Sr. Software Infrastructure Engineer

About the role

This position supports the Starlink satellite constellation, which provides broadband internet to over 9 million users. You will manage the infrastructure, automation, and software systems that maintain this global network.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Build automation for deploying and managing on-premise compute resources.
• Maintain core infrastructure components including monitoring, databases, and distributed storage.
• Partner with software teams to ensure products are scalable and maintainable.
• Manage the full lifecycle of services from design through operation and refinement.
• Create tools to improve developer velocity and deployment accuracy.
• Provide validation for software through hardware-in-the-loop, virtualized, and on-orbit testing.
• Analyze data to support continuous integration and release cycles.
• Perform hands-on troubleshooting across the Starlink stack.

This senior role supports the infrastructure that keeps the Starlink satellite constellation running for over 9 million users. You will build automation for deploying and managing on-premise compute resources, maintain core infrastructure components including monitoring, databases, and distributed storage, and partner with software teams to ensure products are scalable and maintainable. The systems you operate are central to a global broadband network.

The role spans operations, tooling, and testing. You will manage the full lifecycle of services from design through operation and refinement, create tools to improve developer velocity and deployment accuracy, and provide validation for software through hardware-in-the-loop, virtualized, and on-orbit testing. You will also analyze data to support continuous integration and release cycles and perform hands-on troubleshooting across the Starlink stack.

Operating infrastructure at this scale requires deep experience with Linux, automation, and containerization. Candidates with proficiency in infrastructure tools such as Ansible or Terraform, experience with Kubernetes or Docker, and strong scripting and development skills in Python, Bash, C, or C++ will be well prepared. The role offers the opportunity to work on the infrastructure behind one of the world's largest satellite networks. Engineers who value reliability, automation, and hands-on troubleshooting will find the work deeply rewarding. The team collaborates closely with software engineers building satellite systems, offering broad exposure across the Starlink stack. Strong attention to detail and a systematic approach to operations are highly valued. This is a great role for an infrastructure engineer who wants to work on space-based systems at global scale.

Requirements

• Bachelor degree in Computer Science, IT, or engineering with 5+ years of experience in DevOps, SRE, or systems administration; OR 7+ years of experience in these fields without a degree.
• 2+ years of professional experience with Linux.
• Proficiency with infrastructure tools such as Ansible or Terraform.
• Experience with containerization using Kubernetes or Docker.
• Scripting proficiency in Python or Bash.
• Development experience in C, C++, or Python.

Nice to have

• 3+ years of experience using Python and related development frameworks.
• Knowledge of hypervisor technologies and virtualization.
• Understanding of the Linux boot process and system configuration.
• Familiarity with build systems like Bazel.
• Experience with data modeling and databases.
• Strong networking knowledge regarding TCP/IP.
• Ability to identify and resolve performance bottlenecks.

Skills & tools

Linux, Python, C, C++, Bash, Kubernetes, Docker, Terraform, Ansible, Bazel, TCP/IP.

Practical notes

Salary: $165,000 to $230,000 for Level

3. Total rewards include stock options, discretionary bonuses, an Employee Stock Purchase Plan, 401(k), and comprehensive insurance. Benefits include 3 weeks of vacation, 10+ paid holidays, and paid parental leave. Expect to work extended hours and weekends when necessary. Company shuttles run from select Seattle locations to the Redmond office. ITAR compliance: applicants must be U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, refugees, or asylees.

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.