SpaceX only wants to squeeze the most work out of you until you burn out, like a paper towel you use and then throw in the trash. Very little career mentoring and developing. Many people say the management is awful, and trust me, IT IS. You work yourself to death because you believe in the goals of the company, but management only cares to pin point and emphasize what you have done less than perfect. It is very difficult to stay motivated in an environment that does not reward good work and shames you into working harder regularly.
People from the outside see the great things that SpaceX is accomplishing but on the inside it is very different. Great, outstanding engineers and experienced technicians leave every week. I have received too many "Farewell..." emails, it is beyond sad. The recruiting team in HR does a great job of hiring top talent but there are no good managers to keep them with the company. Thing is that everyone is threading water to stay afloat and if you lend a hand to train or help someone else, you will sink.
Very few managers actually have any interpersonal skills.
The management style of this company is unsustainable, they burn through engineers like an Olympic runner burns thru shoes. The company gets away with paying substandard salaries because of the cool company image and the stock options. But the thing is that it is not a small company anymore, it is a fairly big company now and the stock options do not make up for not having 401K matching and low pay. No tuition assistance either to get your masters.
If you joined the company 3+ years ago, sure the stock options will pay for you. But joining now you will not make money with the stock options.
Do not recommend at all, to anyone, single or married, with children or no children. This company will suck the life out of you and leave you demoralized and an empty shell of your former self.
