No Place Like It - Structures Engineer SpaceX Employee Review

5.0
Mar 17, 2014
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Work at Spacex is demanding but rewarding. There are few if any other places in the world where you'll find the opportunities Spacex offers. Highlights include: -Incredible opportunities to design, analyze, test and build flight hardware. All in an extremely short time frame, especially for aerospace. Get to truly see your projects cradle to grave. -Unsurpassed learning pace. Easily the fastest I've ever learned. Given the pace of progress and the flexibility expected from engineers you will learn a wide skill set very quickly. -Range of projects. Most employees aren't be doing the same thing every day. Many opportunities to run analysis, conduct testing, manufacture R&D parts, concept designs etc. etc. -Rockets are built in the same building. Very tight feedback loop between engineering and production. Go walk 100ft and see your parts being built or the problem item in person. -Company culture. Relaxed but very motivated with get-things-done attitude. Casual dress code. Silicone valley inspired perks, free coffee, froyo, subsidized food etc. -Company is overall pretty young and most employees are like-minded and amiable.

Cons

-Due to the responsibility placed on each employee work hours can often be long. Generally if you are reasonable about your time this isn't so much an issue. Some days will require longer hours or than normal no doubt. -Compensation is generally competitive but not outstanding considering the hours most employees keep.

Explore other reviews about SpaceX

5.0
May 30, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Very open and cooperative culture Can-do mindset Break-through mindset

Cons

Weak HR with weak processes to protect employees Always on survival mode culture Less of training and more of performance management Some managers use review process as a weapon to bring people in-line

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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