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Sr. IT Network Engineer (Top Secret Clearance)

Drive the build, deployment, and operation of classified IT networks supporting critical national security missions.

Location
Hawthorne, CA, United States
Compensation
$155k–$215k/yr
Level
senior
Type
full time

Posted by employer 1 day ago

First seen on Joblaze 6 hours ago

Last verified on the company career page 6 hours ago

Skills & Technologies

What you'll build

  • Lead the design, implementation, and troubleshooting of classified networks
  • Improve network performance and reliability
  • Support capacity augmentation and network optimization deployments
  • Assist with system configuration updates and firmware management
  • Create and maintain comprehensive network documentation

Must have

  • Bachelor's degree in computer science or related field
  • 7+ years of professional network engineering experience
  • 1+ year of networking experience deploying enterprise network solutions
  • Active Top Secret clearance

Nice to have

  • Hands-on experience with networking hardware
  • Expert understanding of the OSI model
  • Experience with physical troubleshooting of fiber and circuits
  • Experience with BGP routing
  • Experience with network monitoring tools

Practical constraints

  • Active Top Secret or TS/SCI with Polygraph required
  • Must be willing to do some travel domestically and globally (<10%)
  • Willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed
  • Must be available for on-call rotations

Requirements

Experience
7+ years
Education
Bachelor's degree

Not disclosed in this posting: work arrangement, visa sponsorship.

Benefits

401k Match Paid Vacation Equity/Stock Options Paid Holidays Health Insurance Parental Leave

Joblaze summary

The Sr. IT Network Engineer at SpaceX is responsible for the design, implementation, and maintenance of classified IT networks that support national security missions. This role requires expertise in network performance optimization, security monitoring, and the deployment of various networking hardware and protocols. Ideal candidates will have extensive experience in network engineering, particularly with enterprise solutions, and hold an active Top Secret clearance. The position is integral to SpaceX's mission, contributing to the development of technologies for future space exploration.

Joblaze insights

  • Listed today — first seen on Joblaze October 3, 2026. Last confirmed on SpaceX's careers page October 3, 2026.
  • This exact title is also open at 1 other location at SpaceX: Washington DC, United States.
  • Salary band is above the typical range for comparable tech roles (median ~$126,887).
  • Starts above 52% of 269 comparable senior other roles in United States that list Python we track (median $150,000 across 55 companies). See Python salary trends
  • Python appears in 16.6% of 2440 comparable senior other roles in United States; Cisco appears in 0.4% of 2440 comparable senior other roles in United States.

Quick facts

What's the salary range?
SpaceX lists $155,000–$215,000 for this role.
How much experience is required?
At least 7 years of relevant experience for this Sr. IT Network Engineer (Top Secret Clearance) role.
What's the tech stack?
Joblaze extracted these technologies from the posting: Arista, Cisco, Linux, Python, Windows.
What seniority level is this role?
SpaceX targets senior candidates for this position.
Is this full-time or contract?
Full-time for this Sr. IT Network Engineer (Top Secret Clearance) role at SpaceX.

From the original posting

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.

SR. IT NETWORK ENGINEER – TOP SECRET CLEARANCE

SpaceX is looking for an experienced senior network engineer to drive the build, deployment, and operation of classified IT networks which support critical national security missions. This position will own the network design and be responsible for proposing and implementing continual improvements to add more capabilities and customers. This position is also responsible for monitoring and improving network security, improving network performance and reliability, and optimizing network deployments.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Lead the design, implementation, and troubleshooting of classified networks
  • Lead network integration and troubleshooting efforts
  • Improve network performance and reliability using system performance metrics, including capacity planning, failure detection, and remediation
  • Support capacity augmentation and network optimization deployments
  • Assist with system configuration updates and firmware management
  • Configure, install, and support campus and data center networks
  • Support the deployment of network access control (NAC) using 802.1X
  • Build automation for network devices, operational processes, and deployment tools
  • Develop and enforce network policies and standards
  • Create and maintain comprehensive network documentation

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Bachelor's degree in computer science, computer engineering, or other STEM discipline and 7+ years of professional network engineering experience; OR 10+ years of professional network engineering experience in lieu of a degree
  • 1+ year of networking experience deploying enterprise network solutions and/or cloud and web-scale networks
  • Layer-1 experience (e.g., transport, DWDM, optical fiber, circuit troubleshooting, activations, etc.)
  • Active Top Secret, Top Secret SCI, or DOE Level Q clearance

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

  • Hands-on experience with the deployment of networking hardware (routers, modems, switches, firewalls, etc..)
  • Expert understanding of the OSI model and network standards
  • Experience with physical troubleshooting of fiber and circuits
  • Hands on experience with the following:
    • Cisco Catalyst and Arista data center class switches
    • Network Access Control (NAC) using 802.1X
    • DNS, DHCP, SNMP, IP helpers, ARP, CDP, LLDP
    • BGP routing
    • Switch port security features
    • Network monitoring tools
    • Network documentation
  • Linux/Windows system administration
  • Experience with Python scripting
  • Cisco, Juniper, Arista or other industry certification
  • Ability to work independently and in a team, take initiative, and communicate effectively

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

  • Active Top Secret or TS/SCI with Polygraph. Note that an active clearance may provide the opportunity for you to work on sensitive SpaceX missions. If so, you will be subject to pre-employment drug and random drug and alcohol testing
  • Must be willing to do some travel domestically and globally (<10%) in the future as needed
  • Willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed
  • Must be available for on-call rotations

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay Range:
Level 3: $155,000.00 - $215,000.00

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.

Those with an active clearance will receive a 10% differential, up to an additional $20,000 annually, once officially briefed into a classified program.

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:

Standard company text repeated across SpaceX's postings is omitted here.

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