SpaceX

GNC Engineer Interview Experience - Los Angeles, California

September 2, 2026

Positive ExperienceNo Offer

Process

I applied online. The process took 2 weeks.

It was one recruiter screen where they talked about some basic technical questions, followed by 2 technical interviews. Finally, if you pass all of them, they invite you to an on-site panel.

The technical interviews are supposed to be on Teams, but sometimes they just call.

In the first one, they go through a bunch of first-principles questions to test your general knowledge of the subject.
In the second interview, they dive into your work and make you answer clarifying questions and pose hypotheticals based on your work.

My experience wasn't exactly what matched the job description, so I didn't get to go onsite.

Questions

In this project that you did, what would happen if you changed this one thing? So I am doing stationkeeping for cis-lunar orbits; what would happen if you included the gravitational effects of Jupiter? There will be questions directly applicable to your work. The basic questions they ask are all over the internet anyways.

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Interview Statistics

The following metrics were computed from 2 interview experiences for the SpaceX GNC Engineer role in Los Angeles, California.

Success Rate

0%

Pass Rate

SpaceX's interview process for their GNC Engineer roles in Los Angeles, California is extremely selective, failing the vast majority of engineers.

Experience Rating

Positive50%

Neutral50%

Negative0%

Candidates reported having very good feelings for SpaceX's GNC Engineer interview process in Los Angeles, California.

SpaceX Work Experiences

Good environment but stressful with schedule changes

Engineer • Former Employee

Pros: It has a very good environment.

Cons: Too much stress and last-minute schedule changes

Good environment but stressful with schedule changes

Engineer • Former Employee

Pros: It has a very good environment.

Cons: Too much stress and last-minute schedule changes

Do it for the goals

Senior Propulsion Engineer • Current Employee

February 23, 2025

Pros: You get to be right up against the cutting edge tech at full tilt execution, rather than theory and plans. The overall compensation with stock has been, historically, very good. Having this work experience is very sought after.

Cons: Work/life balance is bad, unless you consider being at work, life. Work-is-life can be sustained for a couple of years, but longer term you need to find a balance. You need to find a way to decompress in the time you get outside of work, without feeling like it becomes "productive".

Do it for the goals

Senior Propulsion Engineer • Current Employee

February 23, 2025

Pros: You get to be right up against the cutting edge tech at full tilt execution, rather than theory and plans. The overall compensation with stock has been, historically, very good. Having this work experience is very sought after.

Cons: Work/life balance is bad, unless you consider being at work, life. Work-is-life can be sustained for a couple of years, but longer term you need to find a balance. You need to find a way to decompress in the time you get outside of work, without feeling like it becomes "productive".

Toxic work environment

Quality Assurance Analyst • Former Employee

October 28, 2024

Pros: The only pros were that I was part of something that will someday get humans to Mars.

Cons: Poor management, racism, and sexism. If at any moment in time you speak out against any harassment or sexist and racist comments, they will come after you and not the person who made the racist comment. Low diversity the higher up you are in management. Being white or white passing gets you promoted, and not being white prevents you from opportunities. So many times where a white manager made mistakes and was not reprimanded; in fact, was promoted. While the people of color who worked hard were never given credit, and credit was given to the white managers.

Toxic work environment

Quality Assurance Analyst • Former Employee

October 28, 2024

Pros: The only pros were that I was part of something that will someday get humans to Mars.

Cons: Poor management, racism, and sexism. If at any moment in time you speak out against any harassment or sexist and racist comments, they will come after you and not the person who made the racist comment. Low diversity the higher up you are in management. Being white or white passing gets you promoted, and not being white prevents you from opportunities. So many times where a white manager made mistakes and was not reprimanded; in fact, was promoted. While the people of color who worked hard were never given credit, and credit was given to the white managers.

Good environment but stressful with schedule changes

Engineer • Former Employee

Pros: It has a very good environment.

Cons: Too much stress and last-minute schedule changes

4.0
Good environment but stressful with schedule changes
Engineer • Former Employee
Hawthorne, CA
April 28, 2026
Pros: It has a very good environment.
Cons: Too much stress and last-minute schedule changes

Do it for the goals

Senior Propulsion Engineer • Current Employee

February 23, 2025

Pros: You get to be right up against the cutting edge tech at full tilt execution, rather than theory and plans. The overall compensation with stock has been, historically, very good. Having this work experience is very sought after.

Cons: Work/life balance is bad, unless you consider being at work, life. Work-is-life can be sustained for a couple of years, but longer term you need to find a balance. You need to find a way to decompress in the time you get outside of work, without feeling like it becomes "productive".

5.0
Do it for the goals
Senior Propulsion Engineer • Current Employee
Hawthorne, CA
February 23, 2025
Pros: You get to be right up against the cutting edge tech at full tilt execution, rather than theory and plans. The overall compensation with stock has been, historically, very good. Having this work experience is very sought after.
Cons: Work/life balance is bad, unless you consider being at work, life. Work-is-life can be sustained for a couple of years, but longer term you need to find a balance. You need to find a way to decompress in the time you get outside of work, without feeling like it becomes "productive".

Toxic work environment

Quality Assurance Analyst • Former Employee

October 28, 2024

Pros: The only pros were that I was part of something that will someday get humans to Mars.

Cons: Poor management, racism, and sexism. If at any moment in time you speak out against any harassment or sexist and racist comments, they will come after you and not the person who made the racist comment. Low diversity the higher up you are in management. Being white or white passing gets you promoted, and not being white prevents you from opportunities. So many times where a white manager made mistakes and was not reprimanded; in fact, was promoted. While the people of color who worked hard were never given credit, and credit was given to the white managers.

1.0
Toxic work environment
Quality Assurance Analyst • Former Employee
Hawthorne, CA
October 28, 2024
Pros: The only pros were that I was part of something that will someday get humans to Mars.
Cons: Poor management, racism, and sexism. If at any moment in time you speak out against any harassment or sexist and racist comments, they will come after you and not the person who made the racist comment. Low diversity the higher up you are in management. Being white or white passing gets you promoted, and not being white prevents you from opportunities. So many times where a white manager made mistakes and was not reprimanded; in fact, was promoted. While the people of color who worked hard were never given credit, and credit was given to the white managers.

SpaceX Interview Questions

Number of Islands

Given a grid representing land and water, count the number of distinct islands. An island is formed by connected land cells.

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