Warning for senior software engineers - Sr Software Engineer SpaceX Employee Review

1.0
20 Jul 2023
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

The mission of helping humanity reach Mars is very appealing

Cons

SpaceX looks shiny on the outside; however, the inside is not shiny at all; specially for senior software engineers. Most of the engineers I've worked with are all fresh out of school, which is great for them; however, as a senior software engineer, you will be very disappointed as there is no room for creating anything new. SpaceX has been around for 20 years and most of the required software has been written and done. You will find yourself pushing buttons and fiddling with config files. If you're lucky, you'll get to write Maybe 1000 lines of code in a year. You will also find yourself working with green engineers in leadership roles when they have no leadership experience and qualified to be in those positions. Working at SpaceX has been the worst job and joining them was the worst decision of my career.

Explore other reviews about SpaceX

5.0
22 Apr 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Lots of fun work to do! Your manager will make or break it for you!

Cons

Burnout culture Depending on department learning is very much a self guided journey

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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