Amazing work, tough atmosphere - Anonymous employee SpaceX Employee Review

5.0
May 1, 2018
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

-Really interesting work. I always had projects that pushed the boundaries of my own abilities and taught me new skills. I never felt like the work was "busywork", except when verification of outside entities was sometimes concerned. -Good career opportunities. I felt that people I worked with were rewarded for good work, and rarely (maybe never) did I feel that someone was promoted who didn't deserve it. -We're all thinking it - space is cool. And let me tell you, it never gets old working here. The rockets on the manufacturing floor are a constant reminder of the results of your work.

Cons

-People are angry sometimes at SpaceX. It's mostly from stress and never being able to be wrong, but it still sucks. -Production and engineering have a difficult relationship, with problems arising from both sides. There needs to be more mutual respect here

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Pros

Stocks comp No red tape Leadership

Cons

Can be siloed at time. Pain from rapid growth. fast iteration does not suit everybody.

5.0
Jun 29, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
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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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