Sr. AI Engineer, Special Programs - Top Secret Clearance

SpaceX

Quick summary

Work type
On-site
Location
Washington, DC
Salary
$220,000–$350,000 / yr
Posted
today

Market check

Salary context

Above market

How this pay compares to similar roles

Similar $206k
This role $285k
$143k most similar roles pay here $372k

This role pays more than 91% of similar roles. Most pay $165,402–$246,150 — the shaded band above. At the midpoint, this role pays about $285k versus about $206k 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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View all roles at SpaceX

At a glance

TL;DR · Sr. AI Engineer, Special Programs - Top Secret Clearance

Senior AI engineers at this top-secret clearance level work closely with U.S. federal agencies to develop and deploy mission-critical AI solutions, ensuring compliance with stringent safety, transparency, and ethical standards. Daily responsibilities include identifying pain points, designing software specifications, benchmarking models, and developing evaluation frameworks for secure and scalable deployments. The role requires expertise in Python or TypeScript, a deep understanding of machine learning fundamentals, and proficiency in secure API design. Ideal candidates have extensive experience building AI-driven solutions in high-reliability environments, familiarity with infrastructure-as-code tools like Pulumi or Terraform, and a robust background in computer science or related fields. This position demands adaptability to fast-paced, mission-driven projects within the government sector.

What you'll do

  • Identify and scope product specifications for AI-powered software in government or enterprise use cases.
  • Develop evaluation frameworks to assess model performance and address weaknesses, ensuring compliance with standards.
  • Enhance model performance through fine-tuning techniques, focusing on secure and scalable deployment.
  • Analyze system outputs to ensure reliability and audibility of AI solutions.
  • Build internal tooling to streamline workflows and automate tasks in secure environments.

What we're looking for

  • 5+ years of hands-on software engineering experience in scalable systems or AI/ML applications.
  • Active Top-Secret clearance required for government projects.
  • Expertise in designing and deploying robust, secure AI solutions meeting compliance standards.
  • Proficiency in Python and TypeScript with strong understanding of HTTP protocol and API design.
  • Experience building evaluation frameworks and deploying machine learning models to production environments.

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