Challenging engineering work, epic rewards - Lead Engineer SpaceX Employee Review

4.0
Jan 4, 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The full engineering experience is available here for the intrepid and ambitious individual. Design and build complex and meaningful structures-without the overwhelming structure and bureaucracy of large engineering firms. Most designs get tested at or near their design loads nearly immediately, so it is not for the faint.

Cons

Work at SpaceX requires commitment and enthusiasm for the work. I'm not sure anyone can really be happy here without appreciating the CEO's vision for the company. If you (and your family) are not comfortable with long hours and intense pressure be cautious about coming here.

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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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