Software Engineer, AI Infrastructure (Starshield)
About this role
Scaling GPU infrastructure to support national security missions requires specialized engineering to manage heavy compute loads for the Starshield satellite constellation. SpaceX needs a software engineer to design, operate, and scale the infrastructure supporting critical intelligence data access, focusing on site reliability, developer operations, and GPU platforms.
Daily work involves developing automation to deploy and manage on-premise compute resources, building scalable software products, and collaborating with internal engineering teams. Candidates who thrive in this environment possess a solid foundation in Linux, infrastructure automation, and container orchestration while adapting well to high-stakes defense projects.
What you will do
- Manage GPU and CPU infrastructure deployments inside Top Secret datacenters.
- Provide operational support for GPU as a service on bare metal hardware and virtualized platforms for external customers.
- Design, validate, and productize solutions for AI clusters scaling to over 100k GPUs.
- Develop automation tools to deploy and manage on-premise Kubernetes and AI clusters alongside operating systems.
- Deploy and maintain core infrastructure components including databases, monitoring systems, and distributed storage.
- Collaborate closely with artificial intelligence engineers to build scalable, operable, and maintainable software products.
- Improve the full service lifecycle from initial design through deployment, operation, refinement, and monitoring.
What you need
- Hold a Bachelor's degree in computer science, information systems, IT, or an engineering discipline with at least one year of professional site reliability engineering or DevOps experience, or three years of equivalent professional experience without a degree.
- Demonstrate at least one year of professional experience working with Linux operating systems.
- Bring practical experience with infrastructure tools such as Terraform or Ansible.
- Show familiarity with containerization technologies including OCI containers and Kubernetes.
- Possess scripting proficiency in languages like Bash or Python.
- Have development experience writing code in Python, C++, or Go.
- Meet eligibility requirements to successfully obtain and maintain a Top Secret security clearance.
Nice to have
- One or more years of experience with Python and Python-based development frameworks
- Experience managing production Kubernetes clusters beyond basic usage
- Understanding of the Linux boot process and system configuration
- Familiarity with build technologies such as Bazel and Makefiles
- Active Top Secret, Top Secret SCI, or DOE Level Q clearance
Benefits
- Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage
- Access to a 401(k) retirement plan
- Short and long-term disability insurance and life insurance
- Paid parental leave
- Employee Stock Purchase Plan and potential long-term incentives
- Accrued paid vacation, paid sick leave, and 10 or more paid holidays per year
Skills and tech stack
Questions candidates ask
What is the salary range for this position?
Level 1 base salaries range from $125,000 to $160,000, while Level 2 base salaries range from $145,000 to $195,000. Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on job-related knowledge, skills, education, and experience.
What security clearance is required for this role?
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, applicants are encouraged to initiate the application process promptly.
What are the expectations regarding work schedule and travel?
Employees must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed. Travel domestically and globally may also be required in the future when necessary.