Principal Cybersecurity Engineer (Starshield)

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 225,000 - 340,000; Full time

Job summary

SpaceX in Hawthorne, CA is seeking a Principal Cybersecurity Engineer (Starshield) to lead a team of engineers defending the Starshield network and testing defenses across the platform.

You will drive cyber defense strategy, run red-team style exercises, and lead vulnerability discovery to strengthen incident response and overall security posture for a highly sensitive government satellite constellation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, computer security, or a similar field with 7+ years of cybersecurity experience on active production systems; or 10+ years of such experience.
• Experience leading a team of direct reports.
• Experience implementing systems for adversary detection and incident response.
• Advanced knowledge of networks and large-scale distributed compute platforms.
• Experience leading a 3–5 engineer cybersecurity team on technical projects.
• Expertise in vulnerability discovery and triage.
• Experience with continuity of operations planning.
• Experience with Blue/Red Team assessments.
• Ability to explain technical concepts to nontechnical audiences.
• Ability to handle ambiguity and learn new technologies quickly.
• Active Top Secret, Top Secret SCI, or DOE Level Q clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of cybersecurity engineers to prepare for immediate threat responses.
• Implement Starshield cyber defense strategy and develop countermeasures against threats.
• Lead vulnerability discovery and bug hunts across Starshield using AI tools.
• Improve incident discovery and response in collaboration with internal systems teams.
• Collaborate with engineers implementing security features and internal incident tools.

Skills

Team leadership

Threat detection

Incident response

Networks

Distributed compute

Vulnerability discovery

Vulnerability triage

COOP planning

Red/Blue team

Communication

Adaptability

Security clearance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in CS/CE/security

Advanced technical degree

Job description

Principal Cybersecurity Engineer (Starshield)

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.

PRINCIPAL CYBERSECURITY ENGINEER (STARSHIELD)

At SpaceX we’re leveraging our experience in building rockets and spacecraft to deploy the Starshield constellation. Starshield is the world’s largest US government satellite constellation and is tasked with providing immediate access to critical intelligence and national security data for the US government anywhere on the globe. We design, build, test, and operate all parts of the system – n-space sensors, on-the-ground receivers, data processing, and the mesh network that provides lightning-fast connectivity to users around the world. We’ve only begun to scratch the surface of Starshield's global impact and are looking for best-in-class engineers to help us further our ambitious goals.

We are looking for a principal engineer to grow and lead a team of engineers who are developing and continually testing the cyber defenses of the Starshield network. This job will be hands‑on and require breadth of experience in both software and security. A great candidate for this role appreciates a challenge, thrives on curiosity, and wants to make a difference in the world.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead a team of cybersecurity engineers. This team's priority is to be prepared for immediate response to any active threat against our systems.
• Implement Starshield's cyber defense strategy. Continually assess the landscape of cyber threats and develop specific countermeasures for the Starshield systems. Continually run "red-team" style exercises to both discover vulnerabilities as well as to practice the tactics the team will deploy in the event of attacks.
• Lead vulnerability discovery efforts across Starshield. Run internal bug hunts to search for undiscovered vulnerabilities. Develop a team culture of continual curiosity and open-ended exploration. Utilize the latest tools, including AI, to accelerate both discovery and fixing of bugs in the system.
• Drive improvements into our incident discovery and response. This team will collaborate closely with the team building the internal systems we use to detect security events, and help drive improvement in our ability to discover active attempts at network intrusions.
• Work across teams to get results. This team will collaborate closely with the engineers implementing security features into our systems, as well as the team developing our internal incident discovery tools.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, computer security, or a similar field, and 7+ years of professional experience in cybersecurity for active production systems; OR 10+ years of experience in cybersecurity for active production systems.
• Experience leading a team of direct reports.
• Experience in implementing systems for adversary detection and incident response.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Expertise in computer networks and large-scale distributed compute platforms.
• Experience leading a team of 3-5 engineers on a technical project in cybersecurity.
• Expertise in vulnerability discovery and triage.
• Experience in continuity of operations planning.
• Experience with performing Blue Team or Red Team assessments.
• Ability to communicate technical concepts clearly to nontechnical audiences.
• Ability to deal with ambiguity and to learn new technologies quickly.
• Advanced degree in a technical or engineering discipline.
• Active Top Secret, Top Secret SCI, or DOE Level Q clearance.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed.
• 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.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay Range:

• Level 3: $225,000.00 - $340,000.00

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 Affiant Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to [e-mail].