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I've been an avionics intern at SpaceX for the past two years, and I can tell you for sure that if anyone is gonna take humans to Mars it will be SpaceX. The sa

I've been an avionics intern at SpaceX for the past two years, and I can tell you for sure that if anyone is gonna take humans to Mars it will be SpaceX. The same goes for propulsive landing of a rocket for reusability: http://www.spacex.com/multimedia/videos.php?id=0&cat=recent http://www.spacex.com/multimedia/videos.php?id=0&cat=rec... Everything at SpaceX is designed with reusability in mind, and every system is highly redundant. And to top it off, they have some of the best, most talented, and most experienced engineers out there. With all that said, the reason why SpaceX will succeed is their culture. Most of the company's employees are young and highly motivated (including myself I guess). When I started my work at SpaceX, one of the engineers told me to prepare to shed some blood and tears as well as prepare for the most stressful yet rewarding work of your life. He was right. There were times where I did not go home for 4 days straight (this was not recommended). They did not asked me to do this. I just wanted to do it. The thing that is cool about SpaceX is that you will do REAL work on you first day, and you will have a significant impact right away. Even if you are an intern. I know a lot people on Hacker News are essentially web programmers (Me too actually. Django FTW). If you guys are looking for a job, they are always hiring. One way to get hired is to start out as an intern (if you are at an intern stage in your life). If you want to actually program the rocket, and got some ROCK SOLID C++ programming skills, then you are exactly what SpaceX wants. So please apply. Space exploration is hands down one of the important pursuits we can have as civilization, so the best need to work on this challenge in my view. Let me tell you, there is no feeling to see something that you designed and built actually entered outer space. I can't describe it. You just have to experience it for yourself. So if you're bored on your current job, look into SpaceX. Plus having Elon Musk as a boss is pretty bad ass. The guys is simply defines legitness!

itmag 15y ago
Now this is interesting. When I read about awesome brogrammers working on the next hip web app with a cutesy hipster name, my eyes glaze over. But you guys are really ENGINEERS, and doing something with massive value. I am a bit surprised that coders can actually get a job at such a place, I would have thought you only hired like aerodynamic physics professors or whatever. Maybe you could go into more detail about what you do at work and what kind of people get hired? :)
- Ixiaus 15y ago
  Software has a huge presence in aerospace! But, programming an avionics system (or even less important support systems) is nothing like building a web application.
  - itmag 15y ago
    Would like to know more about the differences. Maybe we can start a new meme. Whenever someone talks about their super-duper awesome social ajaxy photo-sharing app, we can snarkily respond "well, it isn't exactly rocket programming..." :)
    - nickik 15y ago
      If you wnat to learn how far one could go for safe programming (computers) check out this presentation (from a german hacker Congress) http://media.koeln.ccc.de/browse/congress/2010/27c3-4123-en-defense_is_not_dead.html http://media.koeln.ccc.de/browse/congress/2010/27c3-4123-en-...
    - Arjuna 15y ago
      "Would like to know more about the differences." Avionics software development is primarily concerned with software that is designed and developed to operate in an embedded system [1]. There is also a focus on real-time performance [2] with regard to the software's operation and integration in such an environment. The target language may be C, C++ or assembly language, although other languages are used. Depending on the application, an on-board front-end may or may not be utilized. For example, an unmanned rocket would not contain a front-end; rather, operating parameters would be monitored remotely. On the other hand, a modern, manned aircraft or spacecraft instrument panel would provide electronic displays and controls necessary for communicating system status to the pilot(s), as well as for accepting input from the pilot(s) for operation and flight. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embedded_system http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embedded_system [2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real-time_computing http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real-time_computing
      - 15y ago
ramchip 15y ago
"To conform to US Government space technology export regulations, SpaceX hires only US citizens and US Permanent Residents." Too bad...
- rbanffy 15y ago
  My words exactly. Would have a lot of pre-work to do. As an odd coincidence, I have Von Braun's (Ley's and Bonestel's too) "The Exploration of Mars" right in front of me as I type. I have it since I was a kid.
- jlangenauer 15y ago
  Oh, that does suck. And I even have a degree in aerospace engineering, though I'm a Ruby web monkey these days.
- clistctrl 15y ago
  As an American Citizen, that is a terrible shame. I can honestly say that three fourths of the most talented engineers I have worked with are not citizens.
- jonnycowboy 15y ago
  I agree.. I'd love to work for SpaceX but even though I have my Canadian security clearances, and an eligible for a TN permit (mechanical/aerospace engineering) with 5 years experience I can't apply. Same for Scaled Composites...
- nobody31415926 15y ago
  And yet their competitor, the Atlas rocket - uses a Russian engine ? So it's apparently OK for strategic US rockets used to launch military payloads, to use Russian engines but not for a private company to employ Canadians.
MPSimmons 15y ago
Are you hiring SysAdmins? Just asking... ;-)

itmag 15y ago

Now this is interesting. When I read about awesome brogrammers working on the next hip web app with a cutesy hipster name, my eyes glaze over. But you guys are really ENGINEERS, and doing something with massive value. I am a bit surprised that coders can actually get a job at such a place, I would have thought you only hired like aerodynamic physics professors or whatever. Maybe you could go into more detail about what you do at work and what kind of people get hired? :)

Ixiaus 15y ago
Software has a huge presence in aerospace! But, programming an avionics system (or even less important support systems) is nothing like building a web application.
- itmag 15y ago
  Would like to know more about the differences. Maybe we can start a new meme. Whenever someone talks about their super-duper awesome social ajaxy photo-sharing app, we can snarkily respond "well, it isn't exactly rocket programming..." :)
  - nickik 15y ago
    If you wnat to learn how far one could go for safe programming (computers) check out this presentation (from a german hacker Congress) http://media.koeln.ccc.de/browse/congress/2010/27c3-4123-en-defense_is_not_dead.html http://media.koeln.ccc.de/browse/congress/2010/27c3-4123-en-...
  - Arjuna 15y ago
    "Would like to know more about the differences." Avionics software development is primarily concerned with software that is designed and developed to operate in an embedded system [1]. There is also a focus on real-time performance [2] with regard to the software's operation and integration in such an environment. The target language may be C, C++ or assembly language, although other languages are used. Depending on the application, an on-board front-end may or may not be utilized. For example, an unmanned rocket would not contain a front-end; rather, operating parameters would be monitored remotely. On the other hand, a modern, manned aircraft or spacecraft instrument panel would provide electronic displays and controls necessary for communicating system status to the pilot(s), as well as for accepting input from the pilot(s) for operation and flight. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embedded_system http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embedded_system [2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real-time_computing http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real-time_computing
    - 15y ago

ramchip 15y ago

"To conform to US Government space technology export regulations, SpaceX hires only US citizens and US Permanent Residents." Too bad...

rbanffy 15y ago
My words exactly. Would have a lot of pre-work to do. As an odd coincidence, I have Von Braun's (Ley's and Bonestel's too) "The Exploration of Mars" right in front of me as I type. I have it since I was a kid.
jlangenauer 15y ago
Oh, that does suck. And I even have a degree in aerospace engineering, though I'm a Ruby web monkey these days.
clistctrl 15y ago
As an American Citizen, that is a terrible shame. I can honestly say that three fourths of the most talented engineers I have worked with are not citizens.
jonnycowboy 15y ago
I agree.. I'd love to work for SpaceX but even though I have my Canadian security clearances, and an eligible for a TN permit (mechanical/aerospace engineering) with 5 years experience I can't apply. Same for Scaled Composites...
nobody31415926 15y ago
And yet their competitor, the Atlas rocket - uses a Russian engine ? So it's apparently OK for strategic US rockets used to launch military payloads, to use Russian engines but not for a private company to employ Canadians.

MPSimmons 15y ago

Are you hiring SysAdmins? Just asking... ;-)