Software Engineer

SpaceX

Confirmed live yesterday Low trust

Quick summary

Work type: On-site
Location: Redmond, WA
Salary: $125,000–$145,000 / yr
Posted: 154 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 $166k

This role $135k

$116k most similar roles pay here $208k

This role pays less than 80% of similar roles. Most pay $137,500–$193,900 — the shaded band above. At the midpoint, this role pays about $135k versus about $166k 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.

Most-posted roles

View all roles at SpaceX

At a glance

TL;DR · Software Engineer

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Software Engineer (Starshield) joins the Starshield software team to develop highly reliable in-space mesh networks and secure systems for government use, specifically focusing on earth observation, communications, and hosted payloads. You will manage the full software lifecycle, from prototyping and development to testing and on-orbit rollout. Responsibilities include creating software to control hundreds of satellites in low earth orbit, implementing networking technologies for data transmission across ground stations, and building automated systems for command and control. The role requires proficiency in C, C++, or Python, with experience in Linux-based environments, computer architecture, and network protocols like TCP and UDP. You will also develop models for flight-like testing and tools for continuous integration. This position addresses the technical challenge of ensuring satellite constellation performance, security, and availability while integrating advanced sensors and space-based cloud compute.

What does a Software Engineer earn in Washington?

Median $202800 from 326 postings across 28 companies.

See salary data

Skills

C++ Python C Linux TCP UDP ARM PowerPC x86 Machine Learning Unit Testing Computer Architecture Networking Protocols Hardware-in-the-loop Data Processing

What you'll do

Create highly reliable software systems to control hundreds of satellites in low earth orbit.
Develop Linux-based C++ software for various processors and microcontrollers like ARM, PowerPC, and x86.
Implement networking technologies to route data across satellite constellations, ground stations, and users.
Build automated ground-based software systems for smart data processing and satellite command and control.
Create models and simulations for flight-like vehicle testing and network performance analysis.
Develop tools for test execution across virtualized hardware, real hardware-in-the-loop, and vehicle-in-the-loop environments.
Build continuous integration and release systems to enable frequent and reliable software deployment.

What we're looking for

Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, math, or a scientific discipline is required.
Two years of professional experience in software development may be substituted for a degree.
Experience in C, C++, Python, or full stack software development is required.
Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret or Top Secret SCI security clearance.
Must meet U.S. government export control requirements (U.S. citizenship, permanent residency, or specific refugee/asylee status).
Strong fundamental knowledge of computer architecture and networks is preferred.
Proficiency in debugging, performance optimization, and unit testing is preferred.
Experience with networking protocols, Linux kernel development, or high-performance C++ systems is preferred.

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