Being there was painful; learned a ton, but WOULD NOT repeat, ever. - Anonymous employee SpaceX Employee Review

1.0
17 Apr 2019
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

SpaceX is doing amazing things! You feel like part of something cutting edge and remarkable.

Cons

-There are very few women or minorities. Diversity doesn't seem to matter to the company at all. If you aren't a white male, expect to routinely be the odd one out. -Communication style in the company is very aggressive. Expect to need to stand up for your self, worth, and ideas continuously and loudly. It can be quite uncomfortable, particularly if this is not your natural or preferred communication style. -There's a super strong cult-ish feeling to the work place. Everyone is focused on "the mission" and is willing to sacrifice anything to make it succeed. That's great, if those are sacrifices you are willing and able to make. But those sacrifices aren't optional, they are expected. Expect to work long hours (but not be paid for it). Expect to work weekends. Expect to have very little time or energy for outside activities or social life. -Employees are treated as 100% replaceable. They are not valued. Random firings lead to strong culture of fear where no one knows if they still have a job tomorrow.

Explore other reviews about SpaceX

5.0
30 May 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Very open and cooperative culture Can-do mindset Break-through mindset

Cons

Weak HR with weak processes to protect employees Always on survival mode culture Less of training and more of performance management Some managers use review process as a weapon to bring people in-line

1
4.0
6 Apr 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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