SpaceX Experienced Engineer Full-Time Thirteen-Interview Process

Role: Experienced Engineer — exact title not disclosed
Result: No offer
Report time: February 2026
Location: Hawthorne, California
Application channel: Recruiter outreach
Relevant experience: 5.5 years
Education: Two engineering degrees and a separate associate degree in science

The candidate was employed by another established space company and had wanted to work at SpaceX for much of the professional career.

First position

1. A recruiter initially contacted the candidate about an opening. The candidate was not interested at first, then followed up several months later when circumstances changed.
2. The first recruiter call ran longer than scheduled. The recruiter said the candidate appeared to be a strong fit.
3. Two additional phone calls mixed technical and behavioral questions.
4. An onsite was scheduled with a technical presentation and several one-on-one interviews.
5. The final onsite interviewer was called away and said no additional questions were necessary.
6. On the next workday, the recruiter reported positive feedback but requested one additional phone screen.
7. That screen also produced positive feedback, and the candidate was told to expect an offer.
8. A few days later, the recruiter said the position had been closed because of a headcount change.

Second position

The recruiter suggested other openings and said the positive feedback from the first process could be reused. A different team lead liked the résumé and agreed to an abbreviated process.

1. The candidate completed another phone screen.
2. A second onsite required two more one-on-one interviews and a written test.
3. The recruiter said the interviews went well and described the written-test result as well above average.
4. The candidate was again told to expect an offer.
5. A few days later, the company requested a written explanation for a cumulative 2.8 GPA.
6. After the explanation was submitted, the recruiter stopped responding for three weeks.
7. The final decision rejected the candidate because of the GPA.

Across the two roles, the candidate counted 13 interview events and reported positive feedback throughout. The candidate viewed the late GPA decision and repeated offer expectations as poorly managed and cautioned others to consider the time and uncertainty involved.