Sr. Network Engineer (Starshield)

The job

LIVE Employer public job feed (private-sector employer) Source: the employer's public careers feed · Data: listed 2026-06-25

Job description

SpaceX was founded under the belief that a future where humanity is out exploring the stars is fundamentally more exciting than one where we are not. Today SpaceX is actively developing the technologies to make this possible, with the ultimate goal of enabling human life on Mars.

SR. NETWORK ENGINEER (STARSHIELD)

Starshield leverages SpaceX’s Starlink technology and launch capability to support national security efforts. While Starlink is designed for consumer and commercial use, Starshield is designed for government use, with an initial focus on earth observation, communications, and hosted payloads. The Starshield team is building highly reliable in-space mesh networks, designing secure systems to guarantee access to space, designing next-gen communication and sensing software, and more.

As a Sr. Network Engineer you will drive the operation, build and deployment of the Starshield service provider network, which supports critical national security missions. You and your teammates will own the network design and be responsible for proposing and implementing continual improvements to add more capabilities and customers. You will also be responsible for monitoring and improving network security, improving network performance and reliability, and optimizing network deployments.

RESPONSIBILITES:

• Manage and expand network interconnections, network co-location sites and points of presence (POPs)
• Manage network infrastructure and deployments to Top Secret datacenters
• Improve network performance and reliability based upon system performance metrics, including capacity planning, failure detection and remediation
• Assist in capacity augmentation and network optimization deployments
• Lead network integration and troubleshooting efforts
• Collaborate with hardware, software, and network engineers to improve the Starshield network design
• Assist in updating system configuration and firmware
• Build automation for network devices, operational and deployment tools
• Mentor and train junior network engineers

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in a technical or engineering discipline AND 5+ years of professional networking experience deploying enterprise network solutions or cloud and web-scale networks; OR 7+ years of professional networking experience deploying enterprise network solutions or cloud and web-scale networks in lieu of a degree
• Professional Layer-1 experience (e.g., transport, DWDM, optical fiber, circuit troubleshooting, activations, etc.)
• Hands-on experience with the build-out and deployment of hardware at datacenters and interacting with datacenters (e.g., remote hands, cross-connect execution, etc.)
• Experience bringing up switches, routers, firewalls and servers

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Master’s degree in a technical or engineering discipline
• Experience with physical troubleshooting of fiber & circuits
• Deep understanding of service provider networks including but not limited to:
  • Connectivity (Ethernet, IPv4, IPv6 and MPLS)
  • Routing (BGP, OSPF, IS-IS)
  • Switching and routing
  • Internet services (subscriber provisioning, BRAS, DNS, DHCP, NTP)
• Experience implementing network security functions
• Cisco, Juniper, Arista or other industry certification
• Ability to work independently and in a team, take initiative, and communicate effectively
• Active Top Secret or Top Secret SCI clearance

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• This position requires successfully obtaining and maintaining a Top Secret Security Clearance as a condition of employment. While the clearance may not be immediately necessary upon hire, we encourage you to initiate the application process promptly upon accepting this offer. Your ability to secure the necessary clearance is essential for fulfilling key responsibilities of the role. Should you be unable to obtain it, SpaceX reserves the right to modify or terminate your employment to align with operational needs.
• Must be willing to travel domestically and globally in the future when needed
• Must be available for on-call rotations
• Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Pay Range:
Level 3: $165,000.00 - $265,000.00

Your actual level and base salary will be determined on a case-by-case basis and may vary based on the following considerations: job-related knowledge and skills, education, and experience. Those with an active clearance will receive a 10% differential, up to an additional $20,000 annually, once officially briefed into a classified program

Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package at SpaceX. You may also be eligible for long-term incentives, in the form of company stock or long-term cash awards, as well as potential discretionary bonuses and the ability to purchase additional stock at a discount through an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. You will also receive access to comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage, access to a 401(k) retirement plan, short and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, paid parental leave, and various other discounts and perks. You may also accrue 3 weeks of paid vacation and will be eligible for 10 or more paid holidays per year. Employees accrue paid sick leave pursuant to Company policy which satisfies or exceeds the accrual, carryover, and use requirements of the law.

ITAR REQUIREMENTS:

• To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.  

SpaceX is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX’s Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should reach out to EEOCompliance@spacex.com. 

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Field: Technology Sub-niche: Cloud, IT and infrastructure All jobs at SpaceX Jobs in Washington Jobs in Redmond, WA Redmond city guide Washington state guide King County economy

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About the role

This is a — role in the Technology field (Cloud, IT and infrastructure) at SpaceX.

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The city

The job is in Redmond, WA. Below is what the official statistics say about living and working there.

How Redmond compares. Among the 80 largest places in Washington, Redmond is #17 by population, #4 for college degrees (#1 = most), #77 for homeownership (#1 = highest), #6 for remote work (#1 = most). Its county, King County, is #1 of 39 counties for average pay ($132,279).

The place in numbers

Redmond has 77,353 residents (ACS 2020–2024), about 1.0% of the population of Washington. It covers 17 square miles of land, which works out to roughly 4,668 people per square mile. The median age is 35.0, 9% younger than the state median (35.0 against 38.3).

Housing

The median gross rent is $2,409 a month (rent plus utilities), 37% above the state median ($2,409 against $1,760). Over a year that is 17.8% of the median household income. US housing guidance treats housing as affordable when it takes 30% of income or less, so the typical household is under that line. The median home value is $1,167,800, which is 7.2 times the median household income ($162,560); a ratio above 5 usually means buying is out of reach without savings or a second income. 43.2% of households own their home, 32% below the state average (43.2% against 63.8%). A low ownership share points to a rental-heavy market with more apartments and shorter stays.

Work and pay

The Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metropolitan area has 2,086,210 jobs in the BLS wage survey, and the median pay across all occupations is $72,610 a year, 42% above the national median ($72,610 against $50,980). The biggest occupation groups are office and administrative support (212,900 jobs, median $59,660); business and financial operations (201,160 jobs, median $101,950); computer and mathematical (194,970 jobs, median $156,000). The area is most specialised in computer and mathematical (2.8 times) and architecture and engineering (1.4 times), where the share of workers is well above the national share. The best-paying groups with at least 5,000 jobs are management ($168,110) and computer and mathematical ($156,000). In 2026M09 the unemployment rate of King County was 4.8%. 72.1% of residents aged 16 and over are in the labour force. The city lies in King County; its jobs, pay by industry and GDP are on the county page.

Getting around

Among workers, 45.7% drive alone, 5.4% use public transit, 2.8% walk, 38.4% work from home. 9.8% of workers commute 45 minutes or more, 42% below the state average (9.8% against 16.9%). Remote work is more common than in the state as a whole, which widens the set of employers a resident can work for without moving.

People and education

75.3% of adults aged 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher, 90% above the state share (75.3% against 39.6%). 45.3% of residents were born outside the United States, 194% above the state share (45.3% against 15.4%). The poverty rate is 5.6%, 43% below the state rate (5.6% against 9.9%).

Climate

The warmest month is Aug, averaging 63°F (17.1°C), and the coolest is Dec at 34°F (1.0°C). About 1,737 mm (68 inches) of precipitation falls in a year; Nov is the wettest month (256 mm) and Jul the driest (27 mm). These values come from NASA satellite-based climatology on a grid of about 50 km, so they describe the wider area, not a weather station in the city.

Nearby cities to compare

Closest cities in this guide: Union Hill-Novelty Hill (4 miles, rent 6% higher); Kirkland (4 miles, similar rent); Cottage Lake (5 miles, rent 14% higher); Bellevue (6 miles, rent 7% higher). Rent differences are against Redmond; use the Compare tab to put any two cities side by side.

Full guide to Redmond →Washington guideAll jobs in Redmond

Official links for Redmond

• Census Bureau data profile for Redmond
• Official state website: wa.gov
• BLS Economy at a Glance: Washington

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Where to live

CITY Official statistics Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year (via Census Reporter) · Data: ACS 2020–2024

Places within 50 miles (straight line) of Redmond, WA that have a guide, with what living there costs. No pay estimate is shown because the title did not match one occupation.

Career paths

We could not match this title to one occupation, so here are the other sub-niches in Technology, where your skills may carry over:

Cybersecurity (512) Data, analytics and AI (2461) Software engineering (2678) Product management (570)

Distances

CITY Calculation (straight line) Source: U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer (coordinates) · Data: 2024

How far Redmond, WA is from the 20 largest US cities, in straight-line miles (not driving distance). Click a column to sort.

Nearby cities with open jobs (within 120 miles)

The employer

SpaceX is the employer in this listing. See all its open jobs here →

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What it is like to work at a company (culture, schedules, benefits) is not in the source data, so we do not describe it. Read the description and ask the questions under "How to prepare".

Other open jobs at SpaceX

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Same sub-niche: Cloud, IT and infrastructure

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FAQ

What is the Sr. Network Engineer (Starshield) job at SpaceX?

A private-sector role in technology (cloud, it and infrastructure) listed 137 days ago. The full description is on this page and on the employer's page.

Where is this job?

Redmond, WA.

How do I apply?

Use the "View this job and apply on the employer's page" button. AtiveSite does not receive applications.

How much does it pay?

The listing does not publish pay, and we could not match the title to one official occupation.

What is the cost of living there?

Median rent in Redmond is $2,409 a month and median household income $162,560 (ACS 2020–2024).

How old is this listing?

It was posted on 2026-06-25 (137 days ago). Jobs older than 90 days are not shown.

Are there similar jobs?

Yes: browse cloud, it and infrastructure jobs in Washington.

Sources and terms

• Job data: SpaceX careers page public feed (listing dated 2026-06-25). The job disappears from this site when it disappears from the source.
• Wages and projections: BLS OEWS (May 2025) and Employment Projections 2025–35.
• City and county figures: Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024, BEA, BLS QCEW and LAUS, NASA POWER climatology; distances from Census Gazetteer coordinates.

AtiveSite is not affiliated with or endorsed by the employer or any government agency, and does not process applications. Verify every detail with the employer before acting.

Sources

• BLS OEWS (wages and employment by occupation, May 2025)
• BLS Employment Projections 2025–35
• BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics
• BLS JOLTS
• BLS State and Metro Area Employment
• Census Bureau American Community Survey (via Census Reporter)
• BEA GDP by state and Regional Price Parities
• IRS 2026 tax adjustments
• U.S. Department of Labor, minimum wage by state
• Tax Foundation state income tax rates 2026
• USAJOBS
• USCIS
• U.S. Department of State, visas
• NASA POWER climatology
• GeoNames / Census Gazetteer (coordinates)