Always something new - Senior Manager, Engineering SpaceX Employee Review

5.0
Mar 10, 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The most inspiring aspects of this job are the ability to learn a lot of new stuff quickly and the reality of seeing your work result in a finished vehicle. The work environment is fast paced and sometimes there are major changes in direction along the way, but it is great working on programs that last months or years vs decades like other aerospace projects. Through my 6 years at Spacex, I quickly developed new analysis, design, manufacturing and project management skills because of the diverse workload. Spacex is less about building a giant system to make sure that any idiot who comes to work will be able to turn the crank, and more about putting trust in smart individuals to make good decisions and get things done. To ambitious people who want to do relevant work, this is great situation. Those who just want to turn the crank need not apply.

Cons

With great power comes great responsibility. Work obligations can get in the way of personal life activities, but not to the point where I think this is a major drawback. I think a reasonable person should be able to manage the demands of SpaceX work and their personal life, although some former employee reviews suggest otherwise. The company has grown a huge amount, and critics will say that this has brought undesired changes. I'm honestly glad to be working at a successful company that is dealing with the challenges of how to manage growth instead of having to do layoffs.

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5.0
May 3, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Good pay Good experience Hands on work

Cons

Long hours Intense management No sleep

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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