Unmatched responsibility for young engineers. - Structures Engineer SpaceX Employee Review

4.0
7 May 2015
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

As a young engineer who formally worked for a behemoth aerospace company, I know first-hand that the level or responsibility afforded to young employees by SpaceX is unmatched. The complexity and scope of my very first project would have taken a decade to be assigned in other aerospace companies. SpaceX hires the very best and expects that new employees with become passionate about what they do which is how they are able to provide historically above-grade assignments. If you’re willing to put your head down and work, you can accomplish amazing things at this company. General list of pros: - The cafeteria is awesome and provides amazing food at heavily subsidized prices (especially dinner). -Young, energetic and passionate workforce. Pretty much everyone is extremely intelligent and motivated. -Flexible work culture (time off, internet usage, software selections, etc.) -Badass mission: Make humans an interplanetary species.

Cons

Monday through Friday, life = SpaceX. There’s no getting around the long hours. That being said, you won’t be alone and the days go by very quickly. Some people literally eat breakfast, lunch and dinner at work. General list of cons: -Long hours. -Somewhat chaotic design, analysis and documentation processes. -No 401k matching. -Relatively low salaries considering the hours and cost of living.

Explore other reviews about SpaceX

5.0
22 Apr 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Lots of fun work to do! Your manager will make or break it for you!

Cons

Burnout culture Depending on department learning is very much a self guided journey

1
4.0
6 Apr 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

You learn so much because the work is so freaking intense, its a lot of fun if you're the type of person who loves to get emerged in hard problems. The hours for me were not too bad but I was the exception, all the other interns I was with dealt with 60-70+ hour weeks, some interns came in at 10am and left at 12am, when I say its intense, I'm not joking. This is however very unique to the Starbase location. I've heard Hawthorne is a lot more chill. I honestly despite how challenging the role was always look back on it with a sense of pride in my work, and longing to be back there. It really does feel that you're doing world changing things.

Cons

Very un diverse upper management, I'd say the company is pretty diverse in the lower ranks, but once you start to look at the org chart and see who's in charge, you realize that its mainly just white people. Makes you wonder if as a person of color you too will be able to move up. Housing sucks: there was limited housing on campus for full time employees, you have to wait a year plus to get off the queue and once you're off you only really get tiny homes as the option that are in an inconvenient location. Interns don't even have the option to get on campus housing, they give you 3k in a housing stipend and expect you to find a place in Brownsville. I'd say its very hard to maintain a relationship while working here if you don't have an understanding partner, the work schedule is brutal and you really can't slack off.

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