Sr. Software Engineer, Telemetry (Starlink)

SpaceX; Hawthorne (CA); On-site; USD 165,000 - 265,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Long‑term incentives / company stock

401(k) retirement plan

Comprehensive medical, vision, dental

Paid vacation and holidays

Paid parental leave

Job summary

SpaceX is seeking a Sr. Software Engineer, Telemetry (Starlink) to own and scale the telemetry stack. You’ll design, implement, and operate systems that ingest, process, store, and query petabytes of data, collaborating with satellite and rocket teams to translate mission needs into robust software.

You will have ownership across software and hardware layers, applying first principles thinking to deliver high‑impact solutions while supporting Starlink’s global internet mission.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, data science, engineering, math, physics, or scientific discipline; OR 7+ years of professional experience building software in lieu of a degree
• 5+ years of experience in full stack development or software engineering

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and operate a highly reliable, distributed telemetry platform capable of ingesting, processing, storing, and querying data at petabyte scale
• Collaborate with other engineers on architecture, design, and code reviews
• Partner closely with satellite and rocket teams to understand real mission needs and translate them into elegant technical solutions
• Take full end-to-end ownership of the complete software and hardware stack
• Deep dive into business problems, find efficient solutions and apply first principles thinking

Skills

C#

Java

Distributed systems

Kubernetes

Linux

CI/CD

Git

Education

Bachelor's degree in CS/Engineering/Math/Physics or related field

7+ years of professional software experience in lieu of a degree

Tools

Git

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, TELEMETRY (STARLINK)

At SpaceX we’re leveraging our experience in building rockets and spacecraft to deploy Starlink, the world’s most advanced broadband internet system. Starlink is the world’s largest satellite constellation and is providing fast, reliable internet to 9M+ users worldwide. We design, build, test, and operate all parts of the system – thousands of satellites, consumer receivers that allow users to connect within minutes of unboxing, and the software that brings it all together. We’ve only begun to scratch the surface of Starlink’s potential global impact and are looking for the world’s best engineers to help maximize Starlink’s utility for communities and businesses around the globe.

As a software engineer on the Starlink program, you will be solving challenges that improve our ability to fully utilize the hardware we have deployed. Our goal is to provide customers with the best possible satellite internet experience, often providing under‑served communities with affordable, life‑changing broadband internet access.

Aerospace experience is not required for success here - rather, we look for smart, motivated, and collaborative software engineers who love solving problems and want to make an impact on a truly inspiring mission. You will have full ownership of challenging problems, working with a team of enthusiastic engineers to design and produce solutions that enable SpaceX to move towards our goals at a rapid pace. The success of the missions at SpaceX depends on the software that you and your team produce.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and operate a highly reliable, distributed telemetry platform capable of ingesting, processing, storing, and querying data at petabyte scale
• Collaborate with other engineers on architecture, design, and code reviews
• Partner closely with satellite and rocket teams to understand real mission needs and translate them into elegant technical solutions
• Take full end‑to‑end ownership of the complete software and hardware stack
• Deep dive into business problems, find efficient solutions and apply first principles thinking

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, data science, engineering, math, physics, or scientific discipline; OR 7+ years of professional experience building software in lieu of a degree
• 5+ years of experience in full stack development or software engineering

Preferred Skills And Experience

• Programming experience in C#, Java, or similar languages
• Experience designing, building, and optimizing large‑scale distributed systems for processing and querying high‑volume data
• Hands‑on experience with Kubernetes and containerized deployments
• Working knowledge of Linux, version control, testing, CI/CD, deployment, and monitoring systems

Additional Requirements

• Willing to work extended hours and weekends when needed

Compensation And Benefits

Pay Range:

Level 3: $165,000.00 - $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.

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 or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to [e-mail].