This role pays less than
78%
of similar roles. Most pay
$145,000–$221,250
— the shaded band above.
At the midpoint, this role pays about
$142k
versus about
$183k
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
680 open roles
on FindRole.
Listed pay typically runs
$130,000–$165,000
across 442 roles with salary data.
Software Engineer, Collision Avoidance (Starshield) joins the GNC organization to build mission-critical systems for large spacecraft constellations in low-earth orbit. The role involves developing highly reliable software for payload management, collision avoidance, and orbital prediction tools while building analysis pipelines to verify system performance. You will manage the full software lifecycle, from prototyping and design concept validation to testing and deployment. Key technical requirements include proficiency in Python or C++, experience with distributed systems, and familiarity with containerization technologies like Docker and Kubernetes. Candidates should also possess skills in version control, continuous integration, monitoring, and relational databases such as PostgreSQL or CockroachDB. The work focuses on the specific domain of orbital safety and satellite management for government use, requiring a strong background in math and physics to solve complex problems related to spacecraft systems.
What does a Software Engineer earn in California?
Median $214000 from 775 postings across 63 companies.
C++
Python
C
Linux
TCP
UDP
ARM
PowerPC
x86
Machine Learning
Unit Testing
Hardware-in-the-loop
Computer Architecture
Networking Protocols
Data Processing
Simulation
C++
Python
C
Linux
TCP
UDP
ARM
PowerPC
x86
Machine Learning
Unit Testing
Computer Architecture
Networking Protocols
Hardware-in-the-loop
Data Processing