Sr. Software Engineer (Platform Team)

InvestedintheMission; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 225,000; Full time

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking a Sr. Software Engineer for the Platform Team to build secure, scalable AI platforms and proxy systems used company-wide.

You will lead architecture, design, and implementation to empower engineers and operators to deploy trusted AI at scale. You will mentor engineers, onboard frontier models, optimize resources, and collaborate across security, ML research, and operations to deliver impactful, reliable software and data solutions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, or related field with 5+ years building production software; OR 7+ years in lieu of a degree.
• Experience developing and operating production AI/ML platforms or large-scale backend systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, architecture, and implementation of secure, scalable AI platforms and proxy systems used company-wide.
• Own complex platform initiatives end-to-end, including strategy, implementation, testing, deployment, and evolution.
• Drive onboarding of frontier models, compute resources, and proxy optimization for performance, security, and logging.
• Mentor engineers, communicate value, and build shared products/infrastructure across teams.
• Identify high-value opportunities and deliver solutions for rapid problem-to-deployed software and models.
• Develop tools to mitigate business risk, such as AI-powered code review and automation.
• Define best practices for lean, secure AI and scalable data systems.
• Collaborate with ML researchers, security, and operations.

Skills

Docker

Kubernetes

Python

Go

TypeScript

Security architecture

CI/CD

Observability

MLOps

Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in CS or related

Tools

CI/CD pipelines

Cloud integrations

Job description

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. SOFTWARE ENGINEER (PLATFORM TEAM)

The Platform Team builds the foundational tooling and security infrastructure that empowers every team at SpaceX to harness AI effectively. This team creates secure, scalable gateways and proxy systems that allow engineers and operators across the company to write code faster, perform advanced data analysis, connect AI to their daily tools and problems, and turn ideas into deployed solutions with confidence. By onboarding new frontier models, expanding compute capacity, optimizing proxy efficiency for logging and control, and building shared prompts, skills, and infrastructure, this team unlocks reliable, high-impact AI capabilities across the entire organization.

As a Sr. Software Engineer for SpaceX's AI platform, you will be a key technical leader and entrepreneurial builder focused on the leanest and most effective applied use of AI at SpaceX. You will design and scale platforms that convert engineering know-how into tested software, automation, and reliable data stores at company scale while creating risk-mitigation tools such as intelligent code review and PR assistants. Current systems are built with Docker containers acting as secure gateways and proxies that integrate with any cloud compute provider and multiple frontier model providers. Your work will directly accelerate SpaceX production and development by enabling every team to move faster with trustworthy AI.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead the design, architecture, and implementation of secure, scalable AI platforms and proxy systems used company-wide
• Own complex platform initiatives end-to-end, including technical strategy, implementation, testing, deployment, and long-term evolution
• Drive onboarding of new frontier models, expansion of compute resources, and optimization of proxy systems for performance, security, logging, and control
• Champion adoption across SpaceX by mentoring engineers, communicating value, building shared products/prompts/skills/infrastructure, and providing hands-on support
• Act as an entrepreneurial force to identify high-value opportunities and deliver solutions that allow users to rapidly convert problems and ideas into tested software, deployed applications, and trained models on managed, reliable compute
• Develop and scale tools that mitigate business risk, such as advanced AI-powered code review, PR automation, and safety guardrails
• Define best practices for lean, effective, and secure applied AI that maximizes conversion of engineering expertise into automation and reliable data systems
• Collaborate with and influence cross-functional stakeholders, including ML researchers, security, and operations teams

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, or other engineering discipline and 5+ years of professional experience building production software; OR 7+ years of professional experience building production software in lieu of a degree
• Experience developing and operating production platforms (AI/ML infrastructure, developer platforms, or large-scale backend systems)

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Proven success building and scaling internal AI gateways, secure proxy systems, or MLOps platforms in a fast-paced environment
• Deep hands-on experience with Docker, Kubernetes, security architecture, and integrations across multiple cloud and frontier model providers
• Strong background in model onboarding, compute orchestration, observability, and infrastructure for high-volume AI usage
• Demonstrated ability to enable and mentor others through tools, documentation, training, and direct partnership
• Entrepreneurial track record of identifying opportunities and delivering outsized impact
• Proficiency in Python and strong experience with additional languages (Go, Java, TypeScript, Rust, etc.)
• Experience with infrastructure-as-code, CI/CD, and building highly reliable distributed systems
• Passion for AI risk mitigation, developer productivity, and turning complex engineering challenges into simple, scalable AI-powered outcomes

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay range: Sr. Software Engineer: $160,000.00 - $225,000.00/per year

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.

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.

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…? Actually the email link: [e-mail].