Software Infrastructure Engineer, Flight Software (Starlink)
SpaceX is hiring a Software Infrastructure Engineer, Flight Software (Starlink). It pays $125k-$165k a year and Level rates it ; you can apply on SpaceX.
Level's read on this job
- Little AI ●○○○ is how Level rates this role: aI is not part of the work.
- Tools and skills the posting cites include Bazel, Python and C.
- Level classifies it as a mid-level role.
- Level lists 2,800+ other open roles at SpaceX.
AI in this role
Develop and maintain infrastructure, tooling, and core features for Starlink flight software to enable rapid iteration.
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 INFASTRUCTURE ENGINEER, FLIGHT SOFTWARE (STARLINK)
As an infrastructure engineer on the Starlink flight software team, you will be responsible for the software that enables rapid iteration and deployment of both ground and satellite software. You will look for slowdowns in developer iteration, inefficiencies in the build system, and unnecessary interface complexity, and fix them. You will engage closely with other Starlink engineers to identify the biggest challenges they are facing and resolve them. You will be responsible for the full lifecycle of the software that you write, from conception to test to maintenance. Your relentless commitment to streamlining the flight software ecosystem will be critical to the team’s ability to rapidly deliver high quality software.
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 inspiring mission.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Maintain flight code generation tooling for flight software and GNC engineers
- Maintain core flight software features that are shared across various satellite products
- Work closely with flight software developers to understand slow / error prone aspects of embedded software development and fix them
- Invent tools and processes that enable fast, accurate, and easy-to-use development and operational systems
- Engage ground software teams to understand where flight systems should be changed to simplify constellation operations
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:
- Knowledge of Bazel, C++, Python, Bash
- Experience identifying and improving performance bottlenecks, both in build systems and in embedded environments
- Experience designing aesthetic and easy-to-use user interfaces targeted at software engineers
- Experience designing fault tolerant, distributed, or real-time embedded systems
- Experience with version control, continuous integration, and continuous delivery systems
- Ability to work effectively in a dynamic environment with changing needs and requirements
- Ability to communicate effectively across teams in a solution-oriented manner
- Ability to work independently or in a team
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Willing to work extended hours and weekends when needed
Pay Range:
Level 1: $125,000.00 - $165,000.00
Level 2: $145,000.00 - $200,000.00
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 in Washington State accrue paid sick time in compliance with state and federal law. 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.
How we rate this
Software Infrastructure Engineer, Flight Software (Starlink) at SpaceX rates 0 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Little AI (AI Level 1 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.
Little AI. AI is not part of the work.
- ●●●● Builds AI80 to 100
- ●●●○ Works on AI60 to 79
- ●●○○ Uses AI40 to 59
- ●○○○ Little AI0 to 39
Levels come from how often the tools, models and workflows of the role are named in the posting itself. Read the description and count the AI tools, models and workflows it names.
Prepare for this job
Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.
Skills and AI tools this role asks for
Questions you could be asked
- Tell me about a project where embedded systems was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where continuous integration was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where software infrastructure was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where flight software was part of your work. What did you do?
- Walk me through how you've used Bazel in your day-to-day work.
Adapt your resume
- List these exact terms on your resume: Embedded Systems, Continuous Integration, Software Infrastructure, Flight Software, and Bazel. An applicant tracking system matches the wording, not the idea.
- Attach one line of real, concrete experience to at least one of them. A tool named with nothing behind it rarely survives a human read.
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