Principal Software Engineer, Continuous Integration (Starship)

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP; United States; On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP (SpaceX) is seeking a Principal Software Engineer for the Continuous Integration team, tasked with owning the development tools essential for the Starship program. This role requires at least 7 years of software engineering experience or equivalent professional experience. The successful candidate will thrive in a collaborative environment and focus on inventing tools and processes that enhance software development efficiency. This position may require long hours to support critical software delivery during Starship missions.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of software engineering experience or 9+ years of professional experience in software development.
• Experience in building tools and infrastructure impacting hundreds of engineers.
• Willingness to work long hours and weekends as needed.

Responsibilities

• Invent tools and processes to enable fast and correct software development.
• Collaborate with teams to improve on-premises computing.
• Identify and create innovative solutions for software challenges.

Skills

Software engineering experience

Problem-solving skills

Communication skills

Fluency in Python, C++, Rust, or Go

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, math, or STEM discipline

Tools

Bazel or similar build systems

Job description

Principal Software Engineer, Continuous Integration (Starship)

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 Software Engineer, Continuous Integration (Starship)

As a Principal Software Engineer on the Starship Continuous Integration team, you will own the tools that power Starship software development. You will design, maintain, and scale the systems which enable hundreds of engineers to integrate their changes and deliver reliable software to all Starship vehicles and launch pads on a continuous basis. This is a high‑autonomy role and we are looking for people who want to work closely with peers, identify the biggest problems facing the team, and own solutions from start to finish!

Aerospace experience is not required to be successful here - rather we look for smart, motivated, collaborative engineers who love solving problems and want to be a force multiplier for building world‑class software that is critical to SpaceX’s mission to make life multiplanetary.

Responsibilities

• Invent tools and processes which enable fast and correct software development.
• Hands‑on integration and troubleshooting across the entire Starship software stack.
• Collaborate with counterpart teams to design, maintain, and continuously improve a dedicated pool of on‑premises compute.
• Identify areas for improvement and create innovative solutions that enable the software team to tackle all challenges facing the Starship program as we develop the world’s first fully reusable rocket and spacecraft.

Basic Qualifications

• 7+ years of software engineering experience and a Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, math, or STEM discipline; OR 9+ years of professional experience in software development in lieu of a degree.

Preferred Skills and Experience

• Skill with Bazel or similar build systems.
• Fluency in Python, C++, Rust, or Go.
• Experience building tools and infrastructure that impacts hundreds of engineers daily.
• Experience with AI‑assisted development tools and interest in applying AI to improve code quality, testing, and development workflows.
• Strong critical thinking and first‑principles problem‑solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Able to work effectively in a dynamic environment while assuming high levels of responsibility and demonstrating accountability for software outcomes.

Additional Requirements

• Willing to work long hours and weekends as needed.
• To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen or national, a U.S. lawful permanent resident, a refugee, or an asylee, 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 [e-mail].