Software Engineer, Hardware Test & Automation (Optical Payloads)

SpaceX

Quick summary

Work type
On-site
Location
Redmond, WA
Salary
$125,000–$145,000 / yr
Posted
today

Market check

Salary context

Below market

How this pay compares to similar roles

Similar $169k
This role $135k
$115k most similar roles pay here $218k

This role pays less than 74% of similar roles. Most pay $135,000–$202,500 — the shaded band above. At the midpoint, this role pays about $135k 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 604 open roles on FindRole.

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

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At a glance

TL;DR · Software Engineer, Hardware Test & Automation (Optical Payloads)

Join the Starlink Integration & Test Team as a Software Engineer, focusing on developing integrated operations and automation for complex subassemblies in optical payloads. You will create software enabling test execution across hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) and virtualized environments, manage project plans, and ensure reliable test systems are delivered to production. Utilize C++, Python, and extensive knowledge of Linux/Windows operating systems, digital/analog interfaces like GPIB, USB, TCP/IP, and CAN bus, while working in a dynamic environment with spacecraft hardware. This role demands expertise in configuration management, version control, continuous integration, and agile development, alongside strong cross-context test design skills for high-impact technology on a massive scale.

What you'll do

  • Develop software for test execution across hardware-in-the-loop and virtualized environments.
  • Design and implement project plans to manage milestones and ensure reliable delivery of test systems.
  • Build innovative test systems from hardware designs to software infrastructure for Starlink components.
  • Work with complex subassemblies and components, including attitude determination/control systems and space lasers.
  • Create cross-context tests ranging from unit tests to integrated hardware-in-the-loop regression tests.

What we're looking for

  • Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, math, or STEM discipline; OR 2+ years of professional software development experience.
  • Development experience in C, C++, or Python.
  • Extensive knowledge of Linux/Windows operating systems and computer architecture.
  • Experience developing application, test, or automation software in an interdisciplinary production environment.
  • Knowledge with digital and analog interfaces including GPIB, USB, VISA, TCP/IP, VLAN, CAN bus, SPI, I2C, Modbus, and analog-to-digital conversion.
  • Cross-context test design skills from simple unit tests to integrated hardware-in-the-loop regression and exploratory tests.

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