SpaceX may become a galactic empire - Engineering Manager SpaceX Employee Review

5.0
Oct 4, 2017
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Elon advertises his goals, then he executes. Doubters to date has been proven wrong. We plan to transform humanity into a space-faring civilization, starting with the colonization of Mars. In my view, working at SpaceX is a once-in-the-history-of-civilization opportunity. Exciting, fast-paced, and stimulating work environment. I love my job. Highest caliber people I have ever worked with. Rockets, spaceships, massive R&D. SpaceX is a tech paradise. Excellent compensation when factoring in equity and benefits. Responsibility, accountability, and authority are pushed down to the lowest level possible. Awesome parties. Great food.

Cons

Maintaining work/life balance requires a conscious choice every day. I used to be limited only by my own ability to execute. As SpaceX has grown, our business practices have gotten in the way of individual contribution. (competition between R&D and production, more management layers, larger teams with difficult communication pathways) Southern California isn't for everybody. (traffic, housing costs, taxes, pollution)

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5.0
Jun 17, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

good place to work and earn money

Cons

Heavy workload and long time work

5.0
Jun 29, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

* **Unmatched Mission & Impact:** You are literally working on rockets and spacecraft. The cool factor is 10/10. * **Brilliant Coworkers:** You will be surrounded by some of the smartest, most driven engineers in the world. * **Insane Career Growth:** SpaceX on your resume is a golden ticket. You will learn more here in 3 months than in 3 years at a normal company. * **Hands-on Experience:** They actually trust interns with real, critical hardware. No boring coffee-fetching tasks.

Cons

**Cons:** * **Zero Work-Life Balance:** 70-80 hours a week is the norm, not the exception. Say goodbye to your social life and sleep. * **Extreme Burnout:** The "hustle culture" is toxic. You are expected to treat the company as your entire life. * **Mediocre Pay:** The hourly pay is average, especially when you factor in the insane hours and the high cost of living in LA/Hawthorne. * **Chaotic Management:** Decisions can change overnight based on whatever Elon Musk tweets or feels like doing that morning.

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