Security Software Engineer

SpaceX

Confirmed live yesterday Low trust

Quick summary

Work type: On-site
Location: Washington, DCHawthorne, CA
Salary: $130,000–$160,000 / yr
Posted: 56 days ago
Freshness: Confirmed live yesterday
Nearby: 99+ roles within 25 mi

Market check

Salary context

Below market

How this pay compares to similar roles

Similar $181k

This role $145k

$119k $237k

below market most similar roles pay here above market

This role pays less than 74% of similar roles. Most pay $145,000–$217,500 — the blue band above. At the midpoint, this role pays about $145k versus about $181k 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 861 open roles on FindRole.

Listed pay typically runs $130,000–$165,000 across 585 roles with salary data.

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At a glance

TL;DR · Security Software Engineer

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The Security Software Engineer (Starshield) joins the Starshield team to support national security efforts through earth observation, communications, and hosted payloads. This role involves designing and building security infrastructure, including cryptographic services and security-critical features for routers, dishes, gateways, and satellites. You will maintain production systems, build prototypes, and improve security posture across the product line. The position requires proficiency in software engineering, applied cryptography, network security, operating system security, secure boot, incident response, and vulnerability research. Candidates should possess experience with Python, C++, or Golang, as well as distributed systems or large-scale infrastructure. The work focuses on building reliable in-space mesh networks and secure communication systems, requiring a deep understanding of cryptographic primitives, TCP/IP stacks, and hardware security modules like TPMs and HSMs.

Skills

Python C++ Golang Applied Cryptography Network Security Operating System Security Incident Response Vulnerability Research TCP/IP UDP Distributed Systems Security Infrastructure Cryptographic Services

What you'll do

Design and build security infrastructure including cryptographic and security-critical services for Starshield.
Develop security features for routers, dishes, gateways, and satellites.
Design 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 of software across various product lines.

What we're looking for

Bachelor's degree in computer science or another STEM discipline; OR 2+ 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.
Must be a U.S. citizen, national, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee, or be eligible to obtain required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.
Ability to successfully obtain and maintain a Top Secret Security Clearance as a condition of employment.
Experience contributing security improvements to complex systems (preferred).
Experience working with special purpose security hardware such as TPMs and HSMs (preferred).
Advanced degree in a technical or engineering discipline (preferred).