Sr. AI Security Software Engineer (Starshield)

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 170,000 - 265,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Bonuses

Stock purchase plan

Medical coverage

Vision coverage

Dental coverage

401(k)

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Parental leave

Paid vacation

Paid holidays

Paid sick leave

Job summary

SpaceX in Washington, DC, seeks a Sr. AI Security Software Engineer for Starshield to automate security tasks with AI across Starshield infrastructure and systems.

You will join an mission-driven team building secure, autonomous agents, and advancing AI-enabled security in a national-security context. A TS/SCI/DOE-level clearance is preferred; SpaceX offers robust benefits and a path to impact on an interplanetary scale.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science or STEM and 5+ years in security software development; OR 7+ years of related experience in lieu of a degree.
• Experience with Python, C++, Golang.
• Experience designing and implementing security solutions for OS, distributed systems or large-scale infrastructure.
• Experience designing and implementing solutions with LLMs, LLM-based agents, or other AI topics.

Responsibilities

• Design and build security-critical agents for Starshield that automate network and systems defense.
• Leverage AI to discover and fix security issues in Starshield infrastructure and systems.
• Provide guidance and perform testing of AI integrations into Starshield systems.
• Identify new areas of program where security improvements can be gained via automation and AI.
• Maintain existing production systems and improve security posture via direct implementation and cross-team recommendations.

Skills

Software engineering

Agent engineering & security

Network security

OS security

Incident response & adversary

Python

C++

Golang

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS or STEM

7+ years security software development exp

Tools

LLMs/LLM-based agents

Job description

Sr. AI Security Software Engineer (Starshield)

Washington, DC

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 ofenabling human life on Mars.

SR. AI SECURITY SOFTWARE ENGINEER (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. The Starshield team is building highly reliable in-space mesh networks, designing secure systems to guarantee access to space, designing next-gen communication and sensing software, and more.

As a Sr. AI Security Software Engineer, you will leverage AI to automate security-related efforts and ensure safe AI integration into new and existing systems. If you are passionate about AI, security, and pushing the limits of combining both together, this role is for you.

Ideally, you have notable skills in the following:

• Software engineering
• Agent engineering and security
• Network and operating system security
• Incident response and adversary detection

Being flexible, communicating clearly, and establishing and maintaining productive working relationships with other engineering teams are paramount to success. If you are passionate about building quality products, love the challenges of outsmarting adversaries, and want to make an impact on an inter-planetary scale, then you will fit right in.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Design and build security-critical agents for Starshield that automate network and systems defense
• Leverage AI to discover and fix security issues in Starshield infrastructure and systems
• Provide guidance and perform testing of AI integrations into new and existing Starshield systems
• Identify new areas of the program where meaningful security improvements can be gained via automation and AI
• Maintain existing production systems and improve security posture via both direct implementation and recommendations to other teams

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in computer science or another STEM discipline AND 5+ years of professional experience in security software development; OR 7+ years of professional experience in security software development in lieu of a degree
• Experience with one or more software development languages (i.e. Python, C++, Golang)
• Experience designing and implementing security solutions for operating systems, distributed systems, or other enterprise/large-scale infrastructure
• Experience designing and implementing solutions with LLMs, LLM-based agents, or other AI topics

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Demonstrated ability to deal with ambiguity, learn quickly, problem solve, and take ownership of the end result
• Understanding of core security engineering topics: cryptography, authentication, network security, operating system security
• Experience designing, prompting, and securing agents that can perform long-running autonomous tasks
• Experience red-teaming/penetration-testing LLMs, including prompt injection, jailbreaking, and data exfiltration
• Experience deploying and managing LLMs, including infrastructure and maintenance to ensure reliable, scalable operation
• Experience contributing security improvements to complex systems
• Flexibility, communicating clearly, and establishing and maintaining productive working relationships with other engineering teams
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Ability to work both independently and in a team
• 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: $170,000.00 - $265,000.00

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
• potential discretionary bonuses
• the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• comprehensive medical coverage
• vision coverage
• dental coverage
• 401(k) retirement plan
• short and long-term disability insurance
• life insurance
• paid parental leave
• various other discounts and perks
• accruing 3 weeks of paid vacation
• eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year
• paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law

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