Software Engineer (Starshield)

SpaceX

Quick summary

Work type: On-site
Location: Hawthorne, CA
Salary: $125,000–$145,000 / yr
Posted: today

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Salary context

Competitive pay

How this pay compares to similar roles

Similar $165k

This role $135k

$117k most similar roles pay here $204k

This role pays less than 66% of similar roles. Most pay $135,000–$195,625 — the shaded band above. At the midpoint, this role pays about $135k versus about $165k 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 (Starshield)

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Join the Starshield software team as a Software Engineer and contribute to building highly reliable in-space mesh networks, designing secure systems for satellite constellations, and developing next-generation communication and sensing software. Your daily tasks will include creating robust software that controls hundreds of satellites, improving constellation performance through software design, and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams on cutting-edge projects like inter-satellite lasers and space-based cloud computing. You’ll work with C++, Python, and other languages to develop high-quality Linux-based systems for various processors, implement networking technologies, build automated ground-based software systems, and create tools for test execution across multiple environments. Ideal candidates have a background in computer science or engineering, experience with C++ for high-performance systems, and knowledge of networking protocols like TCP and UDP.

Skills

C++ Python Linux TCP UDP CI/CD ARM PowerPC x86 Microcontrollers Networking Satellite Constellations Ground Operations Centers Data Processing Command and Control Models and Simulations Vehicle Software Testing Cloud Compute High Performance Systems

What you'll do

Create highly reliable software systems for controlling hundreds of satellites in low Earth orbit.
Design and implement networking technologies to direct data across various satellite constellations.
Develop automated ground-based software systems integrating smart data processing with satellite command and control.
Build models and simulations for testing flight-like vehicle software and network performance analysis.
Invent new systems enabling frequent and reliable software deployment, test execution, and data analysis.

What we're looking for

Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, math, or a scientific discipline
2+ years of professional software development experience
Experience developing and deploying real-world applications
Proficiency in C++, Python, or full-stack software development
Solid understanding of computer architecture and networks
Knowledge of networking protocols (TCP, UDP) preferred

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