Limited growth, top heavy - Anonymous SpaceX Employee Review

2.0
15 June 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

It is exciting to work for a company that is as innovative and dynamic as Space X. The energy is intense, expectations far reaching, and pace is very fast. Space X is not for everyone. Only for those that are over achieving and perfectionist and who are laser focused. If you are one of these few, this is a perfect job for you.

Cons

Space X is extremely top heavy with VP's reporting to VP's and Directors reporting to Directors which limits growth for everyone. There is a constant reorganization and constant management change which sets the group back each time. Lack of experience of upper management is clearly seen through their lack of understanding of the day to day business. Many come from BMW and even though the actual rocket building is completely a different animal than building cars, many talk about the way things were done while they were with BMW and when trying to implement some of them, they seem to fail so the workers spend many hours to remedy wasted hours. There is an absolute lack of communication flow down from the executives which compels everyone to do their own thing. Departments and organizations within departments are heavily silo'ed and no processes complete. Though anyone can say anything, many complain about other groups or people without basis or evidence. There are too many immature people employed in the company so Space X is not a professional working place. If you want a promotion, it seems like who you know is more important than anything else. The company can be very biased and unfair.

Explore other reviews about SpaceX

5.0
17 June 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

good place to work and earn money

Cons

Heavy workload and long time work

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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