I applied online. I interviewed at SpaceX (Hawthorne, CA) in Mar 2026
Interview
I withdrew early on in the interview process.
The HR screen was more extensive than most, as they asked some questions about computer science and physics fundamentals (on top of the usual fare of "describe yourself," salary expectations, etc.).
After the screen, I was asked to give my availability for the next round. I took a couple days (plus the weekend) to respond, giving dates 2-3 weeks out to fit around my existing schedule.
The recruiter then responded by questioning my interest in SpaceX and indicating my timeline would negatively influence my candidacy. I was caught off guard by how quickly the tone of the messages became more harsh; it would have been helpful to have clearer expectations set about response time and scheduling urgency.
SpaceX heavily prioritizes speed in decision-making across the company, including recruiting. That may be a great fit for some candidates, but it wasn't the right environment for me.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
What is the difference between polymorphism and inheritance?
Phone call with a recruiter discussing SpaceX, its goals, my resume, professional experience, interest in the role, availability to work overtime, and ability to handle additional responsibilities when needed for the position.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
They asked me to tell them about my professional experience.
Recruiting Call -> Several rounds of technical interview: very fundamental questions that probe your conceptual understanding. Make sure to study / review first principles as it gets theorectical. Quick 30 minute phone calls
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Tell me about one project to showcase engineering skills
I applied for Software Engineer Data position. It was fine. 1 hour leetcode style interview on codility. The difficulty was medium. I had an alright experience. Was able to get brute force but not optimized solution.