Principal Software Engineer (Platform Team)
AI summary of the role
This Principal Software Engineer role on the Platform Team at SpaceX defines the technical vision for the company's AI platform, building secure gateways and proxy systems to enable AI adoption across the organization.
No longer in the current catalog. Last included 2026-09-09. Check the employer’s posting for availability.
What you’ll do
- Define and drive the long-term technical vision and architecture for SpaceX’s AI platform and security infrastructure
- Lead high-impact initiatives with full ownership over strategy, design, implementation, and successful company-wide rollout
- Oversee onboarding of frontier models, massive compute scaling, and continuous optimization of proxy systems for security, efficiency, logging, and control
- Invent and scale advanced risk-mitigation capabilities (AI code review, automated PR tools, safety systems) that protect and accelerate the business
What you’ll bring
- Bachelor’s degree in computer science, computer engineering, or other engineering discipline and 7+ years of professional experience building and scaling production platforms; OR 9+ years of professional experience in lieu of a degree
- Experience designing and operating large-scale AI/ML platforms, internal developer platforms, or mission-critical infrastructure
- Must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee per ITAR requirements
Technologies
Docker · Kubernetes · Python · AI gateways · MLOps · zero-trust security · infrastructure-as-code · observability · multi-cloud · frontier models
About SpaceX
Builds reusable launch systems, spacecraft, and the Starlink satellite network to lower the cost of access to space while turning orbital infrastructure into a mass-market connectivity business.
Private Late
Source and classification
Internal deployment & tooling · Evidence for this classification:
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. PRINCIPAL SOFTWARE ENGINEER (PLATFORM TEAM) The Platform Team builds the foundational tooling and security infrastructure that empowers every team at SpaceX to harness AI effectively. This team creates secure, scalable gateways and proxy systems that allow engineers and operators across the company to write code faster, perform advanced data analysis, connect AI to their daily tools and problems, and turn ideas into deployed solutions with confidence. By onboarding new frontier models, expanding compute capacity, optimizing proxy efficiency for logging and control, and building shared prompts, skills, and
More from the 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. PRINCIPAL SOFTWARE ENGINEER (PLATFORM TEAM) The Platform Team builds the foundational tooling and security infrastructure that empowers every team at SpaceX to harness AI effectively. This team creates secure, scalable gateways and proxy systems that allow engineers and operators across the company to write code faster, perform advanced data analysis, connect AI to their daily tools and problems, and turn ideas into deployed solutions with confidence. By onboarding new frontier models, expanding compute capacity, optimizing proxy efficiency for logging and control, and building shared prompts, skills, and infrastructure, this team unlocks reliable, high-impact AI capabilities across the entire organization. As a Principal Software Engineer for SpaceX's AI platform, you will set the technical vision and serve as a senior leader and entrepreneurial force for the leanest and most effective applied use of AI at SpaceX. You will architect platforms that convert engineering know-how into tested software, automation, and reliable data stores at massive scale while pioneering risk-mitigation tools such as i [... source excerpt omitted ...] secure gateways and proxies that integrate with any cloud compute provider and multiple frontier model providers. Your strategic leadership will be critical to accelerating SpaceX production and development by making trustworthy AI a core capability for every team at SpaceX. RESPONSIBILITIES: Define and drive the long-term technical vision and architecture for SpaceX’s AI platform and security infrastructure Lead high-impact initiatives with full ownership over strategy, design, implementation, and successful company-wide rollout Oversee onboarding of frontier models, massive compute scaling, and continuous optimization of proxy systems for security, efficiency, logging, and co [... source excerpt omitted ...] gineers, building reusable assets, and driving cultural change toward AI-first workflows Proactively identify and execute on the highest-leverage opportunities to turn ideas into production software, trained models, and automated systems with managed, reliable compute Invent and scale advanced risk-mitigation capabilities (AI code review, automated PR tools, safety systems) that protect and accelerate the business Establish best practices and technical direction for lean, secure, and maximally effective applied AI across the company Serve as a key technical advisor and collaborator with leadership and cross-functional teams to align platform capabilities with SpaceX’s most ambi
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