It's not for everyone - Engineering Manager SpaceX Employee Review

5.0
Oct 22, 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The aim of the company is to ensure the continued survival of the human species by making us multi-planetary. It that doesn't get you excited...check your pulse... You get to work truly hands on with cutting edge technology. You are surrounded by incredibly smart and driven people. You are given complete ownership and responsibility for your work. You get to contribute to an endeavor that only nation states have previously accomplished. You also get to accomplish world firsts. I had tears in my eyes when we landed the first booster!

Cons

There's no such thing as a free lunch. With the outrageous pros described above come equally outrageous demands and stress. These do not come strictly from Management. They are primarily self created by the superstar type A's who work there. See if you can't read between the lines on some of the negative reviews that the person is basically saying "I'm awesome and I couldn't handle SpaceX, therefore SpaceX must be broken"... If you work only to live, and are looking for a 9-5. THIS IS NOT IT! If you really believe in what the company is trying to achieve; and are prepared to make some personal sacrifices to ensure they do. Welcome to Nirvana!

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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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