Software Engineer (Flight Reliability)

InvestedintheMission; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options / long-term incentives

Medical, vision, dental coverage

401(k) retirement plan

Parental leave

Paid vacation and holidays

Disability and life insurance

Job summary

SpaceX in Hawthorne, California seeks a Flight Reliability Software Engineer to own and deliver highly reliable software across launch, production, and Starlink operations. You will design, implement, and optimize systems that help SpaceX move fast and safely while solving hard problems with a team of engineers.

The role emphasizes full-stack development, performance profiling, and building scalable software with Docker, modern JS front-ends, and relational databases.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, math, or a scientific discipline; OR 2+ years of professional software experience.
• 1+ years of experience in full stack development.
• Proficiency in Python, C#.NET, Go, Scala, or Java with OO design.
• Experience with SPAs, version control, and CI/CD concepts.
• Strong software design, performance profiling, and systems thinking.
• Experience designing and deploying agentic AI systems (LLM prompting, retrieval, monitoring).
• Production experience with Docker; frontend with Angular/React; DB with PostgreSQL/SQL Server.

Responsibilities

• Develop highly reliable software solutions used across SpaceX.
• Create new applications to improve SpaceX operations.
• Build prototypes to validate design concepts and constraints.
• Own all aspects of software engineering and product development.
• Deep dive into users’ problems to craft efficient solutions.
• Collaborate on architecture, design, and code reviews.

Skills

Python

C#.NET

Go

Scala

Java

Single Page Applications

Version Control

CI/CD

Software System Design

Performance Profiling

Agentic AI / LLM Prompting

Docker

Angular

React

PostgreSQL

SQL Server

Education

Bachelor's degree or 2+ years experience

Tools

Docker

Git

CI/CD tooling

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.

SOFTWARE ENGINEER (FLIGHT RELIABILITY)

The Flight Reliability software team creates mission critical applications that are used throughout SpaceX to accelerate launch vehicle production and flight as well as systems that allow Starlink to grow into a worldwide fast, reliable Internet service. We are looking for engineers to help SpaceX maintain its incredible launch record. You will have full ownership of challenging problems, working with a team of enthusiastic engineers with diverse perspectives to design and produce solutions that enable SpaceX to move towards our goals at a rapid pace. The success of the missions at SpaceX depends on the software that you and your team produce.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop highly reliable software solutions that are used across SpaceX.
• Create new applications that improve how SpaceX operates.
• Build prototypes to prove out key design concepts and quantify technical constraints.
• Own all aspects of software engineering and product development.
• Deep dive into your users’ problems to find and create efficient solutions.
• Bring your voice to the table in team collaborations on architecture, design, and code reviews.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, math, or scientific discipline; OR 2+ years of professional experience building software in lieu of a degree.
• 1+ years of experience in full stack development.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Programming experience in Python, C#.NET, Go, Scala, Java, or similar object-oriented language.
• 1+ years of rigorous experience building single page web applications.
• Experience with version control, continuous integration, and continuous delivery concepts.
• Expertise in designing software systems.
• Expertise in profiling and improving application performance.
• Experience designing and deploying agentic AI systems, including LLM prompting, context retrieval, evaluation, and monitoring.
• Production experience with Docker.
• Front-end experience in Angular, React, or similar JavaScript framework.
• Database experience with PostgreSQL, SQL Server, or similar database technologies.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• You may be asked to work extended hours/weekends dependent on launch cadence.
• This role requires you to be onsite. Remote and/or hybrid work will not be considered.

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.

• 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.
• 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.

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:

• 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 ... should reach out to [e-mail].