You need to actually want to work here - Software Engineer SpaceX Employee Review

5.0
Jun 11, 2021
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

A very fulfilling experience. Everyone is devoted to the job and do it because they want the future to come faster. There are very interesting problems.

Cons

You really have to enjoy what you're doing otherwise you won't like it there. It's a lot of work and it's not for everybody. You could likely get a better paying job compared to the number of hours somewhere else. Would you be working on as interesting problems? You choose.

Explore other reviews about SpaceX

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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