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Site Reliability Engineer, Kubernetes Platform (Starshield)

Hawthorne, CA
Full Time On-site

SITE RELIABILITY ENGINEER, KUBERENTES PLATFORM (STARSHIELD)

At SpaceX we're leveraging our experience in building rockets and spacecraft to deploy the Starshield constellation. Starshield is the world's largest US government satellite constellation and is tasked with providing immediate access to critical intelligence and national security data for the US government anywhere on the globe. We design, build, test, and operate all parts of the system - receivers that allow users to connect within minutes, and the software that brings it all together. We've only begun to scratch the surface of Starshield's global impact and are looking for best-in-class engineers to help us further our ambitious goals.

As an engineer focused on Starshield's software and network infrastructure, you will design, operate and scale the infrastructure we use to run the world's largest government satellite constellation. These positions cover a variety of areas ranging from Site Reliability Engineering, Developer Operations, and our internal Kubernetes platforms. You will develop automation to deploy and manage on-premise compute resources, create highly scalable and maintainable software products, and directly collaborate with engineering across the board.

RESPONSIBILITES:

  • Develop automation to deploy and manage on-premise Kubernetes clusters
  • Deploy and manage core infrastructure such as databases, monitoring and distributed 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
  • Monitoring and alerting supporting systems to have high availability
  • Hands-on integration and troubleshooting across the entire Starshield stack
  • Identify areas for improvement and create innovative solutions that enable high system availability

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Bachelor's degree in computer science, information systems/IT, or an engineering discipline and 1+ years of professional experience in site reliability engineering or DevOps; OR 3+ years of professional experience in site reliability engineering or DevOps in lieu of a degree
  • 1+ years of professional experience with Linux operating systems
  • Experience with Terraform, Ansible, or other infrastructure tools
  • Experience with containerization technologies (i.e. OCI containers, Kubernetes)
  • Experience scripting in Bash, Python, or other similar languages
  • Development experience in Python, C++, or Go

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

  • 1+ years of experience with Python and Python-based development frameworks
  • Experience managing Kubernetes clusters, not just using them
  • Knowledge of Linux boot process and systems configuration
  • Deep understanding of testing, continuous integration, build, deployment & continuous monitoring
  • Understanding of relevant build technologies, such as Bazel and Makefiles
  • Focus on performance bottlenecks and performance improvement techniques
  • Understanding of distributed databases and data modeling
  • Experience with automatically managing dozens, hundreds, or thousands of servers (eg: Terraform or Ansible)
  • 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
  • Active Top Secret, Top Secret SCI, or DOE Level Q clearance

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

  • Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed
  • This position requires successfully obtaining and maintaining a Top Secret Security Clearance as a condition of employment. While the clearance may not be immediately necessary upon hire, we encourage you to initiate the application process promptly upon accepting this offer. Your ability to secure the necessary clearance is essential for fulfilling key responsibilities of the role. Should you be unable to obtain it, SpaceX reserves the right to modify or terminate your employment to align with operational needs.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay Range:
Level 1: $125,000.00 - $150,000.00
Level 2: $145,000.00 - $175,000.00

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. Section 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. Section 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.

About SpaceX

SpaceX

SpaceX is one of the most influential aerospace companies in the world, transforming space launch, satellite communications, and deep-space transportation. Founded by Elon Musk, SpaceX designs and manufactures advanced rockets and spacecraft, including Falcon 9, Falcon Heavy, and Starship, alongside the Dragon spacecraft and the Starlink satellite internet constellation. The company plays a major role in U.S. space access, national security launch capabilities, and commercial space infrastructure.

For job seekers, SpaceX offers opportunities across some of the most demanding engineering disciplines in the industry, including aerospace engineering, propulsion, software development, avionics, manufacturing, robotics, materials science, and mission operations. The company is especially attractive to engineers, technicians, and builders who want to work in a high-intensity environment focused on rapid iteration, vertical integration, and hands-on hardware development at scale.

Unlike traditional aerospace contractors that rely heavily on long development cycles, SpaceX operates with a fast-paced, vertically integrated engineering culture where teams design, build, test, and fly systems in rapid succession. Employees often work directly on flight hardware and production systems, contributing to programs that routinely push the boundaries of reusability, launch frequency, and cost reduction in space access.

As global demand for satellite communications, space infrastructure, and national security launch services continues to grow, SpaceX remains one of the most important employers in aerospace and defense-adjacent technology. For professionals seeking a highly challenging, mission-driven career at the cutting edge of spaceflight and advanced engineering, SpaceX stands out as one of the most ambitious and impactful companies in the world.

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