Network Engineer, AI Infrastructure (Starshield)

SpaceX; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Bonuses

Medical benefits

401(k)

Paid vacation

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking a Network Engineer for the Starshield AI infrastructure, focusing on building and operating the data center network for national security missions. You will design high-speed interconnects for AI clusters and collaborate with ML teams to translate workloads into concrete topology.

The role emphasizes security, reliability, and scalable deployments. You will work with hardware, software, and network engineers to optimize performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical or engineering discipline or 4+ years of professional networking experience.
• 1+ year of networking experience deploying enterprise networking solutions and/or cloud and GPU networks.
• Hands-on experience deploying networking hardware (routers, switches, firewalls).

Responsibilities

• Manage network infrastructure and deployments to Top Secret data centers.
• Design, validate, and productize high-speed copper and optical connectivity for AI clusters.
• Collaborate with ML teams to map workloads to interconnect topology.
• Develop tools for rapid deployments (ZTP/custom provisioning).
• Improve network performance and reliability using performance metrics and capacity planning.
• Lead network integration and troubleshooting efforts.
• Collaborate with hardware, software, and network engineers to improve Starshield design.
• Assist in updating system configuration and firmware.
• Build automation for network devices, deployment tools.

Skills

Network design

Security awareness

Team collaboration

On-call readiness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or technical field

Tools

Routers

Switches

Firewalls

ZTP

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.

NETWORK ENGINEER, AI INFRASTRUCTURE (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. The Starshield team is building highly reliable in-space mesh networks, designing secure systems to guarantee access to space, designing next-gen communication and sensing software, and more.

As a Network Engineer you will drive the operation, build and deployment of the Starshield data center network, which supports critical national security missions. You and your teammates will own the network design and be responsible for proposing and implementing continual improvements to add more capabilities and customers. You will also be responsible for monitoring and improving network security, improving network performance and reliability, and optimizing network deployments.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manage network infrastructure and deployments to Top Secret data centers
• Design, validate, and productize high-speed copper and optical connectivity solutions for AI clusters (100k+ GPU scale)
• Collaborate with ML training teams to translate workload communication patterns into concrete interconnect topology and optical reconfigurability requirements.
• Contribute to various tools for rapid deployments (ZTP/custom provisioning tools)
• Improve network performance and reliability based upon system performance metrics, including capacity planning, failure detection and remediation
• Assist in capacity augmentation and network optimization deployments
• Lead network integration and troubleshooting efforts
• Collaborate with hardware, software, and network engineers to improve the Starshield network design
• Assist in updating system configuration and firmware
• Build automation for network devices, operational and deployment tools

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical or engineering discipline; OR 4+ years of professional networking experience deploying enterprise network solutions and/or cloud and web-scale networks in lieu of a degree
• 1+ year of networking experience deploying enterprise network solutions and/or cloud and GPU networks (internship/co-op experience qualifies)
• Hands on experience with the deployment of networking hardware (routers, modems, switch, firewalls, etc..)

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Master’s degree in a technical or engineering discipline
• Experience with physical troubleshooting of fiber
• Deep understanding ofdatacenternetworks including but not limited to:
  • Connectivity (Ethernet, IPv4, IPv6 and MPLS)
  • Routing (BGP, OSPF,VXLAN)
  • Switching and routing
  • InfiniBand/NVLink
  • NVIDIAGPU deployment stacks (Blackwell/Rubin)
• Experience implementing network security functions
• Cisco, Juniper, Arista or other industry certification
• Ability to work independently and in a team, take initiative, and communicate effectively
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret or Top Secret SCI clearance

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• This position requires successfully obtaining and maintaining a Top Secret Security Clearance as a condition of employment. While the clearance may not be immediately necessary upon hire, we encourage you to initiate the application process promptly upon accepting this offer. Your ability to secure the necessary clearance is essential for fulfilling key responsibilities of the role. Should you be unable to obtain it, SpaceX reserves the right to modify or terminate your employment to align with operational needs.
• Must be willing to travel domestically and globally in the future when needed
• Must be available for on-call rotations
• Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
Pay Range:
Level 1: $125,000.00 - $160,000.00
Level 2: $145,000.00 - $195,000.00

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.

• 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 affirmatory action plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, 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 a confidential 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.