Software Engineer, Vehicle Operations (Starshield)

SpaceX; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 175,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, vision, and dental coverage

401(k) retirement plan

Paid parental leave

Three weeks paid vacation

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Job summary

SpaceX is looking for a Software Engineer for its Vehicle Operations team specializing in Starshield. This role is crucial for developing software that enhances the operations of the satellite constellation used for national security. The ideal candidate should possess strong technical skills in programming languages like C, C++, and Python, along with a Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline.

The engineer will design and implement algorithms, lead operations during flight phases, and work closely with other engineering domains. SpaceX offers a competitive salary along with various benefits, including stock options and comprehensive healthcare coverage.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, aerospace engineering, or related fields.
• Experience in software development in C, C++, or Python.
• Strong communication and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement flight software and algorithms.
• Lead on-orbit operations and triage anomalies.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to enhance satellite operations.

Skills

Software development in C, C++, Python

Systems knowledge

Interdisciplinary engineering experience

Ability to intuit about physical systems

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer science, aerospace engineering, or physics

Tools

Linux environment

Data visualization techniques

Version control

Job description

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is 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, Vehicle Operations (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.

As an engineer working on the Starshield GNC Software Operations team, you will write software responsible for facilitating highly reliable, available, and autonomous operations of the Starshield constellation that enable us and our vehicles to work more efficiently. In addition to developing software, you'll also be involved in day‑to‑day constellation performance monitoring and on‑orbit investigations. This demands good systems knowledge of the holistic satellite network and the hardware that makes our vehicles work. Our software engineers work closely with a variety of other engineering disciplines in order to diagnose on‑orbit issues, determine suitable recovery procedures, and implement long‑term solutions. Aerospace experience is not required to be successful here, although an engineer with good systems intuition in addition to strong software skills will excel in this role. We look for engineers who love solving problems and seek to make an impact on an inspiring mission, bringing fresh ideas from all areas.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and implement highly reliable and performant algorithms, flight software, simulations, tools, services, and dashboards.
• Act as a cross‑disciplinary expert supporting cradle‑to‑grave development efforts for new features and capabilities.
• Lead on‑orbit satellite operations through all phases of flight and perform on‑call rotations, satellite commanding, and data reviews to keep our vehicles, payloads, and networks continuously operating.
• Detect and triage emerging on‑orbit anomalies across all satellite subsystems, driving investigations and implementing future autonomous responses.
• Work closely with engineers from adjacent disciplines (mechanical, thermal, software, test engineering, guidance, control, navigation, network engineering) to deliver reliable connectivity and new capabilities to our users.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, aerospace engineering, physics or another engineering discipline.
• Software development experience in C, C++, Python, or other similar programming languages.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree or Ph.D. in an engineering discipline, computer science, or physics.
• Experience working on interdisciplinary engineering projects (software interacting with hardware, hardware interacting with other hardware, testing automation or harnessing).
• Software development experience in a Linux environment.
• Ability to intuit about physical systems.
• General exposure to the disciplines necessary for spacecraft flight with practical experience in real‑world development of complicated hardware‑software systems.
• Experience or strong interest in satellite telemetry and alerting systems, full‑stack operations tooling, autonomous fault detection, isolation, and recovery (FDIR), and command and control.
• Ability to communicate effectively and work creatively in a dynamic environment with changing needs and requirements.
• Knowledge of computer architecture, networks, and inter‑process communications (RESTful APIs, gRPC, etc.).
• Understanding of version control, testing, continuous integration, build, deployment, and monitoring.
• Experience with data visualization techniques and web development (both front‑end and back‑end).
• Active Top Secret, Top Secret SCI, or DOE Level Q clearance, or the ability and willingness to obtain one.

Additional Requirements

• Able to work extended hours and weekends as needed to support critical path development and/or critical on‑orbit operations.
• An active clearance may provide the opportunity for you to work on sensitive SpaceX missions; if so, you will be subject to pre‑employment drug and random drug and alcohol test.

Compensation and Benefits

Pay Range:

• Level 1: $125,000.00 - $150,000.00
• Level 2: $145,000.00 - $175,000.00

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.

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.

Equal Opportunity

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].