Software Engineer

SpaceX

Confirmed live yesterday Low trust

Quick summary

Work type: On-site
Location: Hawthorne, CA
Salary: $125,000–$150,000 / yr
Posted: 77 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 $167k

This role $138k

$116k most similar roles pay here $207k

This role pays less than 70% of similar roles. Most pay $137,500–$196,825 — the shaded band above. At the midpoint, this role pays about $138k versus about $167k 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 across ground stations and satellites, building automated ground-based systems for command and control, and developing models for flight-like vehicle testing. The role requires proficiency in C, C++, or Python, with experience in Linux-based systems, computer architecture, and networking protocols like TCP and UDP. You will work with interdisciplinary teams to build next-generation capabilities including sensors, inter-satellite lasers, and space-based cloud compute while ensuring system security and performance optimization.

What does a Software Engineer earn in California?

Median $214000 from 775 postings across 63 companies.

See salary data

Skills

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

What you'll do

Create highly reliable software systems to control hundreds of satellites in low earth orbit.
Manage the full software lifecycle including prototyping, development, testing, and on-orbit rollout.
Write high-quality Linux-based C++ software for various processors and microcontrollers.
Implement networking technologies to route data across satellites, ground stations, and users.
Build automated ground-based systems that integrate smart data processing with satellite command and control.
Develop models and simulations for flight-like vehicle testing and network performance analysis.
Create tools for test execution across virtualized hardware, real hardware-in-the-loop, and vehicle-in-the-loop environments.
Design continuous integration systems to enable frequent and reliable software deployment and data analysis.

What we're looking for

Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, math, or a scientific discipline.
At least 2 years of professional software development experience in lieu of a degree.
Experience in C, C++, Python, or full stack software development.
Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret or Top Secret SCI clearance.
Must be a U.S. citizen, national, lawful permanent resident, or eligible for export control authorizations.
Solid fundamental knowledge of computer architecture and networks.
Strong skills in debugging, performance optimization, and unit testing.
Security Clearance as a condition of employment.

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