I applied through a recruiter. The process took 4 weeks. I interviewed at SpaceX (Brownsville, TX) in Nov 2024
Interview
3 phone interviews, first with technical recruiter, second with hiring manager, third with principle engineer. 2nd and third phone interviews required a portfolio to go over showing designed hardware. Then they flew me out and interviewed me for 8 hours straight in person. In person requires a presentation to the team. In person also had ~10 one-on-one interviews going over whiteboard design and analysis questions. Grueling process, but very fun. Didn't get an offer - cited that I knew the governing mechanics of the whiteboard design questions but I didn't identify the critical failure points fast enough as the primary reason.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
If you have 5 radiatively cooled rocket engines arranged in a cross pattern, where does the max temperature occur in the system and why.
I applied online. I interviewed at SpaceX (Hawthorne, CA)
Interview
Had a call with a recruiter about eligibility for the role. The call did not include technical questions. Then, the recruiter set up a phone interview with a member of the team.
Interview questions [2]
Question 1
If you have a sealed container with starting Temp 1 and Pressure 1, then apply heat so that the temperature rises to Temp 2, what is the pressure inside the container?
The process took 2 months. I interviewed at SpaceX (Boca Chica and Medford Colonia, TX)
Interview
Several rounds of technical interviews, with basic engineering/science concepts related questions. First interview is with HR, second interview is with higher up, third interview is with teem member, fourth interview is in person on site.
Interview questions [1]
Question 1
Q: What is the optimal cross section of a beam with unidirectional load