Summary written by USA Jobs 24 from SpaceX's advert and our data on 16,898 current US jobs. How we check every job
At a glance
SpaceX is hiring a Sr. Software Engineer (Starlink Mobile) in Palo Alto, CA; Redmond, WA. It is a full-time role in Software & IT, asking for at least 5 years of experience, first listed on November 11. The advertised pay is $175,000–$280,000 a year. The description mentions C++. SpaceX has 149 other openings in the US, 12 of them in Palo Alto, CA. Across all employers on USA Jobs 24 there are 85 Software & IT openings in Palo Alto, CA today; the typical one asks for 6 years and advertises about $218,000 a year at the midpoint.
How the pay compares
SpaceX advertises $175,000 to $280,000 a year, a midpoint of $227,500 a year. Where an offer lands in a range usually depends on experience and on the exact location. That is higher than about 62% of the 1,347 software & IT jobs in California that publish a yearly rate on USA Jobs 24, where the typical midpoint is $210,000 a year. To see roughly what this leaves after federal and California tax, try our take-home pay calculator.
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Before you apply
- Check it is still open. We found this job on SpaceX's Greenhouse site on November 11 and checked it again November 11, 5:17 AM ET. When an employer takes a job down, we remove it at our next daily update.
- Check the location works for you. This role is based in Palo Alto, CA (or one of 1 other locations). If you would need to move, ask whether relocation help is offered.
- Match the experience. The advert asks for at least 5 years of experience. If you are a little short, a close match on the skills in the advert can still win an interview.
- Tailor your resume. Use the advert's own words, such as C++, wherever they are true for you. Our resume guide shows how.
- Know your number. Decide the lowest offer you would accept before the first call. Our salary negotiation guide explains how to ask for more.
- Apply only through SpaceX's own site. Our Apply button goes straight to SpaceX's Greenhouse page. If anyone contacts you about this job and asks for money, gift cards or bank details, stop and check it with our scam checker. Read how to spot a fake job offer.
About hiring at SpaceX
SpaceX has 150 openings on USA Jobs 24 today across 8 states. Most are in software & IT (76), hardware & chips (21) and operations (16). The biggest locations are Bastrop, TX (58), Hawthorne, CA (41) and Brownsville, TX (41). 1% of them are remote, 27% are open to entry-level candidates and 34% show pay. We collect SpaceX's jobs every day straight from its own careers system (Greenhouse), never from job boards or agencies.
The employer's advert
This is SpaceX's own description of the job, copied word for word from its careers site. We have not edited it.
Show the full advert from SpaceXHide the advert789 words
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. SOFTWARE ENGINEER, BEAM PLANNING (STARLINK MOBILE)
The Starlink Mobile network will expand Starlink’s vision by providing ubiquitous connectivity and seamless access to text, voice, and data for LTE phones and devices across the globe. The Starlink Mobile network leverages the infrastructure we’ve built for Starlink over the past several years. Starlink is the world’s largest satellite constellation and is providing fast, reliable internet to 10M+ users worldwide. As the global leader in rocket and satellite launch and manufacturing, SpaceX is uniquely positioned to rapidly scale our Starlink Mobile network and will rapidly launch a constellation of hundreds of satellites. As a software engineer on the Starlink Mobile program, you are responsible for the complete lifecycle of the software they create, including development, testing, and support. We expect our engineers to close the feedback loop between software design and real-world performance. In this role, your software will have a meaningful and measurable impact on the world.
Our Software Engineers are responsible for the complete lifecycle of the software they create, including development, testing, and support. We expect our engineers to close the feedback loop between software design and real-world performance. In this role, your software will have a meaningful and measurable impact on the world.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Develop highly reliable, real-time software that determines which beams (user, laser, gateway, etc) should be formed in order to provide the best possible user experience for our low-latency, high-bandwidth satellite-based global network.
- Participate in and lead architecture, design, and code reviews.
- Develop prototypes and manage experiments to prove out key design concepts.
- Develop tools for software development and deployment, data analysis and visualization, and test execution across multiple environments, including virtualized hardware environments, real hardware-in-the-loop simulations, and on-orbit testing.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, math, or STEM discipline and 5+ years of professional experience in software development experience; OR 7+ years of professional experience in software development in lieu of a degree.
- Development experience in assembly, C, or C++.
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
- Knowledgeable in real-time rendering, game engine development, physics simulation, or other real-time, resource-constrained, high-performance computing.
- Knowledgeable in network topology, numerical optimization techniques, graph theoretic approaches, or convex optimization.
- Developed, debugged, and deployed software that has been used in real world applications/projects.
- Creative approach to problem solving, exceptional analytical skills, and engineering fundamentals.
- Excellent communication skills both written and verbal.
- Ability to work effectively in a dynamic environment with changing needs and requirements.
- Experience with distributed systems and internet services.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed.
Pay Range:
Level 3: $175,000.00 - $280,000.00
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 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.
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 reach out to EEOCompliance@spacex.com.
USA Jobs 24 copied this listing from SpaceX's official careers site on November 11, 2026 and checked it again November 11, 5:17 AM ET. SpaceX will never ask you to pay to apply or to buy equipment with a check they send you. If anyone does, it is a scam.
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