Mission Integration Engineer, Mission and Ground Systems (Starshield)

SpaceX•Hawthorne, CA

17h

About The Position

SpaceX’s Starshield program leverages Starlink technology and launch capability to support national security efforts, with an initial focus on earth observation, communications, and hosted payloads. As a member of the Mission Management team, the Mission Integration Engineer helps address technical problems from initial requirements verification through rapid prototyping, integrated testing, and operational deployment. The role works with Mission Integration Engineers, Mission Managers, and teams across SpaceX—including software, flight reliability, and payload integration—to align work and support safe, successful mission completion. The engineer contributes to satellite program performance and execution, focusing on mission-specific systems that drive, manage, and provide user insight into those programs. Based on customer requirements and SpaceX system capabilities, the role develops system specifications, interface control documentation, and infrastructure plans. The work spans satellite command and control, operational planning, data processing, compute and networking infrastructure, and secure implementation and execution. The position serves as a customer interface and supports programs from proposal and development through testing, flight, and on-orbit commissioning. It owns ground segment architecture design and supports site surveys and selection for ground stations and datacenters. The position requires a Top Secret Security Clearance, the ability to pass Air Force background checks for Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg, and willingness to travel to SpaceX offices, customer locations, and remote ground sites.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in an engineering or science discipline.
At least 1 year of software engineering or electrical engineering experience, working hands-on with hardware or software technical projects.
Successfully obtain and maintain a Top Secret Security Clearance as a condition of employment.
Pass Air Force background checks for Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg.
Be available to work extended hours and/or weekends as needed to support critical milestones or operations shifts.
Be willing to travel to other SpaceX offices, customer locations, and remote ground sites.
Meet ITAR eligibility requirements: be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee, or be eligible to obtain required U.S. Department of State authorizations.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with U.S. Government intelligence processes and systems.
Experience integrating large language models and traditional machine learning techniques.
Experience coordinating hardware or infrastructure deployments, including in classified or government-controlled environments.
Familiarity with networking fundamentals, such as IP networking and switching/routing concepts.
Demonstrated ability to work under pressure and deliver reliable, expeditious results across multiple parallel priorities.
Strong attention to detail, hard work ethic, professionalism, and excellent written and verbal technical communication skills.
Spacecraft mission design, development, integration, and/or test experience.
Strong interest in innovation in process improvement and system design.

Responsibilities

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 translate customer requirements into actionable development objectives.
Work with internal and external stakeholders to drive development.
Collaborate with subsystem representatives across team boundaries to consider necessary trades and ensure end-to-end mission success.
Support all program phases, from initial proposal and development through successful test, flight, and on-orbit commissioning.
Educate the customer on SpaceX designs and methodologies.
Own ground segment architecture design, including compute infrastructure, network architecture, and software systems.
Support in-person site surveys and selection for ground stations and datacenters.

Benefits

Potential eligibility for long-term incentives in the form of company stock or long-term cash awards.
Potential discretionary bonuses.
Ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
Comprehensive medical coverage.
Vision coverage.
Dental coverage.
401(k) retirement plan.
Short- and long-term disability insurance.
Life insurance.
Paid parental leave.
Various other discounts and perks.
Accrual of 3 weeks of paid vacation.
Eligibility for 10 or more paid holidays per year.
Paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy.