--- title: 'Sr. Software Engineer (Platform Team) at SpaceX' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/sr-software-engineer-platform-team-spacex-redmond-5cnkrj54q9sa' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-08' --- # Sr. Software Engineer (Platform Team) at SpaceX - **Company:** SpaceX - **Location:** Redmond, WA - **Posted:** 2026-05-20 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-08 - **Apply:** https://boards.greenhouse.io/spacex/jobs/8558869002?gh_jid=8558869002 ## 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. ## SR. SOFTWARE ENGINEER (PLATFORM TEAM) The Platform Team builds the foundational tooling and security infrastructure that empowers every team at SpaceX to harness AI effectively. This team creates secure, scalable gateways and proxy systems that allow engineers and operators across the company to write code faster, perform advanced data analysis, connect AI to their daily tools and problems, and turn ideas into deployed solutions with confidence. By onboarding new frontier models, expanding compute capacity, optimizing proxy efficiency for logging and control, and building shared prompts, skills, and infrastructure, this team unlocks reliable, high-impact AI capabilities across the entire organization. As a Sr. Software Engineer for SpaceX's AI platform, you will be a key technical leader and entrepreneurial builder focused on the leanest and most effective applied use of AI at SpaceX. You will design and scale platforms that convert engineering know-how into tested software, automation, and reliable data stores at company scale while creating risk-mitigation tools such as intelligent code review and PR assistants. Current systems are built with Docker containers acting as secure gateways and proxies that integrate with any cloud compute provider and multiple frontier model providers. Your work will directly accelerate SpaceX production and development by enabling every team to move faster with trustworthy AI. ## RESPONSIBILITIES: - Lead the design, architecture, and implementation of secure, scalable AI platforms and proxy systems used company-wide - Own complex platform initiatives end-to-end, including technical strategy, implementation, testing, deployment, and long-term evolution - Drive onboarding of new frontier models, expansion of compute resources, and optimization of proxy systems for performance, security, logging, and control - Champion adoption across SpaceX by mentoring engineers, communicating value, building shared products/prompts/skills/infrastructure, and providing hands-on support - Act as an entrepreneurial force to identify high-value opportunities and deliver solutions that allow users to rapidly convert problems and ideas into tested software, deployed applications, and trained models on managed, reliable compute - Develop and scale tools that mitigate business risk, such as advanced AI-powered code review, PR automation, and safety guardrails - Define best practices for lean, effective, and secure applied AI that maximizes conversion of engineering expertise into automation and reliable data systems - Collaborate with and influence cross-functional stakeholders, including ML researchers, security, and operations teams ## BASIC QUALIFICATIONS: - Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, or other engineering discipline and 5+ years of professional experience building production software; OR 7+ years of professional experience building production software in lieu of a degree - Experience developing and operating production platforms (AI/ML infrastructure, developer platforms, or large-scale backend systems) ## PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE: - Proven success building and scaling internal AI gateways, secure proxy systems, or MLOps platforms in a fast-paced environment - Deep hands-on experience with Docker, Kubernetes, security architecture, and integrations across multiple cloud and frontier model providers - Strong background in model onboarding, compute orchestration, observability, and infrastructure for high-volume AI usage - Demonstrated ability to enable and mentor others through tools, documentation, training, and direct partnership - Entrepreneurial track record of identifying opportunities and delivering outsized impact - Proficiency in Python and strong experience with additional languages (Go, Java, TypeScript, Rust, etc.) - Experience with infrastructure-as-code, CI/CD, and building highly reliable distributed systems - Passion for AI risk mitigation, developer productivity, and turning complex engineering challenges into simple, scalable AI-powered outcomes ## COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS: Pay range: Sr. Software Engineer: $160,000.00 - $225,000.00/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](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. 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