Sr. Software Engineer, Computer Vision

About the role

SpaceX is seeking a seasoned software engineer to spearhead the development and implementation of AI and computer vision systems aimed at enhancing manufacturing efficiency and quality. In this position, you will take charge of comprehensive solutions, overseeing everything from model development to production oversight. Your work will focus on creating in-process inspection tools for key projects such as Starship, Raptor, and Starlink. This role is part of the NDE and Materials Software team, which specializes in non-destructive evaluation and materials engineering applications.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Develop and implement computer vision models that facilitate real-time inspection and automate defect detection in high-volume manufacturing environments.
• Construct data pipelines for model training, evaluation, deployment, monitoring, and retraining, utilizing platforms such as Ray Train/Serve, Kubeflow, or Airflow.
• Create software solutions that integrate hardware, sensors, and tooling with AI-driven process monitoring, including the fusion of sensor data.
• Design and optimize data pipelines that support real-time stream processing and inference from production lines.
• Collaborate closely with process engineers, NDE engineers, and materials scientists to align model outputs with manufacturing workflows.
• Conduct design and code reviews, assess new technologies, and maintain high standards for coding style, CI/CD practices, accuracy, testability, and operational efficiency.
• Engage in continuous improvement initiatives by analyzing model performance and implementing necessary adjustments.
• Document processes and maintain clear communication with cross-functional teams to ensure project alignment and success.

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, mathematics, physics, or a related STEM discipline, or at least 8 years of experience in building and deploying AI/ML software without a formal degree.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in software development.
• At least 3 years of experience in deploying AI models into production environments.
• A background of 3 or more years in software engineering.
• Proficiency in Python for data analysis, with at least 3 years of hands-on experience.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently as well as part of a team.

Nice to have

• Proven experience in leading technical AI/ML software projects from conception to deployment.
• Hands-on experience with deploying computer vision models specifically for real-time manufacturing inspection.
• Advanced skills in Python and C++, particularly with machine learning frameworks such as PyTorch or JAX.
• Familiarity with computer vision libraries like OpenCV.
• Experience in fine-tuning and adapting transformer models and vision transformers for production use.
• Knowledge of deploying at scale using Docker, Kubernetes, and cloud or edge inference for factory automation.
• Experience in ML/LLM operations, including model versioning, A/B testing, drift detection, and orchestration with tools like Kubeflow, Ray, or MLFlow.
• Familiarity with stream processing technologies such as Apache Kafka or RabbitMQ.
• Database management skills, particularly with PostgreSQL, and experience with data visualization tools like Prometheus, Grafana, and Jupyter.
• Strong Linux operating system experience.
• Experience applying AI techniques in physics or simulation contexts, such as using physics-informed neural networks or surrogate modeling.

Skills & tools

• Proficient in Python and C++
• Experienced with PyTorch and JAX
• Familiar with OpenCV
• Knowledgeable in Ray Train/Serve, Kubeflow, Airflow, and MLFlow
• Proficient in Docker and Kubernetes
• Familiar with Apache Kafka and RabbitMQ
• Experienced with PostgreSQL, Prometheus, Grafana, and Jupyter
• Strong Linux skills

Practical notes

• Occasional travel to other SpaceX locations may be required, potentially up to 20% of the time.
• The position may necessitate extended hours and weekend work.
• Salary range for this role is between $160,000 and $225,000 annually, based on qualifications, skills, education, and experience.
• Additional compensation may include company stock options, long-term cash awards, discretionary bonuses, and eligibility for the Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
• Comprehensive benefits package includes medical, vision, and dental insurance, a 401(k) plan, short and long-term disability coverage, life insurance, paid parental leave, three weeks of paid vacation, over ten paid holidays, and paid sick leave.
• Due to ITAR regulations, applicants must be U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents, refugees, asylees, or must be able to obtain the necessary authorization from the U.S. Department of State.

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.