SpaceX Careers: Working in the Commercial Space Industry

At one time, going to space was exclusive to astronauts who spent years acquiring specialised training to undertake various government missions. However, in recent years, a growing number of companies have worked to expand space travel and tourism to private citizens, broadening the space industry in noticeable ways. In 2023, the global space economy increased by more than 7 per cent to a total of 117 billion USD, according to the Space Foundation, an organisation devoted to the worldwide space community [1]. 

SpaceX, founded by Elon Musk in 2002, is amongst the notable and newer space companies. As of October 2024, SpaceX has launched nearly 400 aircrafts into space, with more scheduled on the horizon [2]. 

Given that the World Economic Forum estimates the global space industry is poised to reach a market value of US 1.8 trillion by 2035, it may be an incredibly lucrative field to work in [3]. Whilst several private space companies—as well as well-known government organisations such as NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)—will continue exploring space and creating innovative career opportunities, one company has had a lot of buzz around it in recent years: SpaceX. 

Explore what a career at SpaceX might look like, including different types of job opportunities and how to approach the application process should you choose to move to the United States to work at the company.

What is SpaceX? 

SpaceX is a private, California-based company with between 5,000 and 10,000 employees. In recent years, it has undertaken a tremendous amount of hiring, especially in engineering, software and IT, sales, and management. In fact, out of all commercial space companies, SpaceX posted the highest number of jobs between January 2019 and February 2022 [4].

Jobs at SpaceX mirror what you might find at a leading tech company, with a specific focus on space and related endeavours. Whilst a portion of the company concentrates on human spaceflight and related programs like ridesharing, it also works on rockets and orbital rockets (Falcon Heavy and Falcon 9), interplanetary exploration (Starship), and telecommunications (Starlink).  

In fact, telecommunications represents a significant opportunity within the business side of the commercial space industry. Several companies, including SpaceX and Amazon, have projects in motion to launch a large number of satellites with the goal of improving broadband access globally. This can be especially useful in rural areas where cable internet is scarce or nonexistent.  

SpaceX jobs

When exploring professional opportunities at SpaceX, knowing the different departments you can work in can help you assess where your skill set might best fit. Consider the following roles that SpaceX typically hires for within each area.

Engineering

SpaceX has a high demand for engineers across several departments, including satellite development, avionics, environmental safety, launch, civil engineering and construction, materials, propulsion, and vehicles. 

Many associate-level engineering roles require a bachelor’s degree in engineering and at least two years of experience, with direct experience in the area to which you’re applying. For example, a chemical engineer would need relevant experience in fluid systems. Senior engineering roles typically require more than five years of experience.  

Sample job titles:

• Satellite production lead

• Satellite engineer

• Mechanical engineer

• Structural engineer

• Facilities engineer

• Propulsion engineer

• Chemicals engineer

• Launch engineer

• Test engineer

• Missions manager

• Quality inspector

Software and IT

Employees across SpaceX’s software, information technology, and information security departments support the products that engineers build and the successful operation of numerous internal and external initiatives, including telecommunications services, rockets, and interplanetary travel. 

With these three departments, you’ll find a greater degree of flexibility. Some roles either require a bachelor’s degree and minimal experience of around two years or five years total experience without a degree. 

Sample job titles: 

• Data engineer

• Software engineer

• Application software engineer

• Antenna engineer

• Automation and controls engineer

• IT systems analyst

• IT systems engineer

• Communications technician 

• Network engineer

• Principal security engineer

• Security supervisor 

Manufacturing and production

Whilst several engineering roles report to SpaceX’s manufacturing and production department, leadership, operations, quality assurance, and trade roles also contribute to this important focus. 

For roles concentrating on building and production, SpaceX typically requires a bachelor’s degree in engineering and between three and five years of experience, with some positions requiring direct aerospace experience. Entry-level roles, like Starlink analyst and production coordinator, require a bachelor’s degree or two years of experience.

Sample job titles:

• Starlink analyst

• Starlink manager

• Production coordinator

• Production supervisor

• Build supervisor 

• Machine maintenance manager

• Quality inspector 

Marketing

SpaceX’s marketing department works to promote the brand and its many endeavours through original content, web design, campaigns, and merchandise. The qualifications for each role will depend on the level (entry, mid, or senior), but many require at least a bachelor’s degree with two to five years of experience. 

Sample job titles:

• UX designer

• Merchandising product designer

• Community marketing manager

• Senior marketing manager

Human resources

As with many companies, SpaceX’s human resources department specialises in specific department oversight. Depending on the HR role, you will likely work on a team that oversees a few related units to recruit, hire, and manage employee relationships for those assigned units. 

The jobs below typically require a bachelor’s degree and one to five years of experience. 

Sample job titles:

• Executive assistant

• Human resources coordinator

• HR systems analyst

• Technical recruiter

• Human resources manager

Finance

Whether dealing with internal or external stakeholders, SpaceX’s finance department performs incredibly important functions to keep the company’s initiatives profitable. The jobs below typically require a bachelor’s degree and one to seven years of experience. 

Sample job titles: 

• Accounting manager

• Finance manager

• Senior tax analyst

• Senior accountant

• Purchasing manager 

Sales

The sales team works on numerous potential income streams, including commercial, business, and government customer relationships. The following roles generally require a bachelor’s degree and two to five years of experience. 

Sample job titles: 

• Customer support associate

• Sales consultant

• Proposal editor

• Sales manager

• Director of sales management 

How to apply to SpaceX

SpaceX uses an applicant tracking system (ATS), and the majority of interviews come from this source, according to candidate reporting on Glassdoor. Given its advanced products and initiatives, the company wants “world-class talent,” and getting an interview can be competitive. Keep the following priority topics in mind to put together a strong application. 

Building a solid SpaceX application

SpaceX roles typically require a mix of technical and workplace skills. When it comes to workplace skills, it can be useful to identify the transferable skills you’ve developed and highlight how they would make you a strong candidate for a career in the space industry. Learn how to feature and format key skills on your resume so your qualifications are evident. 

If you’re looking to break into the space industry, including a resume objective—or a line about your larger career goals—can be beneficial. In your cover letter, explaining why you’re interested in the space industry in general and SpaceX specifically is worthwhile. Spend time researching the company and take note of what stands out to you: its mission, its products, its culture, or something else. 

Although it can be challenging to follow up on an initial job application submitted through an ATS, it may be worthwhile to reach out to a SpaceX recruiter on LinkedIn and express your interest.   

The future of space careers

The space industry's growth primarily comes from its expansion from what’s been termed “space-for-earth” to “space-for-space.” Both refer to different but related economies. 

Space-for-earth: The term “space-for-earth” concerns the space resources developed for use by Earth residents. These include satellite internet and national security products. Typically, the government has overseen this work, but lately, it has attracted private businesses.  

Space-for-space: The term “space-for-space” refers to space resources developed for use by those in space, such as space tourism, space stations, cargo travel, and more. It’s not about finding resources in space and using them on Earth but about cultivating resources, experiences, and potentially a sustainable way of life in space. 

Other companies currently involved in the commercial “space-for-space” industry include: 

• Skyroot Aerospace (based in India): This space company specialises in launch vehicles, with the goal to open space exploration opportunities to the general public. It was the first startup to partner with the ISRO.

• Bellatrix Aerospace (based in India): Specialising in satellite propulsion, this company creates designs to meet different needs (green, electric, nano, etc), 

• Dhruva Space (based in India): Founded by a diverse team of business and technology leaders, Dhruva Space focuses on the design of application-agnostic satellite platforms. 

• Agnikul Cosmos (based in India): With a configurable design, Agnikul builds custom launch vehicles with both low and high-orbit options. 

• Blue Origin (based in US): Founded by Jeff Bezos, Blue Origin primarily focuses on suborbital space flights and reusable rockets designed to clear a path for eventual life in space.

• Virgin Galactic (based in US): From Virgin founder Richard Branson, the company focuses on space travel for private citizens. 

Besides working in the private sector, you can also explore careers at government agencies such as the ISRO, the 6th largest space agency in the world, and several contracts with international organisations to continue space exploration work [5]. 

SpaceX and beyond 

SpaceX is a large private space company with exciting career opportunities across fields such as engineering, IT and software, marketing, human resources, and finance. In addition to SpaceX, you can explore space careers at several other private and public organisations.  

Ready to learn more about any one of the areas mentioned above? You can find courses, hands-on projects, and professional certificates from leading universities and companies on Coursera. Earn a Professional Certificate in computer science or IT, business or marketing, or data science from Meta, IBM, Google, HubSpot, and more. On average, programs take around six months, and you can gain critical job-ready skills and a valuable resume credential.  

If you’d like to explore more about space, consider enrolling in the University of Arizona’s Astronomy: Exploring Space and Time or the University of Colorado Boulder’s Spacecraft Dynamics and Control Specialisation, both available on Coursera.