below marketmost similar roles pay hereabove market
This role pays more than
97%
of similar roles. Most pay
$142,500–$207,500
— the blue band above.
At the midpoint, this role pays about
$285k
versus about
$175k
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.
The Principal Security Software Engineer (Starlink) joins the team responsible for the world’s largest satellite constellation to influence software security across various product lines. This role involves designing and building security infrastructure, including cryptographic services, and developing security features for routers, dishes, gateways, and satellites. The engineer will maintain production systems, build prototypes, and design security into factory processes. Key technical requirements include proficiency in Python, C++, or Golang, along with expertise in applied cryptography, network security, operating system security, secure boot, incident response, and vulnerability research. Candidates must understand network protocols like TCP/IP and UDP, and ideally possess experience with TPMs and HSMs. The work focuses on securing a global broadband internet system and providing reliable network services to underserved communities.
Design and build security infrastructure including cryptographic and security-critical services for Starlink.
Develop security features for routers, dishes, gateways, and satellites.
Integrate security into factory processes and provide supporting network services.
Maintain production systems and improve security posture through direct implementation and team recommendations.
Build prototypes to identify, design, and test security improvements.
Influence the security design of software across all product lines.
What we're looking for
Bachelor's degree in computer science or another STEM discipline and 8+ years of professional experience in security software development.
10+ years of professional experience in security software development in lieu of a degree.
Experience with one or more software development languages such as Python, C++, or Golang.
Experience designing and implementing security solutions for operating systems, distributed systems, or other enterprise/large-scale infrastructure.
Experience contributing security improvements to complex systems (preferred).
Experience working with special purpose security hardware such as Trusted Platform Modules (TPMs) and Hardware Security Modules (HSMs) (preferred).
Fundamental understanding of network protocols, including the TCP/IP stack and UDP based protocols (preferred).
Must be a U.S. citizen, national, lawful permanent resident, refugee, asylee, or eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
Python
C++
Golang
Applied Cryptography
Network Security
Operating System Security
Incident Response
Vulnerability Research
TCP/IP
UDP
Distributed Systems
Security Infrastructure
Python
C++
Golang
Applied Cryptography
Network Security
Operating System Security
Incident Response
Vulnerability Research
TCP/IP
UDP
Distributed Systems
Security Infrastructure
Python
C++
Golang
Applied Cryptography
Network Security
Operating System Security
Incident Response
Vulnerability Research
TCP/IP
UDP
Distributed Systems
Security Infrastructure
Python
C++
Golang
Applied Cryptography
Network Security
Operating System Security
Incident Response
Vulnerability Research
TCP/IP
UDP
Distributed Systems
Security Infrastructure
Python
C++
Golang
Applied Cryptography
Network Security
Operating System Security
Incident Response
Vulnerability Research
TCP/IP
UDP
Distributed Systems
Security Infrastructure
Python
C++
Golang
Applied Cryptography
Network Security
Operating System Security
Incident Response
Vulnerability Research
TCP/IP
UDP
Distributed Systems
Security Infrastructure