---
title: 'Software Engineer, Simulation at SpaceX'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/software-engineer-simulation-spacex-hawthorne-7khxw375jdbr'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-11-03'
---

# Software Engineer, Simulation at SpaceX

- **Company:** SpaceX
- **Location:** Hawthorne, CA
- **Posted:** 2026-08-14
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-03
- **Apply:** https://boards.greenhouse.io/spacex/jobs/8695142002?gh_jid=8695142002

## Job description

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, SIMULATION

As a software engineer on the NDE & Materials Software team, you will develop, improve, and advance our in-house multi-physics simulation engine—currently supporting high-pressure die casting and investment casting processes—to the next level. This role will expand the engine's capabilities to additional manufacturing domains, including additive manufacturing, welding, structural stress and strain analysis, grain prediction, and more. You will help apply these simulations to increase part yield, reduce inspection burden, and optimize parts across Raptor, Starship, Starlink, and other programs at SpaceX. Strong software engineering skills and experience applying Machine Learning (ML) and AI to simulation solutions are key to success. The team consists of world-class experts in solidification physics, casting, metallurgy, and simulation. Experience with casting or solidification is not required—just a desire to learn, collaborate, and enable the best future for manufacturing at SpaceX.

## RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Own software architecture and quality of simulation software used across SpaceX.
- Develop and optimize next-generation software that integrates CFD tools, meshing software, and CAD platforms for multi-physics simulations; contribute to transitioning results viewing to web-based 3D tooling.
- Build advanced interfaces for viewing and interpreting simulation results.
- Troubleshoot and debug issues related to software integration, meshing quality, and simulation accuracy.
- Leverage machine learning and AI solutions—such as surrogate modeling and physics-informed neural networks—to accelerate simulations, enhance efficiency, drive novel improvements, increase part yield, reduce inspection burden, and optimize parts.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement new features and automate processes.
- Conduct testing and validation of simulation results using industry-standard benchmarks.

## BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

- Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, math, or STEM discipline; OR 5+ years of professional experience building software in lieu of a degree.
- 2+ years of software development experience in C++, Python, or other object oriented languages.

## PREFERRED SKILLS:

- Experience working with numerical solvers for complex physics domains (e.g., tools like OpenFOAM, ANSYS Fluent, COMSOL Multiphysics).
- Strong meshing skills for complex simulations (e.g., tools like NX, ANSYS Meshing, SnappyHexMesh).
- Demonstrated experience applying machine learning and AI solutions (e.g., surrogate modeling, physics-informed neural networks, Fourier neural operators, neural operators, graph neural networks etc) to accelerate simulations.
- Experience with visualization tools (ParaView, VisIt, Tecplot) and web-based 3D tooling (e.g., Three.js).
- Experience with web development frameworks such as Flask, SQLAlchemy, and FastAPI.
- Front-end experience in React or similar JavaScript UI frameworks.
- Database experience with PostgreSQL, SQL Server, or similar database technologies.
- Good understanding of version control, testing, continuous integration, build, deployment, and monitoring.
- Strong Linux experience.
- Knowledge of high-performance computing (HPC) environments and parallel processing.
- Strong problem-solving abilities and attention to detail for optimizing simulation efficiency.
- Excellent communication skills for documenting code and collaborating in team settings.

## ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

- Ability to work extended hours and weekends as necessary.
- Ability to travel to other SpaceX sites as needed (up to 20%).

## COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay Range:

Level 1: $125,000.00 - $160,000.00 Level 2: $145,000.00 - $195,000.00

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](https://www.pmddtc.state.gov/?id=ddtc_kb_article_page&sys_id=24d528fddbfc930044f9ff621f961987).

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.

## About SpaceX

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: SpaceX designs, manufactures, and launches advanced rockets and spacecraft while building a global satellite broadband network and AI infrastructure to enable interplanetary life.
- **Entity Type**: Public (Nasdaq: SPCX) – IPO priced at $135/share on June 12, 2026
- **Headquarters**: Starbase, Texas (primary); Hawthorne, California (historical headquarters)
- **Founded**: 2002
- **Founders**: Elon Musk

## Core Business
- **Industries**: Aerospace & Defense, Spaceflight, Satellite Telecommunications, Artificial Intelligence
- **Target Customers**: Government (NASA, U.S. Armed Forces, international agencies), Commercial satellite operators, Broadband consumers (Starlink), Defense/intelligence (Starshield)
- **Mission**: To make humanity multiplanetary by building the integrated hardware and software infrastructure of the future across space, connectivity, and AI.

## Products & Services
- **Falcon 9**: Reusable two-stage rocket – the world’s most launched orbital rocket, with over 630 successful first-stage reflights.
- **Falcon Heavy**: Heavy-lift launch vehicle composed of three Falcon 9 cores; capable of lifting nearly 64 metric tons to orbit.
- **Starship**: Fully reusable super-heavy launch vehicle and spacecraft (largest ever built) designed for missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
- **Dragon 2**: Crew and cargo spacecraft used for NASA Commercial Crew and private missions to the ISS and beyond.
- **Starlink**: Low-Earth-orbit satellite constellation providing high-speed, low-latency broadband internet to over 10.3 million people globally.
- **Starshield**: Military-grade satellite services for national security and defense customers.
- **SpaceXAI**: Division focused on AI compute infrastructure, frontier models, and real-time data processing (including AI compute satellites).

## Market Standing
- **Valuation**: Conflicting reports – Internal share offer in 2025 valued SpaceX at **$800 billion**; IPO pricing (June 2026) implied a market capitalization of approximately **$75 billion** for the shares offered.
- **Key Metric**: Annual revenue of **$15.0 billion** (2025); total funding raised **$15.2 billion** across 56 rounds.
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Google (led $1B Series G), Intesa Sanpaolo, NASA, U.S. Space Force, and numerous institutional investors.
- **Growth Signals**: Employee headcount of **11,387** (monthly growth +2.5%); **1,671 active job postings**; Falcon 9 launch cadence of 1–3 per week; Starlink subscriber base covering ~10.3 million people; recent acquisition of xAI (February 2026).

## Competitive Advantages
- **Full reusability**: Only company with a fleet of reusable orbital rockets (Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy), dramatically lowering per-launch cost.
- **Vertical integration**: Designs, manufactures, and operates its own rockets, spacecraft, satellite constellation, and AI platform – enabling rapid iteration and cost control.
- **Scale and reliability**: More orbital launches per year than any other provider (public or private); proven track record with NASA and DoD.
- **First-mover in commercial spaceflight**: Established crew transport, satellite internet, and now AI compute in orbit.

## Strategic Focus
- **Starship development**: Complete testing and operational deployment of the fully reusable Starship system for lunar (Artemis) and Mars missions.
- **Starlink expansion**: Grow subscriber base, launch V3 satellites, and extend mobile and direct-to-cell services.
- **AI integration**: Leverage SpaceXAI for on-orbit compute and real-time data analytics; build AI compute satellites.
- **Interplanetary infrastructure**: Develop technologies for sustained human presence on the Moon and Mars.

## Why Work Here
- **Mission-driven culture**: Employees directly contribute to making life multiplanetary – “hard work and innovative solutions result in big gains.”
- **Impactful projects**: Work on reusable rockets, crewed spacecraft, global broadband, and AI systems that are actively changing the space industry.
- **Compensation**: Competitive salaries, comprehensive health benefits, and equity packages.
- **Work locations**: Primary campuses in Hawthorne, CA and Starbase, TX (with additional sites in Cape Canaveral, FL and Vandenberg, CA). Roles span engineering, software, manufacturing, and support.
- **Engineering culture**: Merit-based, fast-paced, with high ownership; top talent sourced from Tesla, Boeing, NASA JPL, and other aerospace leaders.
- **Open roles**: Over 1,600 active positions across software, AI, avionics, propulsion, supply chain, and more – including internships.

## Sources
1. [SpaceX Careers Page](https://www.spacex.com/careers)
2. [LinkedIn – SpaceX Company Profile](https://www.linkedin.com/company/spacex)
3. [SpaceX IPO Factsheet (PDF)](https://content.spacex.com/cms-assets/FINAL_Documents%20and%20Updates/SpaceX%20IPO_Factsheet.pdf)
4. [SpaceX IPO Pricing Press Release](https://ir.spacex.com/updates/releases-details/2026/Space-Exploration-Technologies-Corp--Announces-Pricing-of-Initial-Public-Offering/default.aspx)
5. [SpaceX Jobs Board (Greenhouse)](https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/spacex)

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