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Sr. Network Engineer, AI Infrastructure (Starshield)

SpaceX· Starshield Software Engineering
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Washington, DC$165k - $265kfull-timePosted 1mo ago

About the role

Senior network engineer responsible for the operation, build, and deployment of the Starshield data center network supporting national security missions, with leadership and mentorship responsibilities.

Responsibilities

  • Manage network infrastructure and deployments to Top Secret data centers
  • Design, validate, and productize high-speed copper and optical connectivity solutions for AI clusters (100k+ GPU scale)
  • Collaborate with ML training teams to translate workload patterns into interconnect topology and optical reconfigurability requirements
  • Contribute to tools for rapid deployments (ZTP/custom provisioning tools)
  • Improve network performance and reliability based on system metrics (capacity planning, failure detection, remediation)
  • Assist in capacity augmentation and network optimization deployments
  • Lead network integration and troubleshooting efforts
  • Collaborate with hardware, software, and network engineers to improve 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
  • Lead the team to technical excellence and guide teammates as a senior engineer

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
  • 5+ years of networking experience deploying enterprise network solutions and/or cloud and GPU networks (internship/co-op experience qualifies)
  • Layer-1 experience (e.g., transport, DWDM, optical fiber, circuit troubleshooting, activations, etc.)
  • Hands-on experience with the deployment of networking hardware (routers, modems, switch, firewalls, etc..)

Skills

Required:Top Secret/Sensitive clearance readinessNetwork design and deploymentL1/L2/L3 networkingInterconnect topology and optical reconfigurabilityTeam leadership
Nice to have:Automation and tooling

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental coverage
  • 401(k) retirement plan
  • short and long-term disability insurance
  • life insurance
  • paid parental leave
  • paid vacation (3 weeks)
  • 10 or more paid holidays per year
  • discretionary bonuses and stock-based incentives
  • Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
Last updated Sep 16, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

About SpaceX

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