Sr. Software Engineer, HITL - Top Secret Clearance
SpaceX · Hawthorne, CA
Posted 16 days ago · $165,000.00 - $265,000.00
or apply directly on SpaceX's site. We never take the application ourselves.
Is this posting real?
- This role has been open
- 16 days SpaceX's roles stay open a median of 45 days
- Reposted
- No
- Salary listed
- Yes 52% of SpaceX's roles list one
- Ghost-job risk at SpaceX
- high 1459 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
- 2026-09-17
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. Software Engineer in Special Programs at SpaceX, you will design, develop, and test software solutions for flight systems, focusing on automated testing for hardware in the loop (HITL) and hardware out of the loop (HOOTL). This role involves full ownership of new features in a high-performance application, collaborating across engineering teams to enhance software and hardware development. You will also contribute to test automation and CI/CD infrastructure while maintaining high standards of excellence.
- benefits
- 5/5
- freshness
- 4/5
- 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, math, or an engineering discipline
- 5+ years of experience in software development, developing applications in languages such as Python, C++, or Java
- 3+ years of experience with automated testing of hardware in the loop (HITL) or hardware out of the loop (HOOTL) software
- 3+ years of experience with test automation and CI/CD pipelines
- Active Top Secret, Top Secret SCI, or DOE Level Q clearance, or the ability to obtain and maintain one
Nice to have
- Strong software design and development skills
- Professional experience in full-stack development of production web applications
- Experience with JavaScript libraries such as Lit, React, and Redux
- Experience with automated build and test frameworks such as Bamboo, Ansible, and Jenkins
- Familiar with monitoring tools such as Grafana or Elasticsearch
What you get
- Pay Range: Level 3: $165,000.00 - $265,000.00
- 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, vision, and dental coverage
- Access to a 401(k) retirement plan
Worth weighing
- Aerospace experience is not required, but the role involves complex challenges in a dynamic environment.
- The position requires obtaining and maintaining a Top Secret Security Clearance, which is essential for fulfilling key responsibilities.
- Extended hours and weekends may be necessary to support critical project timelines.
Summarised from SpaceX's posting. Read the full original.
Listed by SpaceX on their greenhouse job board, last confirmed open on 2026-09-17. PitchMeAI is not the employer.
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