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.
SOFTWARE ENGINEER, DISPLAYS SOFTWARE (STARSHIP)
The Starship program is increasing its flight cadence and will soon begin operating more than one vehicle on-orbit at a time. As a member of the Displays team, you’ll work towards building the user interfaces and backend to enable this required scaling and concept of fleet operations. Your products are the interfaces that enable vehicle operators to control the pad and vehicle, allow engineering teams to monitor their system performance, and provide astronauts with insight into the vehicle health and mission trajectory. In this role you’ll curate smooth user experiences with thoughtful designs while limiting software complexity. Your contributions will directly impact our ability to return humans to the moon and enable human exploration in the final frontier.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Create aesthetically and functionally flawless user interfaces that reduce the cognitive load of operators while maintaining high guardrails for safety.
- Aggressively work towards enabling a future that empowers Operations to manage a Fleet instead of single vehicles at a time.
- Create and apply techniques, tools, and infrastructure that decrease software complexity and mission-over-mission maintenance.
- Maintain high software standards and software engineering best practices.
- Understand and implement technologies across the full web stack.
- Troubleshoot and develop long-term solution for technical problems to support customers across all SpaceX sites where Ops Displays are used.
- Regularly sit with Operators to obtain firsthand feedback of how the team’s products are used and what improvements can be made.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science, software engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering or other engineering discipline.
- Development experience in JavaScript, C++, or Python.
- 2+ years experience of software development.
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
- Expert knowledge of JavaScript, HTML and CSS.
- Experience with vector and motion graphics, including SVG, HTML5 Canvas, WebGL, and CSS.
- Experience with development for mobile platforms.
- Strong focus and interest in designing, architecting, and implementing excellent, bug-free software.
- Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills; excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Able to work well in an integrated engineering environment, including frequent interactions with engineers and managers of other engineering disciplines.
- Able to prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment with ongoing drive for continuous improvement in all aspects of work.
- Able to work effectively in a dynamic environment while assuming high levels of responsibility and demonstrating accountability for vehicle software outcomes.
- Contributions to open-source software projects.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Willing to work long hours and weekends as needed.
- Located in Hawthorne, with frequent travel to Starbase.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
Pay Range:
Software Engineer/Level I: $120,000.00 - $145,000.00/per year
Software Engineer/Level II: $140,000.00 - $170,000.00/per year
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, stock options, 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. Exempt employees are eligible for 5 days of sick leave per year.
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 notify the Human Resources Department at (310) 363-6000.
Top Skills
What We Do
SpaceX designs, manufactures and launches the world’s most advanced rockets and spacecraft. The company was founded in 2002 by Elon Musk to revolutionize space transportation, with the ultimate goal of making life multiplanetary.
SpaceX has gained worldwide attention for a series of historic milestones. It is the only private company ever to return a spacecraft from low-Earth orbit, which it first accomplished in December 2010. The company made history again in May 2012 when its Dragon spacecraft attached to the International Space Station, exchanged cargo payloads, and returned safely to Earth — a technically challenging feat previously accomplished only by governments. Since then Dragon has delivered cargo to and from the space station multiple times, providing regular cargo resupply missions for NASA.
