SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.
SOFTWARE ENGINEER
We are looking for a software engineer who will work at the Texas Rocket Development Facility in Central Texas, as part of the Test Software team. This team designs, develops, tests, and maintains software used for test stand data acquisition and control, data post-processing, and other engineering software needs. The team works closely with test engineers, electrical engineers, other flight and ground software teams, and information technologies to rapidly deploy high-performance software catering to unique test engineering requirements. This role is highly multi-disciplinary, will work in a variety of software languages, and will work closely with hardware. Your software will control rocket tests every day. Aerospace experience is not required to be successful here - rather, we look for smart, motivated, collaborative engineers who love solving problems and want to make an impact on a super-inspiring mission.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Architect and develop software and systems for
- Data acquisition and control for test stands
- Data storage and analysis
- Automation of engineering and business functions
- Collaborate with electrical engineers, test engineers, and IT to develop computing and network solutions for test stand data and control needs
- Support active operations when software issues are encountered
- Own all aspects of software development, including design, testing, and test stand integration
- Provide strong technical leadership, focus on continuous improvement, and training
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, math, or other science discipline
- 1+ years of experience in software development (internship experience qualifies)
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
- Experience with National Instruments hardware (cDAQ, cRIO, PXI) and software (LabVIEW)
- Proven skills and knowledge with C++, Python, or other text-based programming languages
- Proven experience in architecting, managing, and integrating large distributed systems
- Strong communication/mentorship skills and experience in technical leadership
- Examples of working directly with customers to gather requirements
- Experience with network communication
- Strong skills in debugging, performance optimization, and unit testing
- Creative approach to problem solving
- Ability to work effectively in a dynamic environment with changing needs and requirements
- Ability to work independently and in a team, take initiative, and communicate effectively
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- This is not a remote or hybrid position and will require all work to be completed in the office
- Must be available to work extended hours, weekends, and shifts, which vary depending on site operational needs; flexibility required
ITAR REQUIREMENTS:
- To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.
SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.
Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX’s Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to [email protected].
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, math, or other science discipline
- 1+ years of experience in software development (internship experience qualifies)
SpaceX Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about SpaceX and has not been reviewed or approved by SpaceX.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — Equity grants are a core part of total compensation, with periodic company-run tender offers that create liquidity before any public listing. These mechanisms can make the equity component feel materially valuable in practice.
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Healthcare Strength — The package includes comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, with on-site clinics and health resources at major sites. This breadth of coverage is presented as a strong element of the offering.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Major locations feature on-site amenities such as fitness facilities, food/coffee, clinics, and other conveniences. These lifestyle perks enhance day-to-day value alongside cash and equity.
SpaceX Insights
What We Do
SpaceX designs, manufactures and launches the world’s most advanced rockets and spacecraft. The company was founded in 2002 by Elon Musk to revolutionize space transportation, with the ultimate goal of making life multiplanetary. SpaceX has gained worldwide attention for a series of historic milestones. It is the only private company ever to return a spacecraft from low-Earth orbit, which it first accomplished in December 2010. The company made history again in May 2012 when its Dragon spacecraft attached to the International Space Station, exchanged cargo payloads, and returned safely to Earth — a technically challenging feat previously accomplished only by governments. Since then Dragon has delivered cargo to and from the space station multiple times, providing regular cargo resupply missions for NASA.
