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. SOFTWARE INFRASTRUCTURE ENGINEER (STARLINK)
At SpaceX we’re leveraging our experience in building rockets and spacecraft to deploy Starlink, the world’s most advanced broadband internet system. Starlink is the world’s largest satellite constellation and is providing fast, reliable internet to 3M+ users worldwide. We design, build, test, and operate all parts of the system – thousands of satellites, consumer receivers that allow users to connect within minutes of unboxing, and the software that brings it all together. We’ve only begun to scratch the surface of Starlink’s potential global impact and are looking for best-in-class engineers to help maximize Starlink’s utility for communities and businesses around the globe.
As an engineer focused on Starlink’s software and network infrastructure, you will design, operate and scale the infrastructure we use to run the world’s largest satellite constellation and manage a network that handles millions of daily users worldwide. These positions cover a variety of areas ranging from Developer Operations, to Site Reliability and managing our Kubernetes environment. You will develop automation to deploy and manage compute resources both on-premises and in the cloud, create highly scalable and maintainable software products, and directly collaborate with engineering across the board.
RESPONSIBILITES:
- Develop automation to deploy and manage compute resources both on-premises and in the cloud
- Deploy and manage core infrastructure such as databases, monitoring and storage
- Closely collaborate with software engineers to create highly scalable, operable and maintainable products
- Engage in and improve the whole lifecycle of services -- from inception and design, through deployment, operation and refinement
- Invent tools and processes that enable fast, accurate, and easy-to-use development and deployment systems
- Provide fast and comprehensive software validation, including virtualized, hardware-in-the-loop, and on-orbit test platforms
- Monitoring and data analysis in support of a continuous integration and release system
- Hands-on integration and troubleshooting across the entire Starlink stack
- Create and manage core infrastructure such as databases and software libraries
- Identify areas for improvement and create innovative solutions that enable high developer velocity
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems/IT, or an engineering discipline and 5+ years of professional experience in systems administration, site reliability engineering, or DevOps; OR 7+ years of professional experience in systems administration, site reliability engineering, or DevOps in lieu of a degree
- 2+ years of professional experience with Linux operating systems
- Experience with Terraform, Ansible, or other infrastructure tools
- Experience with containerization technologies (i.e. Docker, Kubernetes)
- Experience in Bash or other scripting languages
- Development experience in Python
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
- 3+ years of experience with Python and Python-based development frameworks
- Programming experience in Python, C#, .NET, Go, Scala, Java, or similar object-oriented language
- Strong understanding of virtualization and hypervisor technologies
- Knowledge of Linux boot process and systems configuration
- Deep understanding of testing, continuous integration, build, deployment & continuous monitoring
- Strong understanding of relevant technologies, such as:
- Bazel or other build systems
- Linux, Docker, Kubernetes, or similar technologies
- Understanding of databases and data modeling
- Experience with automatically managing dozens or hundreds of servers (eg: Terraform or Ansible)
- Focus on performance bottlenecks and performance improvement techniques
- Strong networking knowledge of TCP/IP
- Excellent communications skills with the ability to communicate with customers, peers, management etc. in both formal and informal situations
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
Pay range:
Software Engineer/Senior: $170,000.00 - $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, 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 & 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.
