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Spacex Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

SR. KUBERNETES ENGINEER SpaceX is looking for an experienced engineer with deep working knowledge of Kubernetes and related containerized technologies. This employee will be a member of the ...

Sr. IT Linux Site Reliability Engineer

Bastrop, TX · On-site

$56.75 - $75.25/hr

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is ... Work closely with other SpaceX engineers to gather requirements, research, evaluate, design, plan ...

FPGA Engineer (Starshield)

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$140K - $170K/yr

FPGA ENGINEER (STARSHIELD) Starshield leverages SpaceX's launch capability and Starlink technology to support national security efforts. While Starlink is designed for consumer and commercial use ...

Sr. IT Linux Site Reliability Engineer

Bastrop, TX · On-site

$56.75 - $75.25/hr

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is ... They are seeking a Sr. IT Linux Site Reliability Engineer to provide expertise in Kubernetes design ...

Sr. IT Linux Site Reliability Engineer

Hawthorne, CA · On-site

$57.75 - $76.75/hr

SpaceX is actively developing technologies to enable human life on Mars, and they are seeking a Sr. IT Linux Site Reliability Engineer to join their Information Technology Linux Infrastructure team.

Sr. Kubernetes Engineer

Cape Canaveral, FL

$48.25 - $64.25/hr

SR. KUBERNETES ENGINEER SpaceX is looking for an experienced engineer with deep working knowledge of Kubernetes and related containerized technologies. This employee will be a member of the ...

SR. FPGA ENGINEER (STARSHIELD) Starshield leverages SpaceX's launch capability and Starlink technology to support national security efforts. While Starlink is designed for consumer and commercial use ...

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is ... SUPPLY CHAIN ENGINEER (STARLINK) SpaceX demands a new type of supply chain. We require our ...

SR. LINUX SITE RELIABILITY ENGINEER SpaceX is looking for an experienced engineer with deep working knowledge of Kubernetes and related containerized technologies. This employee will be a member of ...

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Spacex Engineer information

See salary details

$33K

$86.4K

$165K

How much do spacex engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for spacex engineer in the United States is $86,364.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $56,000.00 and $112,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a SpaceX Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a SpaceX Engineer, you need a strong background in engineering principles, problem-solving abilities, and a relevant degree in aerospace, mechanical, electrical, or software engineering. Mastery of CAD software, programming languages (such as Python or C++), and familiarity with simulation and testing tools are typically required. Exceptional teamwork, resilience, and creative thinking help individuals excel in SpaceX’s fast-paced, innovative environment. These skills ensure engineers can design, build, and launch advanced aerospace systems while meeting ambitious goals and overcoming complex technical challenges.

How much do engineers at SpaceX make?

Engineers at SpaceX typically earn between $70,000 and $150,000 annually, depending on experience, education, and specific engineering discipline. Salaries can vary based on location, seniority, and specialized skills such as propulsion or avionics, and many engineers also receive benefits like stock options and bonuses.

What is the difference between Spacex Engineer vs Aerospace Engineer?

AspectSpacex EngineerAerospace Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Engineering, Physics, or related field; experience with spacecraft systemsBachelor's or higher in Aerospace Engineering or related field; knowledge of aerodynamics and propulsion
Work EnvironmentSpacecraft development, launch facilities, R&D labs at SpaceXAircraft and spacecraft design, testing, and research in labs and manufacturing plants
Employer & Industry UsagePrimarily at SpaceX, aerospace, and space exploration companiesVarious aerospace firms, government agencies, research institutions

Spacex Engineers focus on spacecraft and launch vehicle development within SpaceX, often working on cutting-edge space missions. Aerospace Engineers have a broader scope, working on aircraft, spacecraft, and related systems across multiple organizations. Both roles require strong engineering backgrounds, but Spacex Engineers specialize more in space launch systems and mission-specific technologies.

Is it hard to get a job at SpaceX as an engineer?

Getting an engineering job at SpaceX is highly competitive, requiring a strong educational background in engineering or related fields, relevant technical skills, and experience with aerospace systems. Candidates often need to demonstrate problem-solving abilities, proficiency with tools like CAD and MATLAB, and a track record of innovation or project success.

What type of engineers work at SpaceX?

SpaceX employs a variety of engineers, including aerospace, mechanical, electrical, software, and systems engineers, to design, develop, and test rockets, spacecraft, and related technologies. These engineers typically have specialized technical skills, relevant degrees, and experience with engineering tools and simulation software. Collaboration across disciplines is essential in the fast-paced aerospace environment.

What engineers make $500,000?

Senior engineers in specialized fields such as aerospace, software, or petroleum engineering can earn $500,000 or more annually, especially with experience, advanced skills, and leadership roles. High-level positions often include bonuses, stock options, or profit sharing that contribute to total compensation.

What are some common challenges SpaceX engineers face when working on rapid project timelines?

SpaceX engineers often work in a fast-paced environment where meeting aggressive deadlines is the norm. This can present challenges such as balancing thorough testing with the need for quick iterations, adapting to frequent changes in project scope, and collaborating across multidisciplinary teams to resolve complex technical issues swiftly. Successfully navigating these challenges requires strong problem-solving skills, adaptability, and effective communication with colleagues in both engineering and manufacturing. Despite the pace, this environment provides excellent opportunities for learning, innovation, and career advancement.

What are SpaceX engineers?

SpaceX engineers are professionals who design, build, test, and improve the spacecraft, rockets, and related systems at SpaceX. They work in various specialties such as propulsion, avionics, structures, software, and manufacturing. These engineers collaborate to solve complex technical challenges and ensure the safety, reliability, and performance of missions ranging from satellite launches to crewed spaceflight. Their work is critical in advancing SpaceX's goals of reducing space transportation costs and enabling the colonization of Mars.
More about Spacex Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Spacex Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Spacex Engineer job openings:
What states have the most Spacex Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Spacex Engineer jobs include:
Infographic showing various Spacex Engineer job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 11% Internship, 4% As Needed, 42% Full Time, 25% Temporary, and 18% Nights. Highlights an 96% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $86,364 per year, or $41.5 per hour.
Sr. Kubernetes Engineer

Sr. Kubernetes Engineer

SpaceX

Hawthorne, CA

$160K - $225K/yr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 13 days ago


SpaceX rating

8.7

Company rating: 8.7 out of 10

Based on 144 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

14th of 60 rated aerospace companies


Job description

SR. KUBERNETES ENGINEER

SpaceX is looking for an experienced engineer with deep working knowledge of Kubernetes and related containerized technologies. This employee will be a member of the Information Technology Linux Infrastructure team and will provide expertise in Kubernetes design, maintenance, scaling and optimization in support of critical business functions. The ideal candidate will be flexible and flourish in a fast paced and challenging environment. They should be a self-starter, self-motivator and possess ingenuity to excel at this position.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Build, install, manage, scale and optimize Kubernetes and RKE clusters using Ansible, Terraform and adjacent technologies in production environments.
  • Work closely with other SpaceX engineers to gather requirements, research, evaluate, design, plan, deploy, and support software platforms and related technologies running in Kubernetes within a world-class environment that meets the needs of the demanding SpaceX engineering teams. Build highly resilient, high-performance, scalable, and robust systems.
  • Exercise a high degree of personal responsibility for the processes, systems, and tools you create and manage; all supporting the goal of making humanity an interplanetary species.
  • Make recommendations, justify, and implement improvements using an accepted change control methodology.
  • Work within a diverse group to design and deliver creative solutions and resolve problems in a timely and proactive manner by interacting with internal business units.
  • Define, document and follow standards and best practices for systems design, testing, and implementation.
  • Foster an environment of collaboration and cross-training, upskilling the team in Kubernetes expertise and ensuring peers are developed into capable engineers.
  • Drive scripting, self-service and automation to develop solutions to reduce administrative overhead and TOIL.
  • Participate in on-call rotation to handle urgent after-hours work when necessary.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or a STEM discipline and 5+ years of systems engineering experience; OR 7+ years of systems engineering experience in lieu of a degree.
  • Experience deploying and supporting Linux servers in physical and virtualized environments (e.g. VMware via automation).
  • Experience with the Linux shell as well as configuring and extending Linux instances (e.g. kernel modules, cgroups, pki, iptables, interfaces).
  • Experience supporting and scaling containerized applications in Linux environments.
  • Experience using automation frameworks (e.g. Ansible, Terraform) to manage provisioning and post-provisioning lifecycles of infrastructure and Kubernetes installations.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

  • Expertise in creating repeatable, reliable, scalable systems architectures, with high availability, fault tolerance, performance tuning, monitoring, and statistics/metrics collection.
  • Expertise in source code version control tools such as Git and Subversion and collaborating on source code via Pull Requests and other Git-based workflows.
  • Strong understanding of Linux Container Runtime.
  • Experience implementing configuration management provisioning and workflow automation solutions via Infrastructure as Code, CI/CD and GitOps (e.g. Ansible, AWX/Tower, Vagrant, Puppet, Redfish, Jenkins, cloud-init, ArgoCD, etc).
  • Experience writing test automation to ensure backwards compatibility of feature and change development for automation processes and Kubernetes deployments.
  • Experience with programming and scripting languages such as Python and Golang to develop software solutions and integrate with external systems to implement automation against RESTful API services.
  • Experience installing, configuring and troubleshooting Kubernetes internals, CNI, CRI and CSI plugins (e.g. Docker, Cri-O, Ceph, Cilium), load balancing (e.g. MetalLB), Service Mesh (e.g. Istio) and software-defined storage (e.g. rook-ceph) in cloud or on-premise environments.
  • Experience developing solutions using Kubernetes patterns to extend system functionality and solve custom use cases (e.g. webhooks, controllers, operators, sidecars).
  • Experience implementing proactive alert/monitoring workflows and dashboards for Linux systems and Kubernetes deployments using Prometheus, Grafana, InfluxDB or similar technologies.
  • Experience with dynamic system configuration templating using Jinja, Jsonnet, YAML and Helm.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

  • Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:    
Pay Range:         
Senior Kubernetes Engineer: $160,000.00 - $225,000.00/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 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.


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