Dec 2025 New Graduate Engineer, Software (Starship)

Lensa • Full-time • Hawthorne, CA, US • $120k - $145k / year • 2d ago

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Dec 2025 New Graduate Engineer, Software (Starship)

Hawthorne, CA

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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.

DECEMBER 2025 NEW GRADUATE SOFTWARE ENGINEER (STARSHIP)

Our elite Starship team is working on the toughest and most audacious project on our planet : making humanity multiplanetary. This challenge isn’t for everyone – the working conditions can be hard on a desolate beach at the southernmost tip of the state – but hardcore projects require hardcore people. If you are a high performing engineer, want to immerse yourself in never-before-solved challenges, and are excited to put in the effort to make this goal a reality, we want to hear from you.

Responsibilities

Expect a dynamic role doing what you’re best at. Our team is building high performance flight hardware, a high-volume rocket production line, and a launch system that can rapidly and reliably launch and land our rockets. Whatever your skill set, you’ll be aligned to the part of the program you’re most effectively able to contribute to.
Develop highly reliable autonomous software systems and the simulations required to validate them.
Own all aspects of software development, including design, testing, and integration to the mission.
Work with counterpart engineering teams to develop and maintain launch and vehicle software, crossing all required software domains necessary to implement and verify control of the pad, ship, and booster to meet mission objectives.
Follow and maintain high software standards and software engineering best practices within Starship Software.
Get a front row seat to witness an impossible idea manifest in real life. The next few years will be incredibly dynamic as we transition from the challenge of building hardware to actually flying reusable rockets to orbit.

Basic Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in computer science, software engineering, computer engineering, electrical engineering or other engineering discipline.
1+ years of software development experience via project team, research, internship, and/or professional experience .

Preferred Skills And Experience

Proven skills and knowledge of C++, Rust, or other systems programming language.
Experience building or working with real-time embedded systems or distributed computing systems.
Strong focus and interest in designing, architecting, and implementing excellent, bug-free software.
Strong critical thinking and first-principles problem-solving skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Able to work effectively in a dynamic environment while assuming high levels of responsibility and demonstrating accountability for software outcomes.
Experience working at a nimble engineering organization or in a highly technical position that required a scrappy, entrepreneurial manner to accomplish tasks with tight time or budget constraints.
Excelled in ultra-competitive environments. You’ve nailed a podium finish in engineering, math, or science competitions, achieved scores in the top percentile of scholastic or standardized tests, or demonstrated other incredible feats of intellectual achievement.
Succeeded in multiple endeavors at once. Maybe you worked through college, were a student athlete, or demonstrated strong work or academic performance in multiple fields.
Demonstrated rapid growth. You’ve held successive positions of increasing responsibility within an organization, were able to get yourself up to speed at a heroic pace, and accomplished something meaningfully difficult early in your career.
D emonstrated resilience and the ability to overcome failure or extreme odds. Many critics would say that our goals are impossible but this isn’t the first time we’ve proven that highly improbable goals like reusable rockets can become possible.
Success in academics at a rigorous and highly regarded university: minimum GPA 3.5/4.0 or higher, standardized test scores minimum 95th percentile, merit-based scholarship recipient.

Additional Requirements

Willing to work long hours and weekends as needed.
Ability and willingness to relocate to our Starbase launch site (Brownsville, TX area).

Compensation And Benefits

Pay Range:

Software Engineer/Level I: $120,000.00 - $145,000.00/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 ITARhere (https://www.pmddtc.state.gov/?id=ddtc_kb_article_page&sys_id=24d528fddbfc930044f9ff621f961987) .

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.

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