This is a question for existing SpaceX SWEs. I'm currently considering switching from G and my ultimate interest in life has always been everything about space. When I go to the SpaceX website they have a ton of different areas to apply for, like Application Software, Avionics, etc etc, it's pretty daunting to sift through at first sight. My questions is which of these teams/areas are the most impactful/interesting? By that I mean where do I get to write code that actually runs on spacecrafts or something else you don't usually get to do at a run-of-the-mill tech company? I don't want to apply to some position that eventually just boils down to maintaining infra within the company, which is a job that can be done at any tech company ever. Also, before you mention SpaceX has terrible WLB, I'm well aware of this. My priorities right now is mostly interesting work over WLB. For the last couple years I was working like 2 hours a day at G because I had negative interest in the work I was doing and I'm bored out of my mind. If anything I want to work more, just on stuff that I care about. I'm also aware that I might have to take a pay decrease, although this is debatable with long term stock appreciation espeically given Starlink might IPO in a few years. TC 350k #spacex
What’s your experience? Software that flys is mostly C++. Game developers seem to have the easiest transition from non-aerospace. Look under the category “SOFTWARE - LAUNCH VEHICLES AND SPACECRAFT” “APPLICATION SOFTWARE” is everything else that doesn’t fly.
If you want to work at SpaceX, don’t join application software.
GNC if you can get in. They are software engineers but more math oriented. Software might have written the official landing algorithms, but it's mostly a copy paste job after GNC came up with them and proved the concept in sims. Software does a lot of plumbing, integration, ops, and devops kind of stuff. Gnc tends to implement the first concept features especially more physics oriented things. Not an easy group to get into though..
It may not be for everyone but I would say try to get into any team that writes critical code that sits in the critical path for the business. GNC, flight software, networking, ground services, gateways, etc. Perhaps I am biased toward what is perceived to be the "cool" stuff. Application software, sims, data science are equally important but they offer different challenges and require a different mindset. Sure you are not necessarily on call for critical things but squeezing the last percent of available resources or capacity or finding creative ways to better use the existing system offers interesting problems. There is some tech debt, but only because the company is moving so fast. Perhaps when the company will stop growing the tech debt will be also cleaned up. Generally though at the moment regardless of the team is small and people are helping each other. Yes, compensation is not at FAANG level. Yes, people are burning the midnight oil. But they are doing it because they are "hungry" to make a difference. Probably not the typical audience in Blind with their TC measuring contests. Reminds me of Apple in the late 90s though - back then when the company was still relatively small.
I know a lot of things about SpaceX. It's not worth it.
Can you elaborate? Would love to know more.
The level of engineering there is pretty low. Most people only know basic stuff. Very basic stuff. Very few SWEs compared to the amount of work required. Shitty base salary. Their valuation has increased 3x in the last 3 years. A few months ago, when the whole market was tanking, they presented an increased valuation by 25%. So, I'm not sure how much potential there is for the paper money. No free food. They keep track how often you go to the office.