Very challenging, very fulfilling - Mechanical Engineer II SpaceX Employee Review

5.0
20 Oct 2018
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Hands down, no other company (or government for that matter) is pushing the boundaries of space exploration and access at the same rate that SpaceX is. I work here because I believe that I can personally have the largest possible positive impact on the world by spending my time and energy supporting SpaceX's mission. There is a real and widespread sense of the importance and impactfulness of what we're doing, and everyone, management to new hires, bring an urgency and drive to their projects that is unmatched anywhere else I know of. Individual contributors are given a huge amount of responsibility and can make significant contributions to big projects and milestones on an accelerated timeline with minimal bureaucracy.

Cons

Responsibility is a double edge sword, and the drive for extreme ownership and personal responsibility can be very stressful at times, and very rewarding at others. SpaceX can also quickly take over large swaths of your free time as you find yourself working long hours - it's important to set clear personal work/life boundaries for yourself here, and make sure you work at a pace that is sustainable for you. Other people and management won't do that for you at SpaceX, and people occasionally fail to find that correct balance for themselves and burn out.

Explore other reviews about SpaceX

5.0
17 Jun 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
29 Jun 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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