SpaceX reviews

3.8

67% would recommend to a friend

(2,728 total reviews)
avatar

Elon Musk

72% approve of CEO

79% positive business outlook

SpaceX has an employee rating of 3.8 out of 5 stars, based on 2,728 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The SpaceX employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Aeroespacial y defensa industry (3.6 stars).

Reviews by job title

3K reviews
2.0
Oct 19, 2013

Not what you think

Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

New factory, very modern and upscale. Fancy meeting rooms. Free lunch once a month.

Cons

SpaceX only wants to squeeze the most work out of you until you burn out, like a paper towel you use and then throw in the trash. Very little career mentoring and developing. Many people say the management is awful, and trust me, IT IS. You work yourself to death because you believe in the goals of the company, but management only cares to pin point and emphasize what you have done less than perfect. It is very difficult to stay motivated in an environment that does not reward good work and shames you into working harder regularly. People from the outside see the great things that SpaceX is accomplishing but on the inside it is very different. Great, outstanding engineers and experienced technicians leave every week. I have received too many "Farewell..." emails, it is beyond sad. The recruiting team in HR does a great job of hiring top talent but there are no good managers to keep them with the company. Thing is that everyone is threading water to stay afloat and if you lend a hand to train or help someone else, you will sink. Very few managers actually have any interpersonal skills. The management style of this company is unsustainable, they burn through engineers like an Olympic runner burns thru shoes. The company gets away with paying substandard salaries because of the cool company image and the stock options. But the thing is that it is not a small company anymore, it is a fairly big company now and the stock options do not make up for not having 401K matching and low pay. No tuition assistance either to get your masters. If you joined the company 3+ years ago, sure the stock options will pay for you. But joining now you will not make money with the stock options. Do not recommend at all, to anyone, single or married, with children or no children. This company will suck the life out of you and leave you demoralized and an empty shell of your former self.

1.0
Dec 30, 2012
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

great and exciting product, the engineering team is wise and most of them very fun to work with, the company sponsors fun events to keep employees happy, full of sugar and caffeine. Christmas parties and launch parties are a blast. If you are buddies with the right people in the engineering team you will be invited to some great house parties. Make sure to find a DD.

Cons

Spacex will hire and fire as quick as the flavor of the months comes and goes, some management is comprised by inexperienced youngsters with no leadership skills, profane language is widely used, the team practices very little fellowship, work hours are in the range of 13 hrs+ daily including weekends. Great place for an intern but not so much for professional parents that need the stability of a set work schedule. The company is going through some growing pains and your happiness here will depend on how much you are willing to tolerate and who you are buddies with. If you mind a harsh non-collaborative culture that endorses the use of profane language, and work hours in the rage of 13 hrs+ daily then this place might not be for you.

1.0
Oct 29, 2012

Would not recommend

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Company has a cool image, tries to come off as being like a dot com business Some smart individuals who think outside the box

Cons

Unrealistic Schedules resulting in 60-80 hour work weeks and no holidays Unwilling to spend money on tools and parts Lots and lots of travel from site to site (for months at a time) Zero balance for life outside work (don't work here if you have a wife and children) Some very poor management with no idea who to manage people or schedules. Not at all like a dot com (google, facebook, microsoft). You will be treated like a number and expected to work endless hours. When you can't you will be terminated summarily.

Viewing 37 - 39 of 2,728 Reviews

Glassdoor has 3,659 SpaceX reviews submitted anonymously by SpaceX employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if SpaceX is right for you.