Engineer Interview Experience - Newark, California
Process
I applied back in late October 2018 and didn't receive contact until 2019. There were three rounds of technical phone interviews with one team member, one manager, and one VP. I actually found the VP's phone call to be eccentric and empty; he asked me what my proudest achievement was and told me relatively little about the company when I inquired. He did mention they had moved to a new office, which I had already learned from the internet.
Two weeks later, I was invited onsite for a 3-4 hour technical interview session. This included meeting with an HR representative, at least six team members from different disciplines, and then the VP and CTO.
A little note: the CTO tends to be very hands-on, and the management team is very transparent. They hold an engineering staff meeting at 8 am every working day and bi-weekly all-hands meetings. The CTO loves to be involved in all decisions, from hiring to design to work hours.
Right off the bat, I was told the compensation includes salary and 10-14 days of PTO annual accrual (sick + vacation), discounted insurance, and a fully vested 401K (since they don't contribute). However, they forgot to mention the experience you'd gain working long hours, a hotel-like gym shared by the entire business park, and the free snack pantry (the cafeteria is not free).
Overall, the company seems solid. I didn't really get a chance to ask about their work culture or business strategy on how they differentiate themselves, and they didn't seem to want to get to know me as a person. I got a hint based on the majority of the company still being in the open office on Friday at 7 pm, and when HR had difficulty answering if teams socialize in a non-work environment. The only person with whom I had a social, non-technical conversation was the hardware group manager. The people are smart and hardworking.
Questions
Review the basic stress/strain curve.
Understand trusses and cantilever beams.
Dig into your old design notebook and remember why you made a specific feature or joint from a stress-strength standpoint.
Consider material choices.
Understand how cross-sections play a role in your MOI (Moment of Inertia) and, consequently, strength for certain load cases.
Review basic GD&T (Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing).
Design from a cost and manufacturing standpoint.
Why E-car? Why Lucid?
What is your proudest achievement?
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Interview Statistics
The following metrics were computed from 2 interview experiences for the Lucid Motors Engineer role in Newark, California.
Success Rate
Lucid Motors's interview process for their Engineer roles in Newark, California is extremely selective, failing the vast majority of engineers.
Experience Rating
Candidates reported having very negative feelings for Lucid Motors's Engineer interview process in Newark, California.
Lucid Motors Work Experiences
- 2.0If you want to walk 1 mile to the office every day, this is the job you are looking forEngineer • Current EmployeeNewark, California, United StatesAugust 20, 2025Pros: It is a job.Cons: Not enough parking, no remote work allowed, no food provided, and no flexible time. You are still expected to work from 9 AM to 9 PM.
- 1.0Excellent to lose your health and sanityEngineer • Former EmployeeNewark, California, United StatesNovember 22, 2024Pros: Most people are friendly, and the offices are generally clean. However, the dark colors of the walls and floor are not very joyful. Pay can be good, but this is very relative, especially if your overall health is compromised.Cons: Lucid is a Tesla 2.0 but lacks in success and effectiveness. There is an ongoing conflict of egos between the CEO of Lucid and the CEO of Tesla, which is clearly apparent. Also, Lucid is not innovating that much; it was doing some product improvements at the early stage of the company. Organizational Culture - The company operates with archaic practices, similar to a decades-old corporate environment, but still wants to appear as a tech company, which it is not. Think of it as an old-school car company in a fancy suit. The workplace culture is toxic, characterized by disrespectful behavior, including bullying, harassment, insults, gossiping, gaslighting, and discrimination. Negative behaviors are not addressed and, in some cases, encouraged by certain managers. Employees suffer retaliation when issues are raised, with HR helping in the process by feeding the person(s) with improper behavior. It's worth noting layoffs are now regular practices, and you could be laid off for any given reason, including if you are having a life-changing event (newborn, illness, or accident). Management Practices - Favoritism and nepotism are prevalent, with individuals who contribute minimally—if not giving their work to others—but engage in extensive networking with directors and managers to be promoted. The work environment is marked by excessive hours, including weekends, with ridiculous standard office hours set from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM. Micromanagement is commonplace. Leadership is insecure and indecisive, contributing to a lack of organizational structure: the Execs want Lucid to remain a start-up, which it no longer is. Employee Recognition and Development - There is no recognition or reward for employee contributions—unless you are buddy-buddy with your boss—beyond occasional social events (pizza and beer). The company as a whole is reluctant to learn or improve. There are no lessons learned, no onboarding, and no training provided. The "success" is due to past achievements of employees who left rather than ongoing efforts of newly replacing hires. Overall, if you think of yourself as a true professional with knowledge, critical thinking, ethics, and integrity, Lucid is not a place for you. If you are a rude, lazy, impolite, stubborn, disrespectful, crowd-pleaser, corporate climbing ladder person, Lucid is the perfect place.
- 3.0Next Tesla (In culture)Engineer • Current EmployeeNewark, California, United StatesAugust 1, 2024Pros: 1. Grow Resume 2. Grow Knowledge and speedCons: 1. People laugh if you make a mistake. 2. Bunch of patronizing people.
Lucid Motors Interview Questions
