cycle of the software you create, including development, testing, and support. You are the engineer that other engineers can count on; you are technical, you attack every problem with enthusiasm; you remove hurdles.

Aerospace experience is not required to be successful here - rather we look for smart, motivated, collaborative engineers who love solving problems and want to make an impact on a super inspiring mission.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Directly manage a team of software engineers
• Own all aspects including the delivery and support of the Build Reliability software roadmap, which is consumed by users across SpaceX
• Track usage of Applications and features and suggest/implement features to improve them
• Manage and track multiple priorities while maintaining a focus towards common project goals
• Maintain high standards of excellence and never settle for the status quo

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, math, or other engineering discipline and 5+ years of professional software development experience; OR 7+ years of professional experience in software development in lieu of degree

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Experience mentoring and growing employees
• Experience as an architect - proven ability to design and implement robust and scalable systems with flexible and scalable UI that meets future needs
• Experience in Python, C#, .NET, Go, Java, or similar object-oriented language
• Experience with PostgreSQL, SQL Server, or similar database technologies
• Expertise in testing and infrastructure
• Expertise in profiling and improving application performance
• Experience with PostgreSQL, SQL Server, or similar database technologies
• Experience collaborating across group and department lines with a wide range of engineers/managers
• Experience with communication and teamwork
• Experience with software engineering fundamentals (object-oriented programming, networking, and working in a team development environment)

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to work extended hours and weekends as needed
• Must be willing to travel – up to 10%

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay range:
Lead Software Engineer: $160,000.00 - $225,000.00/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.

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.

• 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 Affi or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to [e-mail].

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in SpaceX’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service‑connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three‑year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.