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 MISSION INTEGRATION ENGINEER, NETWORK AND INFRASTRUCTURE (STARSHIELD)
Starshield leverages SpaceX’s Starlink technology and launch capability to support national security efforts. While Starlink is designed for consumer and commercial use, Starshield is designed for government use, with an initial focus on earth observation, communications, and hosted payloads.
As a member of our Mission Management team, you will help tackle new technical problems from initial requirements verification through rapid prototyping, integrated test, and operational deployment. You’ll contribute to the performance and execution of satellite programs while specifically focusing on the ground systems that drive, manage, and provide user insight into those programs. You will work to shape customer requirements that maximally leverage SpaceX’s capabilities, to drive design choices and capture them in system specifications and interface control documentation. This work will cover a number of technical disciplines including satellite command and control, space-to-ground communication, networking concepts, planning and deployment of ground infrastructure and the secure implementation and execution of each of these discipline areas. Our ideal candidate is a self-starter and is hungry to do work that matters.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Own the design, development, and deployment of critical infrastructure for government satellite programs.
- Work as the primary customer interface for coordinating and deploying ground systems.
- Manage and expand network interconnections, network co-location sites, points of presence (POPs), and satellite ground stations.
- Manage network infrastructure and deployments to Top Secret data centers.
- Collaborate with customers, and internal engineering resources to improve the Starshield network design.
- Assist with the creation and maintenance of project schedules and regularly report modifications to customers.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, electrical engineering, information systems, information security or other engineering discipline.
- 5+ years of networking experience.
- Professional Layer-1 experience (e.g. transport, DWDM, optical fiber, circuit troubleshooting, activations, etc.).
- Experience bringing up switches, routers, firewalls and servers.
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE:
- Deep understanding of service provider networks including but not limited to:
- Connectivity (Ethernet, IPv4, IPv6 and MPLS)
- Routing (BGP, OSPF, IS-IS)
- Switching and routing
- Internet services (subscriber provisioning, BRAS, DNS, DHCP, NTP)
- Experience with physical troubleshooting of fiber & circuits.
- Familiarity with networking protocols and the OSI Model.
- Experience working deploying satellite ground stations.
- Demonstrated success with projects across multiple technical and non-technical disciplines.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Active Top Secret or Top Secret SCI clearance preferred. Must be willing to pursue a clearance if not already cleared. Note that an active clearance may provide the opportunity for you to work on sensitive SpaceX missions. If so, you will be subject to pre-employment drug and random drug and alcohol testing.
- Must be available to work extended hours and/or weekends as needed to support critical milestones or operations shifts.
- Must pass DoD level background checks for entry to various government facilities.
- Willingness to travel (up to 25%).
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
Pay range:
Sr Mission Integration Engineer: $125,000.00-$175,000.00/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. Those with an active clearance will receive a 10% differential, up to an additional $15,000 annually, once officially briefed into a classified program.
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, stock options, 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 & 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. Exempt employees are eligible for 5 days of sick leave per year.
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 notify the Human Resources Department at (310) 363-6000.
Top Skills
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.
