Forward Deployed Engineer, Mission Systems (Starshield)

FORWARD DEPLOYED ENGINEER, MISSION SYSTEMS (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.

As a member of our Mission Management team, you will help tackle new technical problems from initial requirements verification through rapid prototyping, integrated test, and operational deployment. 

You’d work within a team of other Engineers and Mission Managers, on the same program and across related efforts, to ensure total alignment of your work. You would also work closely with disciplines across SpaceX such as software, flight reliability and payload integration to ensure safe and successful mission completion.

You’ll contribute to the performance and execution of satellite programs while specifically focusing on the mission specific systems that drive, manage, and provide user insight into those programs. Based on customer requirements and SpaceX’s system capabilities, you’ll develop system specifications and interface control documentation. This work will cover a number of technical disciplines including satellite command and control, operational planning, data processing, and the secure implementation and execution of each of these discipline areas. Our ideal candidate is a self-starter and is hungry to do work that matters.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Serve as the customer interface at meetings, tests, and reviews to develop operations plans, design missions, and participate in real world operations.
• Ensure contract deliverables are completed on-time and distill customer requirements into actionable development objectives.
• Work with internal and external stakeholders to drive development. Collaborate with subsystem representatives across team boundaries to consider all necessary trades and ensure end-to-end mission success.
• Support all phases of the program from development, initial proposal, through successful test, flight, and on-orbit commissioning. This will include educating the customer on our designs and methodologies.
• Own ground segment architecture design.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in a engineering or science discipline.
• 1+ years of software engineering or electrical engineering, working hands-on with hardware or software technical projects.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Familiarity with USG intelligence processes and systems.
• Experience integrating with genAI and traditional machine learning techniques expectations and skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work under pressure and deliver reliable and expeditious results across multiple parallel priorities.
• Highly detail oriented, hardworking, and professional with excellent written and verbal technical communication skills.
• Spacecraft mission design, development, integration, and/or test experience.
• Strong penchant for innovation in process improvement and system design. 

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• 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.
• Must be available to work extended hours and/or weekends as needed to support critical milestones or operations shifts. Must be willing to travel to other SpaceX offices, customer locations, and remote ground sites as needed.
• Ability to pass Air Force background checks for Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg 

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay Range:
Mission Integration Engineer/Level I: $100,000.00 - $115,000.00/per year  
Mission Integration Engineer/Level II: $110,000.00 - $135,000.00/per year  

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

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.