Appying for a Job at SpaceX

[shuttle_buff]

I've recently tried to apply for an open position at SpaceX (McGregor, TX) and nothing after two months. Then I found out by checking "open positions" on the http://www.spacex.com web site the job is gone (filled I guess).

OK, well I do have a job with the third largest aerospace firm in the US and I am well paid so I'm assuming SpaceX wants "quantity" and not "quality" people?

This is the second job I've applied for. I'm fully qualified for both but I am senior. And senior can be expensive. Hmmm...

Whatever the case. I'm geting the impression SpaceX wants young, 25 to 35 somethings max for jobs?

Anybody else tried applying for a job at SpaceX?

[ChefPat]

Anybody else tried applying for a job at SpaceX?

Sure, I applied for the Chef's position when they opened up the Dining Room at the Hawthorne factory & didn't get it.
When they put out the call for a Chef on the Lunar Cruiser, the Mars Cycler & the Mars Base I'll apply for those positions as well.
I won't call for the Wambulance if I don't get them either.

[Lars_J]

OK, well I do have a job with the third largest aerospace firm in the US and I am well paid so I'm assuming SpaceX wants "quantity" and not "quality" people?

Have you considered the possibility that perhaps they found someone they considered more "quality" than you?

I don't think that age by itself is such a huge factor for them, but I'd speculate instead that too much time spent working for existing aerospace giants would make transitioning to their corporate mindset more of a hurdle.

[Antares]

SpaceX wants people with entrepreneurial thinking.  If you come from OldSpace, be prepared to demonstrate that.  There are plenty of OldSpace people working at SpaceX, but they demonstrated they were agile in the hiring process.  There are also plenty of aeronautical and non-aerospace (other heavy manufacturing and software) people at SpaceX.  Plenty wash out quickly too, both of their own volition and SpaceX's.

[deltaV]

Perhaps Elon considers experience designing things inefficiently (as he seems to view traditional aerospace practices) to be a drawback in a job candidate, not a benefit.

Can someone be a little more explicit about what SpaceX's corporate culture is like? What do "entrepreneurial thinking" and "agile" mean other than marketing lingo? For example can you rephrase those terms (or give antonyms) in a way that highlights their drawbacks?

[QuantumG]

My understanding of those marketing terms is:

You,

 * work as many hours as you are required
 * never ask for overtime
 * want to work more hours than you are required
 * don't mind the low pay that results
 * agree that your stock options have value
 * believe anything is possible
 * will be assertive about your preferred way of doing things
 * give all the creative solutions you come up with
 * remain positive about the future of the company at all times

That's a generic Silicon Valley perspective, your mileage may vary.

[Swatch]

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||   Good advice/points, all.
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[spectre9]

I'd say the problem is he's stalking Elon Musk.

Go read his post history.

Just seems creepy to me. 

[heroineworshiper]

We should have a SpaceX rejection club.  There are enough of us to raise more money for drinks than SpaceX's entire budget.  There was also a time when I wanted to marry a mermaid.  Unfortunately, the mermaids wanted quantity instead of quality.

Honestly, the SpaceX recruitors get some 1000 resumes for every opening.  Each guy has built every type of flying machine known to man in their garage.

[rdale]

Go read his post history.

Just seems creepy to me. 

Maybe it's the norm for a space worker to be infatuated with cowboy boots... Yeah - weird.

[Antares]

Maybe it's the norm for a space worker to be infatuated with cowboy boots

Ever been to JSC? 

[Antares]

* will be assertive about your preferred way of doing things

All correct except that one which can get one canned... though I don't consider "entrepreneurial thinking" or "agile" to be marketing speak.  When I use words, it's generally safe to go with the dictionary definition.  My sarcasm will be apparent if it's otherwise.

[Jkew]

In software the term "agile" can take a lot of forms, but in all forms there are the commonalities that teams must:
  1. Keep things simple
  2. Recognize that you will fail; embrace it, and learn from it
  3. Iterate and refine.
  4. Move quickly

If applied (poorly) to aerospace (a field which I have only the barest of knowledge) I believe it would also mean that you want to avoid long development cycles before a minimally sufficient solution is ripe for testing.

All the stuff about working long hours for no pay is not necessarily true. In my experience the folks who end up working long hours are digging a hole for themselves trying to achieve perfection rather than setting short, achievable milestones. Short bursts of productivity reinforces the sense of optimism; and possibly has a carryover effect into reinforcing the optimism for the company mission as a whole.

[deltaV]

In software the term "agile" can take a lot of forms, but in all forms there are the commonalities that teams must:
  1. Keep things simple
  2. Recognize that you will fail; embrace it, and learn from it
  3. Iterate and refine.
  4. Move quickly

Thanks, that explanation helps a lot. I've been thinking for a while that #2 is something that NASA would benefit from learning from SpaceX.

[MP99]

There are some interesting reviews at http://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Space-Exploration-Technologies-Reviews-E40371.htm

Standard disclaimer that the job reviews look to be from those who've left. Might get different answers from those who stayed.

cheers, Martin

[JohnFornaro]

My understanding of those marketing terms is:

You,

1 * work as many hours as you are required
2 * never ask for overtime
3 * want to work more hours than you are required
4 * don't mind the low pay that results
5 * agree that your stock options have value
6 * believe anything is possible
7 * will be assertive about your preferred way of doing things
8 * give [up?] all the creative solutions you come up with
9 * remain positive about the future of the company at all times

That's a generic Silicon Valley perspective, your mileage may vary.

Interesting perspective, and readily understandable.  However:

1.  Ageism is.  Personally, I would put in the time if...  If I were to have fulfilled a number of personal objectives.  Generally, and stereotypically speaking, younger single people without families to support and nourish have more time to spend at the company.

2.  Always a sticking point for some people.  Overtime is supposed to compensate for the vast inconvenience of working more than forty hours a week.  For poorer people, it's a good way to make a few extra bux.  For the company, it's a good way to avoid hiring more people at full wage.

3.  Personally, I've always worked a few hours more per week than the forty required.  But Saturdays and Sundays? Or til nine or ten o'clock?

4.  No point in this.  Personally, I've never had anybody tell me that I've asked for too little pay.  Always a first time, tho.

5.  If it were a publicly traded company, this would be obvious.  Otherwise, it is a faith based issue.

6.  Depends on what is meant by "anything".

7.  Hard to do, should the boss impose "my way or hi way" instructions.

8.  I actually got a written exclusion on a contract clause for ownership of certain ideas prior to being hired by a company.  A new hire should go into the relationship with eyes wide open.

9.  Easy to do until you get a pink slip. I hear that Mr. Romney has run out of them from time to time.

10.  YMMV.

Unfortunately, the mermaids wanted quantity instead of quality.

Around here, I thought ponies and unicorns were preferred.  That could be your problem.

When I use words, it's generally safe to go with the dictionary definition.  My sarcasm will be apparent if it's otherwise.

Totally agree.  Have a pony.

[rjholling]

I was offered a job by them as a test engineer at the McGregor site.  I turned it down because I found something better for me and what I want to do with my career at Boeing though.  SpaceX is NOT looking for quantity over quality.  To even get an interview they set a cutoff of 3.6 GPA and extensive internship experience.  I don't know about experienced hires as opposed to new grads but I imagine its the same.  They are trying to stay lean and mean in the face of ever growing corporate bureaucracy.  Best of luck!  You probably wouldn't have wanted to live in Waco anyway. 

[Hells]

There are some interesting reviews at http://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Space-Exploration-Technologies-Reviews-E40371.htm

Standard disclaimer that the job reviews look to be from those who've left. Might get different answers from those who stayed.

cheers, Martin

haha, the last two reviewers have definitely been fired 

[Patchouli]

There are some interesting reviews at http://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Space-Exploration-Technologies-Reviews-E40371.htm

Standard disclaimer that the job reviews look to be from those who've left. Might get different answers from those who stayed.

cheers, Martin

Sounds like Musk wasn't completely successful in eliminating the communications problems between management and employees that supposedly plagues old space companies.

They'd do well to look into the reviews.

[QuantumG]

Sounds like Musk wasn't completely successful in eliminating the communications problems between management and employees that supposedly plagues old space companies.

Many people today seem terribly worried about keeping their jobs. Even in the IT industry, where just about everyone with adequate qualifications has fabulous mobility - to the point of having to daily fend off the advances of recruiters, are hesitant to put their job on the line over a matter of principle. I fail to see how good engineering can shine under such a regime.