Skip to content

Sr. High Performance Computing (HPC) Systems Engineer

Hawthorne, CA
Full Time On-site

SpaceX is looking for an HPC Systems Engineer with strong knowledge and experience in a world class engineering organization. This employee will be a member of the HPC team and will support SpaceX personnel and proprietary systems. The ideal candidate will be flexible and flourish in a fast paced and challenging environment. They should be a self-starter, self-motivator and possess ingenuity to excel at this position.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Administer and manage HPC clusters, storage systems, and high-speed networks
  • Provide application support to SpaceX employees across engineering disciplines
  • Install and integrate Linux-based compute clusters
  • Write instructional documentation and convey highly technical ideas in non-technical terms

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, math, or scientific discipline and 5+ years of systems engineering experience; OR 7+ years of professional experience building software in lieu of a degree
  • 5+ years of hands-on experience with client and server hardware/software, management tools, enterprise networking, virtualization, and security technologies
  • Experience with Kubernetes

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

  • 5+ years of professional experience building, deploying and troubleshooting Linux systems
  • Experience with a scripting language (Bash, Python) to automate and solve reoccurring tasks
  • Experience building, deploying and troubleshooting HPC clusters
  • Familiarity with cluster resource managers (Slurm, PBS, LSF)
  • Experience with monitoring and alerting technologies (Prometheus, Grafana, Nagios)
  • Familiarity with scientific and engineering computing (CFD, FEA)
  • Familiarity with large scale AI training
  • Familiarity with GPU usage in a compute cluster and Cuda
  • Experience with containers (Docker, Podman, Singularity)
  • Experience deploying and maintaining automated configuration management software (Puppet, Ansible)
  • Comfortable working with mission critical and sensitive systems, with a sense of urgency appropriate to the responsibilities
  • Eligibility for access to classified material up to TS/SCI with Polygraph

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

  • Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay Range:
Sr. HPC Systems Engineer: $165,000.00-$230,000.00/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 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.

Go to company profile