SpaceX Logo

SpaceX

Software Engineer, Embedded Software (Starlink)

Job Posted 12 Days Ago Posted 12 Days Ago
Be an Early Applicant
Redmond, WA
123K-170K
Junior
Redmond, WA
123K-170K
Junior
Design, develop, and test software for controlling SpaceX flight and ground systems. Take ownership of the software development lifecycle, ensuring resilience and fault tolerance.
The summary above was generated by AI

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, EMBEDDED SOFTWARE (STARLINK)

As an embedded engineer on the Starlink flight software team, you will design, develop and test software that is used to control SpaceX flight and ground systems. You will be responsible for both components that fly on robotic vehicles in space, and the ground systems that orchestrate the world’s largest satellite constellation. You will engage with other SpaceX software and hardware engineers to discover the needs of the mission and code highly reliable software that turns the mission into a reality. You will be responsible for the complete life cycle of the software you create, from development to testing to operation during a continuous mission. 

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 an ambitious and inspiring mission. 

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

  • Develop highly reliable autonomous software systems, and the full suite of testing needed to ensure their resilience, fault tolerance, and correctness 
  • Design software for both vehicles flying in space, and the ground systems that support them 
  • Build prototypes and analyze system metrics to prove out key design concepts and quantify technical constraints 
  • Own all aspects of software development, including design, testing, release, and flight operations 
  • Provide strong technical leadership, focus on continuous improvement 

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS: 

  • Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, math, or STEM discipline OR 2+ years of experience in software development 
  • Development experience in C/C++, Python, or other similar programming languages 

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE: 

Interested candidates who meet the basic qualifications should consider applying. The following preferred skills and experience are helpful for this role, but candidates with only some of them are able to be successful on our team. Learning on the job is critical success at SpaceX, and a core part of the excitement of working on a flight software team. 

  • Strong embedded software design and development skills 
  • Experience designing fault tolerant, distributed, or real-time systems 
  • Cross-context test design skills, ranging from simple unit tests through to integrated hardware-in-the-loop regression and exploratory tests 
  • Thorough knowledge of computer architecture and networks 
  • Knowledge of physics, math, and electronics 
  • Strong skills in debugging, performance optimization, and performance testing 
  • Familiarity with Linux programming 
  • Ability to work effectively in a dynamic environment with changing needs and requirements 
  • Ability to work independently or in a team, take initiative, and communicate effectively in a solution-oriented manner 

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS: 

  • Willing to work extended hours and weekends when needed 

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:    
    
Pay range:    
Software Engineer/Level I: $122,500.00 - $145,000.00/per year    
Software Engineer/Level II: $140,000.00 - $170,000.00/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. Company shuttles are offered to employees for roundtrip travel from select Seattle locations to the SpaceX Redmond office Monday to Friday.

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 EEOCompliance@spacex.com

Top Skills

C/C++
Linux
Python

SpaceX Redmond, Washington, USA Office

22630 NE Marketplace Dr, Redmond, Washington, United States, 98053

Similar Jobs

An Hour Ago
Hybrid
3 Locations
218K-285K
Senior level
218K-285K
Senior level
Healthtech • Social Impact • Software
Lead the SEO and Provider Showcase teams as Senior Engineering Manager, focusing on technical leadership, team management, and growth experimentation to drive user acquisition and retention.
Top Skills: GraphQLNext.JsPostgresPythonReactRedis
An Hour Ago
Hybrid
5 Locations
235K-414K Annually
Expert/Leader
235K-414K Annually
Expert/Leader
Artificial Intelligence • Cloud • Machine Learning • Mobile • Software • Virtual Reality • App development
Lead the development of Generative AI technologies for advertising, collaborate cross-functionally, and optimize machine learning models for Snap's advertising products.
Top Skills: Deep LearningGenerative AiMachine LearningMultimodal Image And Video GenerationPyTorchTensorFlow
An Hour Ago
4 Locations
160K-225K
Senior level
160K-225K
Senior level
Cloud • Information Technology • Machine Learning
As a Software Engineer in Infrastructure, design and implement scalable solutions for managing a global hardware fleet, focusing on automation, backend services, and Kubernetes custom resources.
Top Skills: AnsibleArgoChefFluxGithub ActionsGoGrafanaGrpcKubernetesLinuxPrometheusPuppetSalt

What you need to know about the Seattle Tech Scene

Home to tech titans like Microsoft and Amazon, Seattle punches far above its weight in innovation. But its surrounding mountains, sprinkled with world-famous hiking trails and climbing routes, make the city a destination for outdoorsy types as well. Established as a logging town before shifting to shipbuilding and logistics, the Emerald City is now known for its contributions to aerospace, software, biotech and cloud computing. And its status as a thriving tech ecosystem is attracting out-of-town companies looking to establish new tech and engineering hubs.

Key Facts About Seattle Tech

  • Number of Tech Workers: 287,000; 13% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
  • Major Tech Employers: Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, Google
  • Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, cloud computing, software, biotechnology, game development
  • Funding Landscape: $3.1 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
  • Notable Investors: Madrona, Fuse, Tola, Maveron
  • Research Centers and Universities: University of Washington, Seattle University, Seattle Pacific University, Allen Institute for Brain Science, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle Children’s Research Institute
By clicking Apply you agree to share your profile information with the hiring company.

Sign up now Access later

Create Free Account

Please log in or sign up to report this job.

Create Free Account