Sr. Software Engineer, C++ (Dragon)
Company websitespacex.com (SpaceX, opens in new tab)
Base salary $165K to $230K
Employer-published annual base salary, USD. Advertised base range in Hawthorne, CA
You apply on the employer's own site. Six Figure Work does not handle applications.
- LocationHawthorne, CA
- WorkplaceWorkplace not stated
- Status at last checkSource accepting applications when checked
- Last checked (2 h ago) · observed since
About this job
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, C++ (DRAGON)
As a Sr. Software Engineer on the Dragon team, you will develop, analyze and verify the mission critical software configurations that fly our Dragon Crewed and Cargo vehicles. You will partner cross-functionally to ensure software is configured to each mission's specifications and needs. You will be responsible for ensuring the vehicle behaves as expected, and troubleshoot flight software when necessary. You will have a direct impact on our ability to launch and fly vehicles frequently, safely and reliably.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Develop, execute, and analyze the code and configuration for the software systems that fly our vehicles
- Invent new tools that enable more frequent and reliable software deployment, automated data review, and automated configuration verification
- Analyze test results and bugs that require in-depth investigations
- Troubleshoot flight hardware/software systems with interdisciplinary engineering teams
- Plan and execute vehicle testing milestones
- Support mission operations as a flight software specialist
- Roll out new software changes to the vehicle fleet
- Occasional travel to launch sites and customer sites for testing and/or operations
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, math, or science discipline OR 2+ years of experience in software development in lieu of degree
- 5+ years of software development experience in C/C++
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
- Knowledge of electronics, controls, motor design, and physical mechanics
- Strong fluency in Linux, including:
- Bash shell scripting
- Network troubleshooting
- Experience building or working with real-time embedded systems
- Experience with software documentation, creating system diagrams, and enumerating software requirements
- Experience with software testing
- Knowledge of state machines
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Must be available to work extended hours and weekends as needed
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
Pay Range:
Sr. Software Engineer: $165,000.00 - $230,000.00/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 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. Exempt employees are eligible for 5 days of sick leave per year.
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 [email protected].
Source: SpaceX on Greenhouse · View original posting (opens in new tab)
Pay in context
This role's base floor ($165,000) is above 37% of the 4,209 Software Engineering roles in California listed on this site; 74 others list the same floor. Their median floor is $176,500; the middle half runs from $149,400 to $204,000.
Only jobs on this site count, and each one publishes a base salary of $100,000 or more, so this compares six-figure jobs with each other, not with the whole market. Computed Nov 5, 2026.
This listingSr. Software Engineer, C++ (Dragon)$165K to $230K
Sr. Software Engineer, Hardware Test & Automation (Starshield)$165K to $230K
Sr. Software Engineer (Starshield)$165K to $265K
Sr. Full Stack Software Engineer (Components)$165K to $265K
Sr. Site Reliability Engineer (Starshield)$165K to $270K
Sr. Software Engineer, High Performance Computing (Starlink)$165K to $230K
Sr. Network Engineer, AI Infrastructure (Starshield)$165K to $265K
Chart as a table
| Role | Published base |
|---|---|
| Sr. Software Engineer, C++ (Dragon) (this listing) | $165K - $230K |
| Sr. Software Engineer, Hardware Test & Automation (Starshield) | $165K - $230K |
| Sr. Software Engineer (Starshield) | $165K - $265K |
| Sr. Full Stack Software Engineer (Components) | $165K - $265K |
| Sr. Site Reliability Engineer (Starshield) | $165K - $270K |
| Sr. Software Engineer, High Performance Computing (Starlink) | $165K - $230K |
| Sr. Network Engineer, AI Infrastructure (Starshield) | $165K - $265K |
Observed changes
- First observed on the employer's board
- Began meeting the published-salary criteria
- Observed since
- Employer-stated posting date
- 2026-06-21
Where this pay comes from
Location as the employer wrote it: Hawthorne, CA
Sr. Software Engineer: $165,000.00 - $230,000.00/per year
- Method
- Employer text, read with fixed rules and re-verified
- Checked
- Rule set
- us-base-v2
The pay passage appears in the employer's own job text. Fixed, deterministic rules located it, and the passage below was checked against the stored copy of the posting.
What we verified
- The pay figures come from the employer's own listing, quoted exactly above.
- The pay is an annual base salary in US dollars with a minimum of at least $100,000.
- The role was publicly listed on the employer's job board when last checked.
We do not verify what the employer will actually offer, whether the employer is still recruiting for the role, or anything beyond what the employer published. Full methodology.
