Software Engineer Interview Experience - San Francisco, California
August 21, 2026
Positive ExperienceNo Offer
Process
I applied online.
30 minute recruiter call, discussing past experience, a technical project (I forget if the recruiter chose one off my resume or let me decide which one to talk about, either way be ready for both possibilities)
Questions
Why SpaceX, and a handful of very basic data structure questions such as:
- Arrays
- Linked lists
- Hashtables, etc.
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Interview Statistics
The following metrics were computed from 1 interview experience for the SpaceX Software Engineer role in San Francisco, California.
Success Rate
0%
Pass Rate
SpaceX's interview process for their Software Engineer roles in San Francisco, California is extremely selective, failing the vast majority of engineers.
Experience Rating
Positive100%
Neutral0%
Negative0%
Candidates reported having very good feelings for SpaceX's Software Engineer interview process in San Francisco, California.
SpaceX Work Experiences
4.0
Super exciting place to work
Software Engineer • Current Employee
Hawthorne, CA
May 16, 2024
Pros: High impact, awesome on the resume, a lot of trust, and super exciting.
Cons: Above average work hours; you get on call
2.0
Bad work life balance, everyone is brainwashed
Software Engineer • Former Employee
Hawthorne, CA
December 29, 2025
Pros: Interesting projects
Equity
Bonuses
Cool factory
Resume item
Cons: Work life balance is horrible;
Elon Musk;
Bad food on site;
LA Traffic;
Everyone drinks the Kool-Aid about how cool SpaceX is, when it is just a government contracting company.
5.0
Very fulfilling work
Software Engineer • Current Employee
Hawthorne, CA
February 12, 2024
Pros: It is hard to find more fulfilling worth than at SpaceX, even what was normally annoying work elsewhere carries a weight of excitement at SpaceX. Almost everyone shares the same passion for space and space technology, which is a huge plus too.
Cons: There’s definitely a pressure to work as hard as possible, and sometimes various parties may not align on priorities.
- 4.0Super exciting place to workSoftware Engineer • Current EmployeeHawthorne, CAMay 16, 2024Pros: High impact, awesome on the resume, a lot of trust, and super exciting.Cons: Above average work hours; you get on call
- 2.0Bad work life balance, everyone is brainwashedSoftware Engineer • Former EmployeeHawthorne, CADecember 29, 2025Pros: Interesting projects Equity Bonuses Cool factory Resume itemCons: Work life balance is horrible; Elon Musk; Bad food on site; LA Traffic; Everyone drinks the Kool-Aid about how cool SpaceX is, when it is just a government contracting company.
- 5.0Very fulfilling workSoftware Engineer • Current EmployeeHawthorne, CAFebruary 12, 2024Pros: It is hard to find more fulfilling worth than at SpaceX, even what was normally annoying work elsewhere carries a weight of excitement at SpaceX. Almost everyone shares the same passion for space and space technology, which is a huge plus too.Cons: There’s definitely a pressure to work as hard as possible, and sometimes various parties may not align on priorities.
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