Principal Software Engineer, CDN (Starlink)

SpaceX•Hawthorne, CA

About The Position

SpaceX is developing Starlink, a broadband internet system powered by a large satellite constellation, and is seeking a Principal Software Engineer for its CDN team. The team will build scalable distributed systems that support future Starlink offerings for users and customers worldwide. The engineer will design, build, and scale a new content delivery network, develop systems for traffic management across multiple CDNs, and help ensure reliable operation and efficient use of hardware and resources. The role includes technical leadership in architecture, design, and code reviews, as well as prototyping and experimentation to evaluate future designs and use cases. Applicants must meet U.S. government export-control eligibility requirements: be a U.S. citizen or national, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, or another STEM discipline and 10+ years of professional software development experience; alternatively, 12+ years of software development experience in lieu of a degree.
Software development experience in C, C++, or Rust.
5+ years of professional distributed systems experience or experience designing, building, and scaling a CDN system.
7+ years of professional networking experience.
Willingness to work extended hours and weekends as needed.
Must meet the stated U.S. government export-control eligibility requirements.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in computer science or engineering.
Professional experience working on complex networking systems across layers 0–7.
Experience with edge networking, DNS, traffic management, caching, load balancing, SSL/TLS, DDoS protection, and/or monitoring.
Knowledge of network topology, numerical optimization techniques, graph theory approaches, or convex optimization.
Experience developing, debugging, and deploying scalable software used in real-world applications or projects.
Creative problem-solving approach, exceptional analytical skills, and strong engineering fundamentals.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to work effectively in a dynamic environment with changing needs and requirements.

Responsibilities

Design, build, and scale a new Content Delivery Network (CDN) for Starlink.
Build robust, responsive, and scalable distributed systems.
Build tools, visibility, and alerting mechanisms to diagnose, operate, and maintain complex, business-critical systems in real time.
Design algorithms to understand and optimize hardware utilization and cost efficiency against business-critical performance metrics.
Implement systems that shape traffic across multiple CDNs.
Participate in and lead architecture, design, and code reviews.
Develop prototypes and manage experiments to test future design concepts and use cases for Starlink.

Benefits

Potential eligibility for long-term incentives, including company stock, stock options, 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.
10 or more paid holidays per year.
5 days of sick leave per year for exempt employees.