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.
SR. FULL STACK SOFTWARE ENGINEER (COMPONENTS)
The Components Engineering Team develops the world’s best flight hardware and fabricates it at an in-house machine shop for Starship. The team is making a next generation machine shop with advanced software and automation, an alien dreadnought machine that builds the machine. As a software engineer, you will design novel software solutions such as web applications for efficient factory operation, algorithms and AI to automatically create CNC programs, control and deployment of CNC machines, and much more. These improvements will enable rapid Starship production rates of 100+ per year as well as a quick development cycle, which are critical for SpaceX’s Moon and Mars missions. Previous manufacturing experience is not necessary, just the desire to make high-quality software to rapidly build Starships.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Develop highly reliable software solutions that are used across many SpaceX teams
- Own all aspects of software development, including design, testing, and deployment
- Rapidly create new applications that improve the production cycle time in the machine shop and the time to go from CAD to part in hand
- Deep dive into your users’ problems to find and create efficient solutions
- Bring your voice to the table in team collaborations on architecture, design, and code reviews
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, physics or other engineering discipline
- 5+ years of professional experience in software development; or 7+ years of professional experience in software development in lieu of a degree
- Experience in full stack development
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
- Developed, debugged, and deployed software that has been used in real world applications and projects
- Excellent communication skills both written and verbal
- Thorough knowledge of computer architecture and networks
- Knowledge of AI tools and how to best solve problems using AI solutions
- Creative approach to problem solving, exceptional analytical skills and engineering fundamentals
- Programming experience in Python, JavaScript, C#, .NET, Java, or similar object-oriented language
- Front-end experience in Angular, React, or similar JavaScript framework
- Experience with web-technologies such as nginx, haproxy, redis
- Experience with build systems like Make and package management tools such as pip, npm, nuget
- Experience with UNIX-like operating systems and tools like Terraform, Ansible, Puppet for managing them
- Production experience with Docker, Kubernetes, or other container and deployment tools
- Database experience with PostgreSQL, SQL Server, or similar database technologies
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
Pay range:
$165,000.00 - $230,000.00/per year
Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience.
Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock or long-term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Employees accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law.
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, computer engineering, physics, or other engineering discipline (or equivalent experience)
- 5+ years professional software development experience (or 7+ years in lieu of degree)
- Experience in full stack development
- U.S. person status per ITAR (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, refugee, asylee, or eligible for required authorizations)
- Developed, debugged, and deployed software used in real-world applications and projects
- Knowledge of AI tools and experience solving problems using AI solutions
- Programming experience in Python, JavaScript, C#, .NET, or Java
- Front-end experience with Angular, React, or similar frameworks
- Experience with web technologies such as nginx, haproxy, redis
- Experience with build systems (Make) and package managers (pip, npm, nuget)
- Experience with UNIX-like operating systems and infrastructure automation tools (Terraform, Ansible, Puppet)
- Production experience with Docker, Kubernetes, or other container/deployment tools
- Database experience with PostgreSQL, SQL Server, or similar
- Excellent written and verbal communication, strong analytical and problem-solving skills
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.
