Software Infrastructure Engineer (Starlink)

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 135,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, vision, and dental coverage

401(k) retirement plan

Paid parental leave

3 weeks of paid vacation

Job summary

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP is seeking a Software Infrastructure Engineer focused on Starlink’s software and network infrastructure. You'll design and scale the infrastructure for the world's largest satellite constellation and manage a network handling millions of users daily.

The ideal candidate has a Bachelor's degree and experience in systems administration or DevOps, alongside proficiency in Linux, automation tools, and programming languages.

Qualifications

• 1+ years of experience in systems administration, site reliability engineering, or DevOps.
• Experience with Linux operating systems.
• Familiarity with Terraform, Ansible, or similar infrastructure tools.
• Experience in Bash, Python, and/or other scripting languages.

Responsibilities

• Design, operate, and scale software and network infrastructure.
• Develop automation for deploying and managing compute resources.
• Collaborate with software engineers to create operable products.
• Monitor and analyze data to support integration and release systems.

Skills

Linux operating systems

Terraform

Ansible

Docker

Kubernetes

Bash

Python

C++

Continuous integration

Networking knowledge of TCP/IP

Education

Bachelor’s degree in computer science or related field

Tools

Virtualization technologies

Development frameworks

Job description

Software Infrastructure Engineer (Starlink)

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is exploring the stars is more exciting than one where we are not. SpaceX is actively developing technologies to make this possible, with the goal of enabling human life on Mars.

Job Overview

As an engineer focused on Starlink’s software and network infrastructure, you will design, operate and scale the infrastructure we use to run the world’s largest satellite constellation and manage a network that handles millions of users daily. Responsibilities include:

• Develop automation to deploy and manage on-premise compute resources
• Deploy and manage core infrastructure such as databases, monitoring, and distributed storage
• Collaborate with software engineers to create scalable, operable, and maintainable products
• Engage in and improve the whole lifecycle of services—from inception and design, through deployment, operation, and refinement
• Invent tools and processes that enable fast, accurate, and easy-to-use development and deployment systems
• Provide comprehensive software validation, including virtualized, hardware‑in‑the‑loop, and on‑orbit test platforms
• Monitor and analyze data to support continuous integration and release systems
• Integrate and troubleshoot across the entire Starlink stack
• Create and manage core infrastructure such as databases and software libraries
• Identify areas for improvement and develop innovative solutions that enable high developer velocity

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems/IT, or an engineering discipline and 1+ years of professional experience in systems administration, site reliability engineering, or DevOps; OR 3+ years of professional experience in systems administration, site reliability engineering, or DevOps in lieu of a degree
• 1+ years of professional experience with Linux operating systems
• Experience with Terraform, Ansible, or other infrastructure tools
• Experience with containerization technologies (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes)
• Experience in Bash, Python, and/or other scripting languages
• Development experience in Python, C++ or C

Preferred Skills and Experience

• 1+ years of experience with Python and Python‑based development frameworks
• Strong understanding of virtualization and hypervisor technologies
• Knowledge of Linux boot process and systems configuration
• Deep understanding of testing, continuous integration, build, deployment, and continuous monitoring
• Strong understanding of relevant technologies such as Bazel, Linux, Docker, Kubernetes
• Focus on performance bottlenecks and performance improvement techniques
• Understanding of databases and data modeling
• Experience with automated management of servers using Terraform or Ansible
• Strong networking knowledge of TCP/IP
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to communicate with customers, peers, and management in formal and informal contexts

Additional Requirements

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

Compensation and Benefits

Pay Range:

• Level 1: $135,000 – $160,000
• Level 2: $155,000 – $185,000

Base salary is one component of the total rewards package, which may include long‑term incentives, stock awards, discretionary bonuses, and an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Benefits include medical, vision, and dental coverage; a 401(k) retirement plan; short‑ and long‑term disability insurance; life insurance; paid parental leave; and other discounts and perks. Employees accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and are eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Paid sick leave is provided in accordance with company policy.

Equal Opportunity Employment

SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment is governed on the basis of merit, competence, and qualifications and will not be influenced by race, color, religion, gender, national origin, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability, or any other legally protected status.