Software Engineer (Flight Reliability)

About the role

The Flight Reliability team builds mission-critical software to support SpaceX launch vehicle production, flight operations, and the Starlink network. You will develop applications that manage engineering changes and risk mitigation across the Falcon, Starship, Dragon, and Starlink fleets. In this role, you act as the technical owner responsible for ensuring software reliability directly impacts mission success and vehicle safety. You will translate complex operational constraints into robust software architectures that enable rapid iteration without compromising stability. The position requires close collaboration with cross-functional teams to align software deliverables with evolving mission objectives. You will be expected to independently drive projects from initial concept through deployment, maintaining full accountability for the final product. This role is critical for maintaining the integrity of software systems that monitor, control, and optimize high-stakes aerospace operations.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Architect and implement resilient software solutions utilized across the company to ensure operational continuity.
• Engineer new applications designed to refine operational workflows and eliminate bottlenecks in production environments.
• Construct prototypes that test design concepts and define technical limits before committing to full-scale development.
• Orchestrate the complete lifecycle of software products and engineering tasks, tracking progress from ideation to retirement.
• Evaluate user requirements to deliver efficient technical solutions that balance performance, cost, and maintainability.
• Contribute actively to architectural discussions, design sessions, and code reviews to uphold the highest standards of code quality.
• Integrate complex software components into cohesive systems that adhere to strict reliability and safety specifications.
• Optimize application performance by identifying bottlenecks and applying advanced debugging techniques under tight deadlines.
• Document technical decisions and system behaviors to ensure clarity for future maintenance and knowledge transfer.
• Mentor junior engineers by providing guidance on best practices, code structure, and problem-solving strategies.
• Collaborate with hardware and operations teams to align software schedules with physical testing and launch timelines.
• Apply automation to repetitive tasks, reducing manual effort and minimizing the risk of human error.
• Validate software functionality through rigorous testing procedures to confirm behavior under extreme conditions.
• Support on-call responsibilities to respond to critical incidents affecting mission readiness and system availability.

Requirements

• Hold a Bachelor degree in computer science, engineering, math, or a scientific field OR possess 2+ years of professional software development experience.
• Demonstrate 1+ years of experience in full stack development covering both frontend and backend technologies.
• Meet U.S. citizenship requirements as a lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee to satisfy ITAR compliance regulations.
• Show evidence of consistent code quality and attention to detail in previous software projects.
• Exhibit strong analytical skills to diagnose problems and devise effective solutions in ambiguous situations.
• Communicate effectively in a team environment, articulating technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Take ownership of your work, showing initiative in identifying issues and proposing improvements without direct supervision.
• Adapt quickly to changing priorities, learning new tools and frameworks as required by project demands.
• Maintain a strong work ethic, meeting deadlines and delivering results in a fast-paced, high-expectation setting.
• Understand the importance of reliability in systems that impact safety, mission success, and operational integrity.
• Be prepared to work on weekends or extended hours when launch schedules demand additional support.
• Comply with company policies and security protocols to protect sensitive aerospace data and intellectual property.
• Commit to continuous learning, staying current with software engineering trends and aerospace industry advancements.

Nice to have

• Programming proficiency in Python, C#.NET, Go, Scala, or Java to accelerate development of high-performance services.
• 1+ years of experience building single page web applications to create responsive and interactive user interfaces.
• Familiarity with version control, continuous integration, and continuous delivery to streamline deployment pipelines.
• Background in software system design to anticipate scalability and performance challenges early in the process.
• Experience with testing, deployment, monitoring, and performance profiling to maintain visibility into system health.
• Experience building agentic AI systems, including LLM prompting, context retrieval, and evaluation to enhance automation capabilities.
• Production experience with Docker to ensure consistent environments across development and deployment stages.
• Front-end experience using React, Angular, or similar frameworks to build intuitive and efficient user experiences.
• Database experience with PostgreSQL, SQL Server, or similar systems to manage complex data relationships securely.

Practical notes

Compensation: Level I ($125,000 - $145,000 per year); Level II ($145,000 - $175,000 per year).

Total rewards include potential stock incentives, discretionary bonuses, an Employee Stock Purchase Plan, 401(k), medical/dental/vision coverage, and insurance.

Benefits include 3 weeks of paid vacation, 10+ paid holidays, paid parental leave, and accrued sick leave.

This position is strictly onsite; remote or hybrid arrangements are not available.

Expect potential weekend or extended hours based on launch schedules.