Sr. Site Reliability Engineer (Starshield)

United States Digital Space LLC; Washington, El Segundo (District of Columbia, CA); On-site; USD 165,000 - 270,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock incentives

401(k)

Medical insurance

Vision + Dental

Paid vacation 3 weeks

Paid holidays

Sick leave

Parental leave

Job summary

United States Digital Space LLC invites applications for a Sr. Site Reliability Engineer (Starshield) to accelerate our space‑edge mission. You will build reliable, scalable software systems, automate deployment across on‑prem and cloud, and drive the lifecycle from design to operation.

A TS clearance is required, and the role anticipates extended hours. Compensation reflects top market value and strong benefits in a mission‑driven environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in CS/IS/Engineering with 5+ years Linux experience, or 7+ years experience without degree.
• 5+ years of experience with Kubernetes.
• 5+ years of experience with Linux operating systems.
• Experience in Bash, Python, or other scripting languages.

Responsibilities

• Develop automation to deploy and manage compute resources on‑premises and in the cloud
• Deploy and manage core infrastructure such as databases, monitoring and 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

Skills

Kubernetes

Linux

Bash scripting

Python scripting

Top Secret clearance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in CS/IS/Engineering

Tools

Terraform

Ansible

Bazel

Makefiles

Job description

the company 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 the company is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal ofenabling human life on Mars.

SR. SITE RELIABILITY ENGINEER (STARSHIELD)

Starshield leverages the company’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 company’s satellite programs are pushing the boundaries of in-space capabilities. Our missions support scientific research, classified national security space and commercial opportunities. Software engineering and innovation is at the core of these programs.

Thesatellitesoftware 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. Aerospace experience is not required to be successful here - we want our engineers to bring fresh ideas from all areas. We look for engineers who love solving problems and seek to make an impact on an inspiring mission. As we expand this team, we're looking for versatile, motivated, and collaborative engineers.

Our team is involved in designing the vehicle systems at every phase of development. We build tools that enable us to work more efficiently, and that help us build software systems that are secure, reliable, and autonomous. Our software engineers are responsible for the life cycle of the software they create, including development, testing, and operational support.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop automation to deploy and manage compute resources both on-premises and in the cloud
• Deploy and manage core infrastructure such as databases, monitoring and storage
• Closely collaborate with software engineers to create highly scalable, operable and maintainable products
• Engage in and improve the whole lifecycle of services -- from inception and design, through deployment, operation and refinement

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems/IT, or an engineering discipline and 5+ years of professional experience with Linux operating systems; OR 7+ years of professional experience in software, DevOps, or site reliability engineering in lieu of a degree
• 5+ year of experience with Kubernetes
• 5+ year of experience with Linux operating systems
• Experience in Bash, Python, and/or other scripting languages

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• 5+ years of experience with Python and Python-based development frameworks
• Experience managing Kubernetes clusters, not just using them
• Knowledge of Linux boot process and systems configuration
• Deep understanding of testing, continuous integration, build, deployment & continuous monitoring
• Understanding of relevant build technologies, such as Bazel and Makefiles
• Focus on performance bottlenecks and performance improvement techniques
• Understanding of distributed databases and data modeling
• Experience with automatically managing dozens, hundreds, or thousands of servers (eg: Terraform or Ansible)
• Strong networking knowledge of TCP/IP
• Excellent communications skills with the ability to communicate with customers, peers, management etc. in both formal and informal situations
• 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, the company reserves the right to modify or terminate your employment to align with operational needs.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay Range:Level 3: $165,000.00 - $270,000.00

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 the company
• Long-term incentives, in the form of company stock or long-term cash awards
• Potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage
• Access to a 401(k) retirement plan
• Short and long-term disability insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid parental leave
• Various other discounts and perks
• Accrue 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

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.

the company is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with the company 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 the company’s Affi­native Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out [e-mail].