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SpaceX

Principal AI Engineer, Special Programs

SpaceX · Palo Alto, CA

Posted about 3 months ago · $220,000.00 - $350,000.00

or apply directly on SpaceX's site. We never take the application ourselves.

Is this posting real?

This role has been open
88 days
SpaceX's roles stay open a median of 88 days
Reposted
No
Salary listed
Yes
52% of SpaceX's roles list one
Ghost-job risk at SpaceX
high
2362 stale, 43 reposted of 2,362 open
Hiring momentum
3062 roles opened in the last 90 days
↑ up vs. the prior 90 days
Last confirmed on the employer's board
2026-10-30

Measured from postings appearing on and disappearing from SpaceX's own greenhouse board since 2026-08-03. Full hiring picture for SpaceX.

About this role

The Principal AI Engineer for Special Programs at SpaceX will focus on engineering and deploying AI capabilities for U.S. federal agencies. The role involves designing and optimizing integrations between AI models and government systems, collaborating with various teams to develop tools and documentation, and shipping production-grade code with an emphasis on speed and impact.

Our read on this posting3.8out of 5
benefits
5/5
freshness
1/5
career value
4/5
role clarity
4/5
pay transparency
5/5

Scored from the posting itself — how clearly the role is described, how much it says about pay and benefits, and how recently it was listed. Not a judgement of SpaceX as an employer.

What you need

  • Bachelor's degree in computer science or another STEM discipline; OR 2+ years of professional experience in software development in lieu of a degree
  • 6+ years of hands-on software engineering experience building scalable systems, APIs, or AI/ML applications
  • Strong Python proficiency, other languages a plus

Nice to have

  • Experience working with large language models, generative AI, or agentic systems
  • Familiarity with government or public sector technology environments
  • Strong product sensibility
  • Demonstrated ability to write clean, maintainable, high-performance code under tight timelines
  • Exceptional problem-solving skills and intellectual curiosity

What you get

  • Pay range: $220,000.00 - $350,000.00 per year
  • Eligibility for long-term incentives, including company stock and stock options
  • Potential discretionary bonuses
  • Ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan
  • Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage
  • Access to a 401(k) retirement plan

Worth weighing

  • Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed
  • 20% travel may be required to government sites
  • Position requires obtaining and maintaining a Top Secret Security Clearance
  • Pay range may vary based on job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience

Summarised from SpaceX's posting. Read the full original.

Listed by SpaceX on their greenhouse job board, last confirmed open on 2026-10-30. PitchMeAI is not the employer.

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