Podcast Episode
Michael Nicolls, vice president of Starlink Engineering, announced that SpaceX is recruiting for many critical engineering roles, including a Space Lasers Engineer based in Redmond, Washington.
Musk wrote in a memo to employees that the merger would create the most ambitious, vertically-integrated innovation engine on and off Earth, with the primary motivation being to advance orbital data centre development.
Space debris presents another major risk, with experts warning that objects travelling at seventeen thousand five hundred miles per hour could trigger a cascade of collisions. Analysts at MoffettNathanson calculated the vision could require annual capital expenditures reaching five trillion dollars.
SpaceX Begins Hiring Engineers to Build Musk's Orbital Data Centres in Space
February 8, 2026
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SpaceX is actively recruiting engineers to develop orbital data centres after filing with the FCC to launch up to one million satellites. The initiative follows the historic two hundred and fifty billion dollar acquisition of xAI, creating a one point two five trillion dollar combined entity focused on moving AI compute into orbit.
SpaceX Pushes Forward with Space-Based Data Centres
SpaceX has begun hiring engineers for one of the most ambitious technology projects ever conceived: building artificial intelligence data centres in space. The company filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission on January 30, 2026, seeking approval to launch up to one million satellites designed to operate as orbital data centres powered by near-constant solar energy.Michael Nicolls, vice president of Starlink Engineering, announced that SpaceX is recruiting for many critical engineering roles, including a Space Lasers Engineer based in Redmond, Washington.
The xAI Merger
The hiring push follows SpaceX's acquisition of Musk's AI startup xAI in a two hundred and fifty billion dollar deal that created the most valuable private company in history, valued at approximately one point two five trillion dollars. The merger brings together rockets, the Starlink satellite network, the Grok chatbot, and the social media platform X under one corporate umbrella.Musk wrote in a memo to employees that the merger would create the most ambitious, vertically-integrated innovation engine on and off Earth, with the primary motivation being to advance orbital data centre development.
Expert Scepticism
Scientists and industry analysts have raised serious concerns about the project's feasibility. Professor Josep Jornet of Northeastern University warned that an uncooled computer chip in space would overheat and melt much faster than one on Earth, as the vacuum of space actually traps heat rather than dissipating it.Space debris presents another major risk, with experts warning that objects travelling at seventeen thousand five hundred miles per hour could trigger a cascade of collisions. Analysts at MoffettNathanson calculated the vision could require annual capital expenditures reaching five trillion dollars.
Strategic Advantage
Despite the challenges, Musk holds a key advantage in rocket access, reportedly charging rivals far more than internal launch costs. The company is also eyeing a potential IPO as early as June 2026 that could raise fifty billion dollars.Published February 8, 2026 at 3:26am