Sr. AI Security Software Engineer (Starshield)

SPACE EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES CORP; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 170,000 - 265,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Vision, Dental

401(k) retirement plan

Paid time off & holidays

Job summary

SpaceX in Washington, DC seeks a Sr. AI Security Software Engineer (Starshield) to design and build security-critical agents that automate defense for Starshield infrastructure, leveraging AI to identify and fix security issues across systems.

You will guide testing of AI integrations, identify new automation opportunities, and work with multiple teams to raise the security posture while advancing inter-planetary missions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science or STEM and 5+ years in security software development, or 7+ years without a degree.
• Experience with Python, C++, or Golang.
• Experience designing security for OS, distributed systems, or large-scale infra.
• Experience with LLMs or 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 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

Skills

Software engineering

Agent engineering and security

Network security

Operating system security

Incident response and adversary detec�

Education

Bachelor's degree in computer science or STEM

Tools

Python

C++

Golang

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 of enabling 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

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.

• 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 Aff ... should reach out [e-mail].

As set forth in SpaceX’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

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A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

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