Sr. Software Engineer, HITL - Top Secret Clearance
Company websitespacex.com (SpaceX, opens in new tab)
Base salary $165K to $265K
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 (3 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, HITL - TOP SECRET CLEARANCE
As a Sr. Software Engineer in Special Programs, you will design, develop, and test key aspects of an in-house solution for analysis, simulation, and prototyping of software in support of all SpaceX flight systems. You will have full ownership of new features in a scalable, high-performance application used to control and test flight systems. This is a high-impact role where you will work across the engineering groups to build a high-assurance system that accelerates the development and demonstration of cutting-edge software and hardware.
Aerospace experience is not required to be successful here - rather, we look for smart, motivated software engineers who enjoy taking on complex challenges, work well in dynamic environments, and care about software best practices. Our software is critical to future mission successes, and we have no shortage of interesting challenges that require innovative, cutting-edge solutions.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Design and implement automated testing for hardware in the loop (HITL) and hardware out of the loop (HOOTL) software to ensure that deliverables meet target design criteria and operate within technical constraints
- Develop full-stack solutions to manage automated testing of vehicle subsystems leveraging simulation and flight software
- Contribute to test automation and CI/CD infrastructure
- Maintain the highest standards of excellence, never settling for the status quo
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, math, or an engineering discipline
- 5+ years of experience in software development, developing applications in languages such as Python, C++, or Java
- 3+ years of experience with automated testing of hardware in the loop (HITL) or hardware out of the loop (HOOTL) software
- 3+ years of experience with test automation and CI/CD pipelines
PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:
- Strong software design and development skills
- Professional experience in full-stack development of production web applications is a plus
- Experience with JavaScript libraries such as Lit, React, and Redux
- Experience with automated build and test frameworks such as Bamboo, Ansible, and Jenkins
- Familiar with monitoring tools such as Grafana or Elasticsearch
- Experience with containerized solutions such as Docker and Kubernetes
- Professional experience with Linux or Unix systems and tools
- Experience with database systems such as Postgres, MySQL, or Oracle
- Strong skills in debugging, performance optimization, data throughput analysis and unit testing
- Strong creative and innovative problem-solving skills
- Ability to work effectively in a dynamic environment by quickly adapting to changing needs and requirements
- Active Top Secret, Top Secret SCI, or DOE Level Q clearance, or the ability to obtain and maintain one
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.
- An active clearance may provide the opportunity for you to work on sensitive SpaceX missions; if so, you will be subject to pre-employment drug and random drug and alcohol test
- Able to work extended hours and weekends when necessary to support proposal or critical project timelines
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:
Pay Range:
Level 3: $165,000.00 - $265,000.00
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.
Those with an active clearance will receive a 10% differential, up to an additional $20,000 annually, once officially briefed into a classified program.
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 38% of the 4,307 Software Engineering roles in California listed on this site; 70 others list the same floor. Their median floor is $176,000; the middle half runs from $149,100 to $202,500.
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 7, 2026.
This listingSr. Software Engineer, HITL - Top Secret Clearance$165K to $265K
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, HITL - Top Secret Clearance (this listing) | $165K - $265K |
| 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
- 2026-08-31
Where this pay comes from
Location as the employer wrote it: Hawthorne, CA
Level 3: $165,000.00 - $265,000.00
- 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.
