SpaceX→
Member of Technical Staff, Government - Top Secret Clearance
Entry LevelOn-siteFull-time
Location
Washington, DC
Salary
$150k–$350k/yr
Experience
1+ years
Posted
3 weeks ago
Skills
software engineeringai/ml applicationsgovernment agency collaborationpythontypescripthttp protocolsecure api designmachine learning fundamentalsmodel evaluationmodel trainingmodel fine-tuningproduction deployment of machine learning modelsdeveloper documentationsdk maintenancelarge dataset handlingsystem performance optimizationinfrastructure-as-code toolspulumiterraform
Job Description
Summary: SpaceX is actively developing technologies to enable human life on Mars. They are seeking a Member of Technical Staff to work with U.S federal agencies on mission-critical Starshield AI solutions, focusing on strategy, execution, and deployment while ensuring safety and ethical standards.
Responsibilities:
- Design, build, and optimize integrations between Starshield AI frontier models (e.g., Grok family) and government systems, platforms, and data environments
- Identify pain points, scoping product specifications, and designing and building StarshieldAI-powered software for government or enterprise use cases
- Benchmark models and develop evaluation frameworks to assess performance and address weaknesses, ensuring compliance with customer standards
- Enhancing model performance through system prompt tuning or fine-tuning, with an eye toward secure and scalable deployment
- Analyze request logs, prompt data, or system outputs to ensure reliability and audibility
- Build internal tooling to streamline workflows and automate repetitive tasks in secure environments
- Partner with agency stakeholders to understand requirements, prototype solutions, and iterate rapidly based on real-world feedback
- Ship production-grade code and features with a bias toward speed, simplicity, and measurable impact
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, mathematics, computer engineering, physics, or data science
- 1+ years of hands-on software engineering experience building scalable systems, APIs, or AI/ML applications
- Active Top-Secret or Top-Secret SCI
Preferred Qualifications:
- Demonstrated success working with government agencies, DoW, or federal contractors on AI, software, or data projects
- 6+ years of software engineering experience, ideally in environments requiring high reliability or security
- Expertise in designing, implementing, and maintaining robust, scalable, and secure AI-driven solutions that meet stringent compliance and operational standards
- Proven experience implementing AI or machine learning products with APIs, back-end systems, and front-end interfaces
- Proficiency in Python and/or TypeScript
- Strong understanding of the HTTP protocol and secure API design
- Robust engineering background, preferably in fields such as Computer Science, Mathematics, Software Engineering, Physics, or Data Science
- Experience building evaluation frameworks for AI systems and assessing capabilities in regulated or high-stakes contexts
- Deep understanding of machine learning fundamentals—model evaluation, training, and fine-tuning—with a focus on production-ready deployments
- History of deploying machine learning models to production, ideally in secure or cloud-based government environments
- Expertise in writing developer documentation or maintaining SDKs for technical audiences, including government developers
- Ability to work with massive datasets, optimize system performance, and scale solutions for high-throughput, mission-critical workloads
- Familiarity with infrastructure-as-code tools like Pulumi or Terraform, particularly in secure or government-aligned deployments
- Adaptability to shifting priorities and requirements in a fast-paced, mission-driven startup setting
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English, with experience documenting technical solutions for diverse stakeholders
- Active Top-Secret or Top-Secret SCI with a full scope polygraph
Required Skills: Software Engineering, AI/ML Applications, Government Agency Collaboration, Python, TypeScript, HTTP Protocol, Secure API Design, Machine Learning Fundamentals, Model Evaluation, Model Training, Model Fine-tuning, Production Deployment of Machine Learning Models, Developer Documentation, SDK Maintenance, Large Dataset Handling, System Performance Optimization, Infrastructure-as-Code Tools, Pulumi, Terraform
Benefits: 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, 401(k) retirement plan, Short and long-term disability insurance, Life insurance, Paid parental leave, Various other discounts and perks, 3 weeks of paid vacation, 10 or more paid holidays per year, Paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy
Benefits
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
401(k) retirement plan
Short and long-term disability insurance
Life insurance
Paid parental leave
Various other discounts and perks
3 weeks of paid vacation
10 or more paid holidays per year
Paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy