About this role
Scaling the Starlink satellite constellation to serve tens of millions of global users requires robust methods for measuring network performance and growth. SpaceX needs a Data Scientist in Redmond, Washington, to develop the strategy, key metrics, software services, and processes that evaluate how effectively the network operates.
This practitioner will build and maintain mission-critical infrastructure, design custom software, lead technical investigations into network-level issues, and fuse data from multiple sources. Daily work involves collaborating closely with network engineers, software engineers, subsystem responsible engineers, and external partners.
Success in this role demands strong initiative, object-oriented programming skills, and the ability to navigate a dynamic environment with evolving requirements. Candidates who thrive here are comfortable taking ownership of complex data pipelines and ground-based software systems that ingest, transform, and store large-scale operational information.
What you will do
- Build and maintain mission-critical infrastructure, tools, processes, and custom software to objectively assess growth areas for the Starlink program.
- Lead technical investigations concerning chronic network-level issues across the infrastructure.
- Automate the aggregation of metrics and the detection of widespread application issues.
- Establish and maintain relationships with key engineering stakeholders across different teams.
- Apply data analytics, models, and techniques to data products generated by space vehicles.
- Construct ground-based software systems that ingest, transform, and store operational data.
- Fuse data from multiple sources to create usable, actionable information for the organization.
What you need
- Hold a bachelor’s degree in computer science, data science, physics, mathematics, or another STEM discipline.
- Possess at least one year of professional data or software engineering experience, including applicable internships.
- Demonstrate development experience in an object-oriented programming language such as C, C++, or Python.
- Be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed by operational demands.
- Meet U.S. government export regulation requirements as a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, refugee, asylee, or person eligible to obtain required authorizations.
Nice to have
- Professional experience in analytics, data science, or machine learning
- Experience building solutions with in-stream data processing of structured and semi-structured data
- Experience building predictive models and machine learning pipelines including clustering analysis, prediction, and anomaly detection
- Experience in custom ETL design, implementation, and maintenance
- Familiarity with the Open Systems Interconnection model and other common networking principles
Benefits
- Long-term incentives in the form of company stock or long-term cash awards
- Potential discretionary bonuses and an Employee Stock Purchase Plan
- Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage along with a 401(k) retirement plan
- Short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, and paid parental leave
- Three weeks of paid vacation, 10 or more paid holidays per year, and accrued paid sick time
- Company shuttles for roundtrip travel from select Seattle locations to the Redmond office
Skills and tech stack
Questions candidates ask
What is the salary range for this position?
The pay range for Level 1 is $125,000.00 to $165,000.00, and Level 2 ranges from $145,000.00 to $200,000.00. Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis based on job-related knowledge, skills, education, and experience.
What are the work hour expectations?
Applicants must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed. The role is based out of the SpaceX office in Redmond, Washington.
What transportation options are available to the office?
Company shuttles are offered to employees for roundtrip travel from select Seattle locations to the SpaceX Redmond office Monday through Friday.
Are there citizenship or residency requirements?
To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicants must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. lawful permanent resident, refugee, asylee, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.