Lead Software Engineer, Flight Systems - Top Secret Clearance

SpaceX

Quick summary

Work type: On-site
Location: Hawthorne, CA
Salary: $165,000–$230,000 / yr
Posted: today

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Salary context

Competitive pay

How this pay compares to similar roles

Similar $189k

This role $198k

$147k most similar roles pay here $239k

This role pays more than 61% of similar roles. Most pay $155,887–$222,000 — the shaded band above. At the midpoint, this role pays about $198k versus about $189k for comparable roles.

Based on 240 similar postings.

Employer

About SpaceX

SpaceX designs, manufactures, and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft with the mission of enabling humans to become a multi-planetary species. It operates the Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, and Starship launch vehicles, as well as the Starlink satellite internet constellation.

SpaceX currently has 604 open roles on FindRole.

Listed pay typically runs $130,000–$155,000 across 440 roles with salary data.

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View all roles at SpaceX

At a glance

TL;DR · Lead Software Engineer, Flight Systems - Top Secret Clearance

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As a Lead Software Engineer in Special Programs at SpaceX, you will lead a team of software engineers to design and develop critical simulation and flight software for orbital systems. Your daily responsibilities include managing technical outcomes, conducting code reviews, and fostering a culture of excellence while ensuring adherence to industry best practices. You must have expertise in C++ and Python, experience with automation frameworks like Jenkins or Ansible, and knowledge of electronics and mechanical systems. This role requires an active Top Secret clearance and involves working on high-scale projects that demand cross-functional collaboration and the ability to handle extended hours and travel as needed.

Skills

C++ Python Bamboo Ansible Jenkins CI/CD PostgreSQL Git Docker Kubernetes AWS Grafana Prometheus

What you'll do

Own the outcomes and delivery of software engineering team projects for flight systems.
Lead architecture discussions, design decisions, and code reviews for high-performance applications.
Develop and maintain a roadmap with clear short-term and long-term goals for the team.
Ensure adherence to software development processes and industry best practices throughout all phases.
Manage technical results, performance evaluations, and professional growth of direct reports.

What we're looking for

5+ years of software development experience in C++ and Python
3+ years of automation software development for electrical/mechanical systems
Active Top-Secret clearance or higher
Expert knowledge in C++ and Python programming languages
Professional leadership experience managing a software engineering team
Strong skills in debugging, performance optimization, and unit testing
Experience with automated build and test frameworks like Bamboo, Ansible, Jenkins

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