Principal Network Engineer, Starlink Ground Network

SpaceX

Confirmed live today Trusted

Quick summary

Work type: On-site
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Salary: $200,000–$285,000 / yr
Posted: 151 days ago
Freshness: Confirmed live today
Nearby: 99+ roles within 25 mi

Market check

Salary context

Above market

How this pay compares to similar roles

Similar $169k

This role $242k

$106k $304k

below market most similar roles pay here above market

This role pays more than 95% of similar roles. Most pay $137,500–$200,625 — the blue band above. At the midpoint, this role pays about $242k versus about $169k 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 851 open roles on FindRole.

Listed pay typically runs $130,000–$165,000 across 590 roles with salary data.

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At a glance

TL;DR · Principal Network Engineer, Starlink Ground Network

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As a Principal Network Engineer (Starlink Ground Network), you will join the team responsible for the global deployment and operation of the Starlink broadband internet system. You will manage and expand network interconnections, co-location sites, and points of presence while improving performance through capacity planning and failure remediation. Your daily work involves leading network integration for strategic customers, updating system configurations, and automating network devices and deployment tools. You will utilize skills in Layer-1 transport, DWDM, optical fiber, and routing protocols like BGP, OSPF, and IS-IS. Technical requirements include experience with routers, switches, firewalls, and Linux production environments, alongside Python or bash scripting. You will also architect how satellite assets integrate with traditional ground networks and mentor junior engineers.

What does a Network Engineer earn in California?

Median $171500 from 34 postings across 11 companies.

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Skills

BGP OSPF IS-IS MPLS IPv4 IPv6 Python Bash Linux SDN NFV DWDM Optical Fiber Cisco Juniper Arista Observium Solarwinds Nagios DNS DHCP NTP Routers Switches Firewalls

What you'll do

Manage and expand network interconnections, co-location sites, and points of presence.
Improve network performance and reliability through capacity planning and failure remediation.
Lead network integration and troubleshooting for strategic Starlink customers.
Automate network devices, operational tools, and deployment processes.
Architect the integration of satellite assets with traditional ground networks.
Update system configurations and firmware for network infrastructure.
Provide technical pre-sales support as a subject matter expert during the sales cycle.

What we're looking for

Bachelor’s degree in a technical or engineering discipline.
7+ years of networking experience deploying enterprise network solutions and/or cloud & web-scale networks.
2+ years of professional networking experience deploying enterprise network solutions and/or cloud & web-scale networks in lieu of a degree.
Layer-1 experience including transport, DWDM, optical fiber, circuit troubleshooting, and activations.
Experience with the deployment of networking hardware such as routers, modems, switches, and firewalls.
Master’s degree in a technical or engineering discipline (preferred).
Experience with Python and/or bash scripting (preferred).
U.S. citizen, national, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee eligible for Department of State authorization.

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