Principal AI Engineer, Special Programs

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 AI ENGINEER, SPECIAL PROGRAMS This team focuses on engineering and deploying AI capabilities (models, APIs, tools, and integrations) for U.S. federal agencies. You'll work closely with product, research, infrastructure, and legal/governance teams to make  AI and future models maximally useful for missions while upholding safety, transparency, and ethical standards. RESPONSIBILITIES: Design, build, and optimize integrations between AI frontier models (e.g., Grok family) and government systems, platforms, and data environments Collaborate on custom SDKs, APIs, developer tools, and documentation tailored for government and enterprise developers 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 BASIC QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor's degree in computer science or another STEM discipline; OR 2+ years of professional experience in software development in lieu of a degree 6+ years of hands-on software engineering experience building scalable systems, APIs, or AI/ML applications (strong Python proficiency, other languages a plus) PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE: Experience working with large language models, generative AI, or agentic systems—either in research, production, or applied engineering Familiarity with government or public sector technology environments (federal civilian agencies, state/local gov, or regulated industries like healthcare, finance, or infrastructure) Strong product sensibility: ability to translate ambiguous stakeholder needs into concrete technical solutions Demonstrate