SpaceX Manufacturing Engineer Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 105 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Candidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at SpaceX.
SpaceX
Reliability Engineer
Mid Average Positive experience No offer 4 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Phone screen Presentation Panel
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical Presentation
I went through the interview process at SpaceX, it was tough but I learned a lot. It started with a recruiter call where they asked about my background, experience, and why I wanted the job. Then, I had a technical phone interview with an engineer where they tested my basic knowledge and problem-solving skills. After that, I went to their headquarters for an on-site interview. The main part was a project presentation to a panel of engineers. They asked a lot of detailed questions about my design choices, technical decisions, trade-offs, and what I learned. It was very thorough and showed how much they value deep technical understanding. I didn't get to the next stage, which was supposed to be one-on-one interviews with engineers and managers. Even though I didn't make it, it was a valuable experience. The process was fast, structured, and demanding, which fits SpaceX's high standards.
Confirmed questions1 question
- What would be your first modification if you had to re-engineer this project with half the budget or weight?
SpaceX
Manufacturing Engineer
Entry Difficult Negative experience No offer 5 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Phone screen Technical screen Onsite Presentation Background check
Interview formats
Technical Presentation Coding
I applied in November 2024 for an entry-level role. There were 3 phone calls: one with the recruiter, one with the engineering team lead, and one with the director. After the third interview, they had me fly out for an onsite interview where I had to prepare a 30-minute presentation, followed by 1-on-1 meetings. During the first 1-on-1, they gave me a written test. I didn't do well on the test and they sent me home early. Communication was slow throughout the whole thing, and it took about 6 weeks from when the recruiter first reached out until the end. The recruiter reached out a month after I applied. It was weird because even though the interviewers seemed disengaged and didn't seem like they wanted me there, they still moved me forward so far.
Confirmed questions8 questions
- Can you rank aluminum, steel, titanium, and carbon fiber from highest to lowest based on their strength-to-weight ratio and density?
- For a cantilevered beam, what shape would be the strongest?
- For a cantilevered beam, where would failure occur and what would be the mechanism?
SpaceX
Manufacturing Engineer Intern
Intern Difficult Positive experience Accept offer 3 rounds
Interview process
Technical screen Technical screen Offer
Interview formats
Technical Behavioral
I had two technical interviews and then a call with HR extending my offer. The whole process took two weeks. First interview was with an engineer on my team where we talked a lot about my previous internship and my extracurricular experience with composites. Got asked a simple beam question. Second interview was really chill and was also mostly about my previous internship and extracurriculars.
Confirmed questions3 questions
- Regarding a simply supported beam, at what point would it break if loaded from the top in the middle?
- Can you tell me about your past internship?
- What about your extracurricular experience with composites?
SpaceX Manufacturing Engineer Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from SpaceX interview reports.
“What happens to the water level in a lake if you throw an object off a boat that's in the lake?”
Read reports →“Regarding a simply supported beam, at what point would it break if loaded from the top in the middle?”
Read reports →“Regarding the pressure gradient of fluid in a container, what occurs to the pressure if the diameter is reduced while the volume remains constant?”
Read reports →“Would the scale reading change if a suspended weight was dropped into a pail of water sitting on it?”
Read reports →“How do adjustments to parameters such as mass, wire size, coil diameter, and spring length affect the resonant modes of a spring-mass system?”
Read report →“What forces are acting on a hollow rod filled with water held up by a support on each end?”
Read report →“Regarding a beam attached to a wall with an applied force, where would the highest stress be located?”
Read report →“What kind of fastener or pin would you use if a hole was drilled too big in a pressure vessel to maintain the desired fit?”
Read report →“Consider a table with alternating aluminum and steel legs (three of each). Which leg or legs would bear the most weight?”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 105 SpaceX interview reports.