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SpaceX flight software is hiring! Most openings are in Los Angeles, but we're also looking for senior engineers in SF and Seattle. We have openings in a bunch

SpaceX flight software is hiring! Most openings are in Los Angeles, but we're also looking for senior engineers in SF and Seattle. We have openings in a bunch of different flavors: * C/C++/realtime systems - http://www.spacex.com/careers/position/7464 http://www.spacex.com/careers/position/7464 * C++/physics simulation - http://www.spacex.com/careers/position/4337 http://www.spacex.com/careers/position/4337 * Frontend web development - http://www.spacex.com/careers/position/7374 http://www.spacex.com/careers/position/7374 * Java/Python/Go automation services * Dev ops - http://www.spacex.com/careers/position/7579 http://www.spacex.com/careers/position/7579 There are a ton of more openings listed in the career site, peruse and feel free ask me any questions http://www.spacex.com/careers/list http://www.spacex.com/careers/list And for a little inspiration, here's a video of our last landing attempt -- the magic sauce was mostly software! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amRPtyhIzkI&spfreload=10 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amRPtyhIzkI&spfreload=10

zerr 11y ago
I guess the candidates are still limited to one particular country on one particular planet, right?
- goodcanadian 11y ago
  To be fair, that is not really SpaceX's fault. It is due to the U.S. laws that make an overly broad definition of what is a weapon, and an overly optimistic belief that the technology can be hidden from dedicated spies. Strictly speaking, they could hire non-U.S. persons, but that requires a specific individual exemption from the state department. I don't know how hard it is, but I suspect it is only something they would try to do if they really wanted you (i.e. they recruit you, not you apply to them).
  - JshWright 11y ago
    There are certainly places where ITAR could be described as "overly broad" (for instance, the infrared cameras used by firefighters are limited due to ITAR restrictions), but the only difference between an Falcon 9 and an ICBM is the bit on the end...
    - Aeolun 11y ago
      That said, a large part of the world has little need for just a different variation of their existing ICBM's.
- snowwrestler 11y ago
  Best planet in the Solar System, though!
  - zerr 11y ago
    I wouldn't be so assured.
  - yellowapple 11y ago
    No, the best planet is Pluto, no matter what the IAU says.
    - shpx 11y ago
      If pluto was a planet we'd have to memorize way more than nine planets http://web.gps.caltech.edu/~mbrown/dps.html http://web.gps.caltech.edu/~mbrown/dps.html
      - yellowapple 11y ago
        I'll take that over the inconsistency of the "clearing the neighborhood" rationale for Pluto's exclusion.
linjer 11y ago
I was interviewing with you guys and we got about 3 rounds in, then contact with your org completely disappeared. I figured it had to do with a the big launch you just had, but still nothing after following up. Is that normal?
- ulcertified 11y ago
  Which position?
Fry-kun 11y ago
Palo Alto shows no positions available...
- ulcertified 11y ago
  Apply to the Hawthorne position and mention you're interested in the SF Bay area during the interview process. We don't formally have an office there yet.
DoubleMalt 11y ago
Do you need Mathematicians?
- ulcertified 11y ago
  Well, we're an engineering company, so it'd have to be math with a practical slant. Do you have a background in machine learning, statistical modeling, and data analysis (all done in matlab or python)?
mrfusion 11y ago
Are you guys doing anything to improve the reports of poor work/life balance? I really feel like you'd attract a lot more engineers that way, and get higher quality work out of them?
- binxbolling 11y ago
  Wondering the same thing... Really bizarre, unfortunate stories coming out of SpaceX.
- ulcertified 11y ago
  We're actively trying to change the culture and management is onboard. What this means is that not working long hours isn't a negative in performance reviews and advancement. However, people often feel compelled/pressured to work the long hours because a lot of their peers do it.
  - zerr 11y ago
    > because a lot of their peers do it Then just shut down the office and lock the doors at 6pm. This is how things are done in Europe and we (and our families) are pretty happy with it.
fapjacks 11y ago
> BASIC QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science That is shutting out a very real group of extremely talented people. You can't teach initiative and passion.
- LockeWatts 11y ago
  For what they are doing, a very strong background in data structures and memory management is required, at least in so far as the code running on the rocket itself. Very few people learn that on their own, and even fewer learn it to the proficiency level they need.
  - fapjacks 11y ago
    I'm going to go out on a limb here and ask if you think that because you've had very, very few people without a degree apply for that kind of position? Your ad is ensuring that you'll never see the people that have learned it. As a self-taught programmer, I don't apply to listings with this requirement, even if I have everything else they're looking for, because it's just as much an indicator for me as it is for you. I just want you to be aware that you're excluding a very special niche group that could do wonders for any business.
    - LockeWatts 11y ago
      I don't have application demographics in front of me, but I'd wager that you're correct, most people without a degree don't apply to that position. However, that doesn't actually speak to what I was saying. My claim refers to the population of non-formally educated developers as a whole. You might fall into the small portion of the population where you do have the requisite knowledge and skill. However, I think you're missing key element to recruiting, that took me a long time myself to understand. Recruiting is a numbers game. Finding good people is hard, but the best way to find them is A) have competitive compensation, and B) volume. If the signal to noise ratio of college educated applicants is 50:1 and the ratio for non-college educated applicants is 100:1, then as long as there isn't a shortage of college applicants, it improves the recruitment process to require a college degree.
extropy 11y ago
Call me when the ITAR is lifed. Other than that, trying to get my green card.

zerr 11y ago

I guess the candidates are still limited to one particular country on one particular planet, right?

goodcanadian 11y ago
To be fair, that is not really SpaceX's fault. It is due to the U.S. laws that make an overly broad definition of what is a weapon, and an overly optimistic belief that the technology can be hidden from dedicated spies. Strictly speaking, they could hire non-U.S. persons, but that requires a specific individual exemption from the state department. I don't know how hard it is, but I suspect it is only something they would try to do if they really wanted you (i.e. they recruit you, not you apply to them).
- JshWright 11y ago
  There are certainly places where ITAR could be described as "overly broad" (for instance, the infrared cameras used by firefighters are limited due to ITAR restrictions), but the only difference between an Falcon 9 and an ICBM is the bit on the end...
  - Aeolun 11y ago
    That said, a large part of the world has little need for just a different variation of their existing ICBM's.
snowwrestler 11y ago
Best planet in the Solar System, though!
- zerr 11y ago
  I wouldn't be so assured.
- yellowapple 11y ago
  No, the best planet is Pluto, no matter what the IAU says.
  - shpx 11y ago
    If pluto was a planet we'd have to memorize way more than nine planets http://web.gps.caltech.edu/~mbrown/dps.html http://web.gps.caltech.edu/~mbrown/dps.html
    - yellowapple 11y ago
      I'll take that over the inconsistency of the "clearing the neighborhood" rationale for Pluto's exclusion.

linjer 11y ago

I was interviewing with you guys and we got about 3 rounds in, then contact with your org completely disappeared. I figured it had to do with a the big launch you just had, but still nothing after following up. Is that normal?

ulcertified 11y ago
Which position?

Fry-kun 11y ago

Palo Alto shows no positions available...

ulcertified 11y ago
Apply to the Hawthorne position and mention you're interested in the SF Bay area during the interview process. We don't formally have an office there yet.

DoubleMalt 11y ago

Do you need Mathematicians?

ulcertified 11y ago
Well, we're an engineering company, so it'd have to be math with a practical slant. Do you have a background in machine learning, statistical modeling, and data analysis (all done in matlab or python)?

mrfusion 11y ago

Are you guys doing anything to improve the reports of poor work/life balance? I really feel like you'd attract a lot more engineers that way, and get higher quality work out of them?

binxbolling 11y ago
Wondering the same thing... Really bizarre, unfortunate stories coming out of SpaceX.
ulcertified 11y ago
We're actively trying to change the culture and management is onboard. What this means is that not working long hours isn't a negative in performance reviews and advancement. However, people often feel compelled/pressured to work the long hours because a lot of their peers do it.
- zerr 11y ago
  > because a lot of their peers do it Then just shut down the office and lock the doors at 6pm. This is how things are done in Europe and we (and our families) are pretty happy with it.

fapjacks 11y ago

> BASIC QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science That is shutting out a very real group of extremely talented people. You can't teach initiative and passion.

LockeWatts 11y ago
For what they are doing, a very strong background in data structures and memory management is required, at least in so far as the code running on the rocket itself. Very few people learn that on their own, and even fewer learn it to the proficiency level they need.
- fapjacks 11y ago
  I'm going to go out on a limb here and ask if you think that because you've had very, very few people without a degree apply for that kind of position? Your ad is ensuring that you'll never see the people that have learned it. As a self-taught programmer, I don't apply to listings with this requirement, even if I have everything else they're looking for, because it's just as much an indicator for me as it is for you. I just want you to be aware that you're excluding a very special niche group that could do wonders for any business.
  - LockeWatts 11y ago
    I don't have application demographics in front of me, but I'd wager that you're correct, most people without a degree don't apply to that position. However, that doesn't actually speak to what I was saying. My claim refers to the population of non-formally educated developers as a whole. You might fall into the small portion of the population where you do have the requisite knowledge and skill. However, I think you're missing key element to recruiting, that took me a long time myself to understand. Recruiting is a numbers game. Finding good people is hard, but the best way to find them is A) have competitive compensation, and B) volume. If the signal to noise ratio of college educated applicants is 50:1 and the ratio for non-college educated applicants is 100:1, then as long as there isn't a shortage of college applicants, it improves the recruitment process to require a college degree.

extropy 11y ago

Call me when the ITAR is lifed. Other than that, trying to get my green card.