SpaceX Logo

SpaceX

Site Reliability Engineer, Kubernetes Platform (Starshield)

Reposted One Month Ago
Be an Early Applicant
In-Office
Hawthorne, CA, USA
125K-175K Annually
Junior
In-Office
Hawthorne, CA, USA
125K-175K Annually
Junior
Design, operate, and scale on-premise infrastructure for the Starshield satellite constellation. Build automation for Kubernetes cluster deployment and management, operate core infrastructure (databases, monitoring, distributed storage), collaborate with software teams, troubleshoot across the stack, improve service lifecycle, and ensure high availability through monitoring and performance improvements.
The summary above was generated by AI

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.

SITE RELIABILITY ENGINEER, KUBERENTES PLATFORM (STARSHIELD)

At SpaceX we’re leveraging our experience in building rockets and spacecraft to deploy the Starshield constellation. Starshield is the world’s largest US government satellite constellation and is tasked with providing immediate access to critical intelligence and national security data for the US government anywhere on the globe. We design, build, test, and operate all parts of the system – receivers that allow users to connect within minutes, and the software that brings it all together. We’ve only begun to scratch the surface of Starshield's global impact and are looking for best-in-class engineers to help us further our ambitious goals.

As an engineer focused on Starshield's software and network infrastructure, you will design, operate and scale the infrastructure we use to run the world’s largest government satellite constellation. These positions cover a variety of areas ranging from Site Reliability Engineering, Developer Operations, and our internal Kubernetes platforms. You will develop automation to deploy and manage on-premise compute resources, create highly scalable and maintainable software products, and directly collaborate with engineering across the board.

RESPONSIBILITES:

  • Develop automation to deploy and manage on-premise Kubernetes clusters
  • Deploy and manage core infrastructure such as databases, monitoring and distributed storage
  • Closely collaborate with software engineers to create highly scalable, operable, and maintainable products
  • Engage in and improve the whole lifecycle of services -- from inception and design, through deployment, operation and refinement
  • Monitoring and alerting supporting systems to have high availability
  • Hands-on integration and troubleshooting across the entire Starshield stack 
  • Identify areas for improvement and create innovative solutions that enable high system availability

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems/IT, or an engineering discipline and 1+ years of professional experience in site reliability engineering or DevOps; OR 3+ years of professional experience in site reliability engineering or DevOps in lieu of a degree
  • 1+ years of professional experience with Linux operating systems
  • Experience with Terraform, Ansible, or other infrastructure tools
  • Experience with containerization technologies (i.e. OCI containers, Kubernetes)
  • Experience scripting in Bash, Python, or other similar languages
  • Development experience in Python, C++, or Go

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

  • 1+ years of experience with Python and Python-based development frameworks
  • Experience managing Kubernetes clusters, not just using them
  • Knowledge of Linux boot process and systems configuration
  • Deep understanding of testing, continuous integration, build, deployment & continuous monitoring
  • Understanding of relevant build technologies, such as Bazel and Makefiles
  • Focus on performance bottlenecks and performance improvement techniques
  • Understanding of distributed databases and data modeling
  • Experience with automatically managing dozens, hundreds, or thousands of servers (eg: Terraform or Ansible)
  • Strong networking knowledge of TCP/IP
  • Excellent communications skills with the ability to communicate with customers, peers, management etc. in both formal and informal situations
  • Active Top Secret, Top Secret SCI, or DOE Level Q clearance

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

  • Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed
  • This position requires successfully obtaining and maintaining a Top Secret Security Clearance as a condition of employment. While the clearance may not be immediately necessary upon hire, we encourage you to initiate the application process promptly upon accepting this offer. Your ability to secure the necessary clearance is essential for fulfilling key responsibilities of the role. Should you be unable to obtain it, SpaceX reserves the right to modify or terminate your employment to align with operational needs.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
Pay Range:
Level 1: $125,000.00 - $150,000.00
Level 2: $145,000.00 - $175,000.00

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 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. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 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 [email protected]

HQ

SpaceX Hawthorne, California, USA Office

1 Rocket Road, Hawthorne, CA, United States, 90250

SpaceX Irvine, California, USA Office

Irvine, United States

SpaceX Pasadena, California, USA Office

Pasadena, United States

SpaceX Torrance, California, USA Office

Torrance, United States

Similar Jobs

24 Minutes Ago
Remote or Hybrid
US
230K-290K Annually
Senior level
230K-290K Annually
Senior level
HR Tech • Information Technology • Professional Services • Sales • Software
Leads payroll services and operations across the US and UK, owning strategy, implementation quality, customer outcomes, scalability, revenue, and P&L. Builds and scales payroll service models for SMB and mid-market customers, partners with Product, Engineering, Customer Success, Sales, and Operations, and develops a high-performing organization. Uses AI, automation, and innovative operating approaches to improve efficiency, retention, expansion, and service delivery.
Top Skills: AIAutomationSaaS
3 Hours Ago
Hybrid
68K-278K Annually
Expert/Leader
68K-278K Annually
Expert/Leader
Artificial Intelligence • Fintech • Insurance • Marketing Tech • Software • Analytics
Underwrite commercial auto, workers compensation, and general liability risks within Liberty Mutual’s emerging mobility practice. Build and manage a profitable, diversified book of business; evaluate complex risks; develop innovative underwriting approaches; collaborate with product, actuarial, legal, claims, and other underwriting teams; support cross-selling; maintain agent and broker relationships; and communicate underwriting guidance and processes.
3 Hours Ago
Hybrid
160K-230K Annually
Senior level
160K-230K Annually
Senior level
Artificial Intelligence • Fintech • Payments • Business Intelligence • Financial Services • Generative AI
Own and optimise the end-to-end customer onboarding journey, using data, A/B testing and analytics to reduce friction while balancing KYC/KYB and fraud risk. Define strategy, measure success, and drive product adoption across global-scale products.

What you need to know about the Los Angeles Tech Scene

Los Angeles is a global leader in entertainment, so it’s no surprise that many of the biggest players in streaming, digital media and game development call the city home. But the city boasts plenty of non-entertainment innovation as well, with tech companies spanning verticals like AI, fintech, e-commerce and biotech. With major universities like Caltech, UCLA, USC and the nearby UC Irvine, the city has a steady supply of top-flight tech and engineering talent — not counting the graduates flocking to Los Angeles from across the world to enjoy its beaches, culture and year-round temperate climate.

Key Facts About Los Angeles Tech

  • Number of Tech Workers: 375,800; 5.5% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
  • Major Tech Employers: Snap, Netflix, SpaceX, Disney, Google
  • Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, adtech, media, software, game development
  • Funding Landscape: $11.6 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
  • Notable Investors: Strong Ventures, Fifth Wall, Upfront Ventures, Mucker Capital, Kittyhawk Ventures
  • Research Centers and Universities: California Institute of Technology, UCLA, University of Southern California, UC Irvine, Pepperdine, California Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy, Center for Quantum Science and Engineering

Sign up now Access later

Create Free Account

Please log in or sign up to report this job.

Create Free Account