Mechanical Engineer Interview Experience - Hawthorne, California
December 28, 2021
Positive ExperienceNo Offer
Process
2-hour technical phone screen.
5-hour in-person interview.
Enjoyed the process; met very smart and humble people.
Received a tour of the Hawthorne facility.
Prepared reference slides to go over any questions with the team.
Questions
Know your fundamentals.
Make sure to study.
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Interview Statistics
The following metrics were computed from 25 interview experiences for the SpaceX Mechanical Engineer role in Hawthorne, California.
Success Rate
4%
Pass Rate
SpaceX's interview process for their Mechanical Engineer roles in Hawthorne, California is extremely selective, failing the vast majority of engineers.
Experience Rating
Positive48%
Neutral40%
Negative12%
Candidates reported having very good feelings for SpaceX's Mechanical Engineer interview process in Hawthorne, California.
SpaceX Work Experiences
4.0
Competitive Stock
Mechanical Engineer • Former Employee
Los Angeles, CA
November 4, 2025
Pros: Significant stock package, a cool product, diverse projects (team dependent), and internal mobility
Cons: High pressure, high stress, no work-life balance, and no 401k match because of stock potential.
5.0
Great Place
Mechanical Engineer • Current Employee
October 7, 2024
Pros: A good amount of responsibility and ownership.
Cons: It can be a lot of work and exhausting.
2.0
Not for everyone
Mechanical Engineer • Current Employee
Cape Canaveral, FL
July 21, 2024
Pros: Very fast paced, and not a lot of oversight when you make design changes, which can be a blessing or a curse.
Cons: No work life balance. In order to be successful, you need to be available/on call 24/7 and work most weekends and holidays. Every year, they are required to fire 10% of the employees, so if you're not a workaholic, you'll eventually get fired.
- 4.0Competitive StockMechanical Engineer • Former EmployeeLos Angeles, CANovember 4, 2025Pros: Significant stock package, a cool product, diverse projects (team dependent), and internal mobilityCons: High pressure, high stress, no work-life balance, and no 401k match because of stock potential.
- 5.0Great PlaceMechanical Engineer • Current EmployeeOctober 7, 2024Pros: A good amount of responsibility and ownership.Cons: It can be a lot of work and exhausting.
- 2.0Not for everyoneMechanical Engineer • Current EmployeeCape Canaveral, FLJuly 21, 2024Pros: Very fast paced, and not a lot of oversight when you make design changes, which can be a blessing or a curse.Cons: No work life balance. In order to be successful, you need to be available/on call 24/7 and work most weekends and holidays. Every year, they are required to fire 10% of the employees, so if you're not a workaholic, you'll eventually get fired.
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