Cannot Recommend In Good Conscience... Lies, Deceit, Broken Promises, and Poor Management - Senior Engineer SpaceX Employee Review

1.0
Dec 16, 2017
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The biggest 'Pro' about SpaceX is its overall mission and the goals it is working towards. You will work with some very dedicated people on projects that most will think are impossible, and continue to dig deep and find what you and your team are capable of. It also looks great on a resume, and for those who care what others think, it sounds great to the outside world when you tell them that you work here.

Cons

SpaceX will work you into the ground for little to no reward. The company claims to be merit based, which is a joke. Over the last few years, it has moved from a company that strived to make the impossible happen, with dedicated people that all pulled their weight, to teams of looters who are more SpaceX fanboys than actual boots on the ground, make it happen type people. You will spend months of your life on the road with zero appreciation or compensation, other than threats to keep your job. Also, anticipate a very hostile work environment, with management continuously looking for a scape goat to pin issues on. Be prepared to be belittled and threatened to keep your mouth shut on issues as well. My favorite quote I got from management on a very large project during reviews was "Well upper management doesn't know you were the one who made this project come to fruition and did all the work, thats why you didn't anything for it" If you are not part of the "boys club", do not anticipate a promotion or bonuses of any sort (no matter how many fires you put out). Do not anticipate a career path; it does not exist here. Managements idea of a career path is "Here, have another project to keep you busy"

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5.0
Apr 22, 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
Apr 6, 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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