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Mechanical Engineer Interview Experience - Hawthorne, California

July 1, 2022
Positive ExperienceNo Offer

Process

The process took three weeks (quarantine lasted two weeks; otherwise, it would have been faster).

Questions were difficult but provided a good challenge.

The interview process consisted of:

  • One initial screening
  • Two follow-up phone interviews
  • One on-site interview/presentation

The team seemed composed of good, smart people. The whole process was very enjoyable.

The on-site interviews were much more difficult. Questions could be standard ones they ask everyone or completely random. More importantly, they were looking to pick your brain and see how you approach engineering problems.

You will either receive a job offer before leaving your on-site interviews or be notified that you did not get the position.

Questions

Standard ME questions (stress vs. strain, parallel springs supporting mass, natural frequency, etc.)

Cantilever beam problem (failure modes, make it stronger, etc.)

Design a potato launcher to launch 100 m (follow-up questions will depend on your answer).

Design a floor for a Human Landing System (all considerations behind it).

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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