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.
MISSION INTEGRATION ENGINEER, CYBERSECURITY - TOP SECRET CLEARANCE
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 Mission Integration 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 aspects that keep our systems secure. Our ideal candidate is a self-starter and is hungry to do work that matters.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Plan and execute compliance and certification tasks with partnering U.S. government entities
- Produce accreditation and authorization deliverables on a tight timeline that comply with applicable regulations
- Collaborate with SpaceX technical departments to prepare design, analysis, and test data packages and briefings for government representatives
- Identify, develop handling plans, and drive to closure technical issues with designs, analysis or tests that would impact customer requirements
- Work closely with SpaceX technical departments to develop technical rationales, mitigate technical risks, and ensure product deliveries are on schedule
- Organize and lead program milestone reviews, technical interchange meetings, and regular working group meetings
- Negotiate, develop, and ensure timely delivery of technical products and customer data requests
- Coordinate certification tasks and requirements with technical teams so that they can plan their tasks appropriately to meet customer expectations and maintain schedule
- Maintain configuration control of the certified flight configuration. Coordinate and gain approval from the government on engineering changes to that baseline
- Collaborate with security and engineering teams to design and build high-assurance space systems and advanced ground networks
- Act as a security liaison to customers and mission stakeholders to develop security requirements for future SpaceX products
- Drive design and architectural decisions to ensure requirements are met while also leveraging SpaceX’s core technologies.
- 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.
- 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.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in an engineering discipline
- 2+ years of security software or security management experience
- Technical project management experience
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
- Active Top Secret or Top Secret SCI clearance
- Experience in exploit development and mitigation
- Fundamental understanding of network protocols, including the TCP/IP stack
- Knowledge of Linux operating system security
- Understanding of modern cryptographic primitives and how to use them to secure systems
- Experience contributing security improvements to established codebases
- Experience developing high assurance systems for space-based applications
- Experience interfacing with external customers and communicating key technical concepts to non-technical audiences
- Ability to work independently and in a team, take initiative, and communicate effectively
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Experience interacting with and presenting to external customers (preferably US Government)
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 willing to travel to other launch sites, vendors, and customers as necessary - up to 10% travel
- Must be able to work extended hours and weekends as needed to support critical project deliverables
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
Pay Range:
Mission Integration Engineer/Level I: $95,000.00 - $115,000.00/per year
Mission Integration Engineer/Level II: $110,000.00 - $130,000.00/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.
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, stock options, 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 & long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation & 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.
