Poor work/life balance, constant change - NDE Inspector SpaceX Employee Review

3.0
May 16, 2022
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Watching the launches. You get to be a part of the most innovative company in the world. Interact with some of the smartest people you've ever met. Learning their processes can help you achieve a good paying job once your tenure is over.

Cons

Management doesn't care about your personal lives. They expect you to put aside everything and keep your eyes on "the mission". If they're a part of management, then they're probably huge Elon fan boys/girls. Their continuous process improvements only means they're putting everything under a microscope and micro managing you to its fullest extent. Things constant change at this company. Even if you think you have it made, don't get comfortable. Don't expect to be in one spot for a while because they may switch you from 1st to 2nd shift in a matter of months, sometimes weeks. And vice versa. Or they might require you to do something you weren't even prepared for, like travel or perform duties you weren't hired for (except that's what you signed up for, they'll make that very clear). Pay could be better, not nearly enough for what you do on a day to day basis.

Explore other reviews about SpaceX

5.0
Jun 17, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

good place to work and earn money

Cons

Heavy workload and long time work

5.0
Jun 29, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

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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