Best place for passionate nerds to make a dent in the universe
Pros
My coworkers are insanely smart and responsive. I can count on them. Even if I have unrealistic requests (like "Write a test report by tonight because the customer just told us they need it.") They're also committed to improvement and open to change even when it's tough. The information systems here are impressive. Once you learn them, they help you be highly productive. They are as innovative with their ERP systems as they are with their rockets. From your first day, you're part of a very special community. After you watch your first launch outside Mission Control with your colleagues, you know it in your heart. Base pay is good even considering the long hours (I work 50-65 per week). RSUs make the compensation very good. The company's value is growing much faster than any comparable company, public or private. You are rewarded for hard work. Almost everyone who interviewed me has been promoted in the last year. It's very doable to adjust your role if you find an internal need you can fill and raise your hand. You'll be doing real work on your first day.
Cons
I had a really hard time feeling like part of the community during my first month. No one came over to ask how I was doing. No one held my hand. I didn't get many newbie lunch invites. People look so busy, or tight-knit, that I had to go against my natural impulses and really try to meet people. I'd like to see a better onboarding program in the future. Everyone needs to work long hours sometimes. Some people work long hours all the time. You don't have to be a martyr. As one of my interviewers told me: be committed, but have boundaries. People seemed surprised that I didn't know how a completely proprietary information system worked yet! People will help you, but you need to ask. It's OK - just don't ask the same questions over and over again. There are some engineers who come off as jerks, more than at other places I've worked. They're really not, but just be prepared, be nice and don't expect everyone to be everyone's favorite right away. There are a lot of exceptional people here... some of them are just more "special" than others :) Much of work feels unstructured. If this is frustrating, DON'T WORK HERE. If this is exciting to you, and you can deal with that or help create some good structure, WELCOME TO SPACEX!
