Sr. 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
As a Sr. AI Engineer in Special Programs at SpaceX, you will design and optimize AI integrations for U.S. federal agencies, collaborating with various teams to ensure AI models are effective and adhere to safety and ethical standards. Your role will involve building production-grade code, creating developer tools, and working closely with government stakeholders to prototype and iterate on solutions based on real-world feedback.
- 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
- 5+ 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
- 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, in the form of 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, 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
- Job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience will influence salary determination
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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