SpaceX's Chef Says Feeding Brainiacs Isn't Rocket Science
SpaceX has employed Cizma since 2011 to feed workers at its Hawthorne facility. While most companies of this size have in-house food service operations, practically all of them engage outside vendors to set up and run those operations. Perhaps unsurprisingly, SpaceX's enigmatic leader, Elon Musk, did not want to do things the normal way and opted instead to hire a chef to design a food program in-house. Cizma has built the food program from scratch, hiring his own workers, building restaurants and kitchens in the facility, and finding his own vendors. "There was no road map. We made it up as we built it," he says.The result is corporate cafeterias that focus on health, on local purveyors and local produce, and on a work culture about which Cizma feels immense pride. "In five years I've not had one employee leave voluntarily," he says. "They are all employees of SpaceX. That makes a difference. We are incredibly tight-knit."
It has allowed to to accomplish many daring things other companies are too risk adverse to attempt.But also causes a high turn over rate that makes it difficult for them to keep an experienced staff that could have caught problems such as the helium tank issue before they resulted in the loss of a mission.
Quote from: RonM on 04/30/2017 07:58 pmQuote from: AncientU on 04/30/2017 07:23 pmJust watch a launch webcast... The troops 'act' like they're loving it -- might be they are.Lots of corporate technical jobs today have long hours and low pay. At least work at one that you can enjoy.The webcasts show an enthusiastic workforce. Looks like most SpaceX employees (at least the ones we see) are happy to work there.My employer sends out a notice that they need "clappers" at publicity events. We are informed of the dress code, given a cost center to charge our time to, refreshments are provided and we are told to be professional and enthusiastic. So it becomes part of our job to look enthusiastic and as professionals, we do our job.The President of the USA brings along White House staffers to enthusiastically cheer and clap when his target audience is too quiet (e.g. his address at the CIA).In today's environment I'd take the images of the happy kids jumping up and down with a grain of salt. Not saying that SpaceX isn't the best company ever to work for, just saying don't take the PR images as proof.
Quote from: AncientU on 04/30/2017 07:23 pmJust watch a launch webcast... The troops 'act' like they're loving it -- might be they are.Lots of corporate technical jobs today have long hours and low pay. At least work at one that you can enjoy.The webcasts show an enthusiastic workforce. Looks like most SpaceX employees (at least the ones we see) are happy to work there.
Just watch a launch webcast... The troops 'act' like they're loving it -- might be they are.
To link staff turnover with that accident is an outrageous claim.
There is nothing new about the work hard/low pay sort of culture either. This was a book written in 1981.The Soul of a New MachineThe Wikipedia article describes it well.
Quote from: donaldp on 05/03/2017 12:56 pmThere is nothing new about the work hard/low pay sort of culture either. This was a book written in 1981.The Soul of a New MachineThe Wikipedia article describes it well.Good call. That describes the high tech culture I knew although my personal management style was quite different. I worked with Tom at DEC before he went to Data General. Great guy.Also had the pleasure of working with Len Bosack before he started Cisco.
If your employer needs to pay you to do that, you probably need to find a new employer.On the other hand, I go to events for my employer, unpaid, and enthusiastically cheer and promote and answer questions, because I believe in our product and our aims.
Yah. And one more quote:"""There were times early on when I questioned his directives," Cizma says. "But he was right every single time." He declines to elaborate on those conflicts, saying, "I have come to the conclusion that Elon's mind works at a level different to anyone else's. He's the smartest person I've ever encountered.""So SpaceX looks a good place for you, if you believe in HIS vision, if you accept HIS work model, if you're comfortable with HIS corporate culture.I'd personally prefer to work in a place where MY ideas are valued, where MY vision has a chance to bloom and flourish. OK, I get it - Elon Musk may be the smartest guy on Earth, but my way is still my own way and I prefer to walk it, rather than be the cog in the machine. Maybe some people would like to just go there, hang for several weeks or even months, then drop out. It would look great on their CV, right?
The SpaceX culture really bugs you, Svetoslav? Why don't you tell us what you *really* think.
There's lots of stories out there about how the the upper management at SpaceX (and Elon himself) is open to suggestions and ideas from employees. I don't work there or know anyone who does, but there seems to be some element of truth to those stories. As others have pointed out Glassdoor reviews for SpaceX are very favorable compared to many other large corporations, and certainly far better than competitors like ULA.
There is nothing new about the work hard/low pay sort of culture either. This was a book written in 1981.The Soul of a New Machine
So SpaceX looks a good place for you, if you believe in HIS vision, if you accept HIS work model, if you're comfortable with HIS corporate culture.I'd personally prefer to work in a place where MY ideas are valued, where MY vision has a chance to bloom and flourish. OK, I get it - Elon Musk may be the smartest guy on Earth, but my way is still my own way and I prefer to walk it, rather than be the cog in the machine.
There seems to be a Recovery Technician position open at KSC. Does anyone know where I could get some more information on this position?
If I would run a business, I would also (shock, horror) want people I hire to do what I need to be done, not what they want to do.
Is it just because you really value Musk's vision
What you're missing here is those are not Musk's vision. Space colonization, lower cost of access to space, reusability, these have been the vision for space enthusiasts for decades, they exist before Musk was even born. As a fan, I'm not following SpaceX because I believe in Elon Musk, I'm following SpaceX because their plans and actions aligns well with my belief in spreading humanity to the stars.
Quote from: curtquarquesso on 05/04/2017 04:20 amThere seems to be a Recovery Technician position open at KSC. Does anyone know where I could get some more information on this position?http://www.spacex.com/careers/position/207840
Space X Now Hiring For More Than 30 Positions at Cape Canaveral