IT Network Engineer

About the role

The IT Networking team at Starbase keeps the network that powers rocket design, manufacturing, and satellite operations running across the campus. As a Network Engineer you will manage connectivity for the teams that build Starship: production bays, engine test facilities, integration and control rooms, and the operational network that supports human space flight and commercial internet services. When a segment of the campus goes silent, engineering schedules move with it, so reliability is the baseline, not an afterthought. The role is hands-on: you will install hardware, configure switches and access points, manage power and UPS units, run cable, and keep the infrastructure rooms clean and documented. Starbase is also a campus under constant construction, so you will coordinate with vendors and internal teams to design network plans for new and expanding buildings, making sure connectivity grows in lockstep with the site. With on-site service being the norm, you will also be the network face for the site: the engineer who shows up with a laptop and a crimper when something stops working, and the one who explains what the network footprint is to people who just want their systems on it.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Install, configure, and procure network hardware including switches, wireless access points, PDUs, and UPS units.
• Diagnose and fix network connectivity issues as they happen, from a single desk to a full building segment.
• Schedule and execute maintenance windows for firmware and software updates and hardware refreshes.
• Perform wireless site surveys to find and close coverage gaps.
• Implement and manage network access control and security protocols for the campus.
• Coordinate with vendors and internal stakeholders to design network implementation plans.
• Keep IDF rooms organized and tidy per engineering standards.
• Track network performance with internal and external monitoring software.
• Manage inventory and maintain technical documentation for every active asset on the campus.
• Support end-to-end connectivity of new building deliveries, from IDF design through final acceptance.

Requirements

• Bachelor degree in computer science, computer engineering, or a related STEM field, plus 3+ years of professional network engineering experience; OR 5+ years of professional network engineering experience without a degree.
• Ability to lift up to 35 lbs unassisted.
• Availability for weekends and extended hours as required.
• Ability to lift and move network gear across new installations without always having a lift team handy.

Nice to have

• Experience with commercial or residential internet hand-offs.
• Background in ISP or managed service provider environments.
• Familiarity with Linux or Windows administration.
• Industry certification such as CCNA or CCNP.
• Understanding of packet captures and the ability to explain a connectivity problem in terms others can act on.

Skills & tools

• Networking fundamentals: OSI model, DNS, DHCP, SNMP, IP helpers, ARP, CDP, LLDP
• Cisco Catalyst, Arista, and wireless controller hardware
• Wave-division multiplexing, fiber optics, GPON, FTTH, residential adaptable devices
• Switch port security, firewalls, and SDWAN
• Network monitoring and documentation tooling
• Server and structured cabling standards for the physical layer

Practical notes

• This position is subject to U.S. Government export regulations (ITAR); applicants must be U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, refugees, or asylees.
• SpaceX is an equal opportunity employer; for reasonable accommodation or a copy of the Affirmative Action Plan, contact EEOCompliance@spacex.com.
• The campus tempo is not a 9-to-5 rhythm: launches and test campaigns set the tempo, and the network team is expected to match it with discipline and a calm troubleshooting style.

About the company

Based in Starbase, Texas, a company pursues work in spaceflight, telecom, and artificial intelligence. A unit handles rocket launches, leading yearly orbital counts beyond other national and commercial teams. Another unit runs Starlink, a satellite communications firm. A third area, through SpaceXAI, advances Grok and AI integration with X, while managing data center operations. Roles often cross these paths. Candidates with engineering, software, or operations backgrounds may find chances to join projects that span launch, connectivity, and machine learning efforts in this Texas-based enterprise.