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Sr. Security Software Enginer (Starshield)

Join SpaceX as a Sr. Security Software Engineer to influence software security for Starshield and support national security efforts.

Location
Hawthorne, CA
Compensation
$170k–$265k/yr
Level
senior
Type
full time

Posted by employer 1 month ago

First seen on Joblaze 1 month ago

Last verified on the company career page 1 day ago

Requirements

Experience
5+ years
Education
Bachelor's degree
Visa
Sponsorship available

Not disclosed in this posting: work arrangement.

Benefits

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

Joblaze summary

In the role of Sr. Security Software Engineer for Starshield at SpaceX, the individual will focus on designing and implementing security infrastructure for advanced systems, ensuring robust protection for government applications of Starlink technology. Key skills include expertise in software development, applied cryptography, and network security, with a strong emphasis on building reliable software solutions. This position is ideal for seasoned professionals with a background in security software development who thrive in complex environments and can effectively collaborate across teams. The Starshield team is dedicated to enhancing national security through innovative technology, making t

Joblaze insights

  • Listed about a month ago — first seen on Joblaze August 22, 2026. Last confirmed on SpaceX's careers page October 7, 2026.
  • This exact title is also open at 1 other location at SpaceX: Washington, DC.
  • Salary band is in line with the typical range for Security roles (median ~$170,000).
  • Starts above 39% of 100 comparable senior security roles in United States that list Python we track (median $172,200 across 43 companies). See Python salary trends
  • Python appears in 40.2% of 323 comparable senior security roles in United States; Vulnerability Research appears in 3.7% of 323 comparable senior security roles in United States.

Quick facts

What's the salary range?
SpaceX lists $170,000–$265,000 for this role.
How much experience is required?
At least 5 years of relevant experience for this Sr. Security Software Enginer (Starshield) role.
What's the tech stack?
Joblaze extracted these technologies from the posting: C++, Cryptography, Golang, Incident Response, Network Security, Operating System Security.
Does SpaceX sponsor work visas for this role?
Yes — the posting indicates visa sponsorship is available for the right candidate.
What seniority level is this role?
SpaceX targets senior candidates for this position.
Is this full-time or contract?
Full-time for this Sr. Security Software Enginer (Starshield) 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. SECURITY SOFTWARE ENGINEER (STARSHIELD)

Starshield leverages SpaceX’s Starlink technology and launch capability to support national security efforts. While Starlink is designed for consumer and commercial use, Starshield is designed for government use, with an initial focus on earth observation, communications, and hosted payloads. The Starshield team is building highly reliable in-space mesh networks, designing secure systems to guarantee access to space, designing next-gen communication and sensing software, and more.

As a Sr. Security Software Engineer you will influence the security of software across our product lines. We are looking for people with a track record of shipping reliable software and who have a broad understanding of the security design of today’s Internet, including the cryptographic primitives involved. You see the big picture, prioritize accordingly, and are comfortable with working at different levels of abstraction. Ideally, you have notable skills in one or more of the following:

  • Software engineering
  • Applied cryptography
  • Network security
  • Operating system security
  • Secure/authenticated boot
  • Incident response and adversary detection
  • Vulnerability research

Being flexible, communicating clearly, and establishing and maintaining productive working relationships with other engineering teams are paramount to success. If you are passionate about building quality products, love the challenges of outsmarting adversaries, and want to make an impact on an inter-planetary scale, then you will fit right in.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Design and build security infrastructure for Starshield, including cryptographic services and other security-critical services
  • Develop security features for Starshield systems, including our router, dish, gateways, and satellites
  • Design security into factory processes and provide network services in support of this
  • Maintain existing production systems and improve security posture via both direct implementation and recommendations to other teams
  • Build prototypes and help identify, design, and test security improvements

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Bachelor's degree in computer science or another STEM discipline and 5+ years of professional experience in security software development; OR 7+ years of professional experience in security software development in lieu of a degree
  • Experience with one or more software development languages (i.e. Python, C++, Golang)
  • Experience designing and implementing security solutions for operating systems, distributed systems, or other enterprise/large-scale infrastructure

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

  • Experience contributing security improvements to complex systems
  • Experience working with special purpose security hardware such as trusted platform modules (TPMs) and hardware security modules (HSMs)
  • Fundamental understanding of network protocols; including the TCP/IP stack as well as UDP based protocols
  • Experienced in navigating large, complex, interactive systems
  • Flexibility, communicating clearly, and establishing and maintaining productive working relationships with other engineering teams
  • Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
  • Ability to work both independently and in a team
  • Demonstrated ability to deal with ambiguity and to learn new technologies quickly
  • Advanced degree in a technical or engineering discipline
  • 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 3: $170,000.00 - $265,000.00

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:

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

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