Launch Engineer - Launch Engineer SpaceX Employee Review

5.0
Oct 14, 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

You cannot ask for a more exciting company to work for. SpaceX is revolutionizing space travel and potentially playing a major role in altering the path of humanity. Every employee plays a major role in this mission and truly feels like they contribute to the overall goals of the company. The company has a very flat structure and it feels like everyone is on the same team. Even upper management is very approachable and always open to listening to what a person has to say. Typically, managers are selected based on their knowledge and technical abilities rather than their capability to manage others. While this could oftentimes result in a chaotic work environment, the fact that every employee at SpaceX is exceptionally talented at what they do and most have the know-how and work ethic to get the necessary work done with minimal instruction makes this type of management work for the better.

Cons

A lot of hard work is expected from everyone, and employees can sometime work long hours, especially during certain crunch times. Fortunately, management (at least in my area) seems to be very understanding of each person's needs and is willing to work to find an arrangement that works for each person as long as they are able to put in the required work.

Explore other reviews about SpaceX

4.0
Apr 6, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

You learn so much because the work is so freaking intense, its a lot of fun if you're the type of person who loves to get emerged in hard problems. The hours for me were not too bad but I was the exception, all the other interns I was with dealt with 60-70+ hour weeks, some interns came in at 10am and left at 12am, when I say its intense, I'm not joking. This is however very unique to the Starbase location. I've heard Hawthorne is a lot more chill. I honestly despite how challenging the role was always look back on it with a sense of pride in my work, and longing to be back there. It really does feel that you're doing world changing things.

Cons

Very un diverse upper management, I'd say the company is pretty diverse in the lower ranks, but once you start to look at the org chart and see who's in charge, you realize that its mainly just white people. Makes you wonder if as a person of color you too will be able to move up. Housing sucks: there was limited housing on campus for full time employees, you have to wait a year plus to get off the queue and once you're off you only really get tiny homes as the option that are in an inconvenient location. Interns don't even have the option to get on campus housing, they give you 3k in a housing stipend and expect you to find a place in Brownsville. I'd say its very hard to maintain a relationship while working here if you don't have an understanding partner, the work schedule is brutal and you really can't slack off.

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