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Apologies for being somewhat off-topic, but does anybody know if there are citizenship requirements for working at a place like SpaceX? I have a solid backgrou
by Osmium 14y ago
Apologies for being somewhat off-topic, but does anybody know if there are citizenship requirements for working at a place like SpaceX?
I have a solid background in materials science and metallurgy from a world-class university, and find what Musk is doing very inspirational. After I finish my PhD, I'd love to be a part of it, but I'm British and I know with some companies in the industry there're citizenship requirements for security reasons. As he mentions in the interview, they wouldn't want China stealing their ideas, for example. And I know a lot of the job postings on SpaceX list "US citizen or permanent resident" as a requirement, but I didn't know if this was a hard and fast rule, or whether exceptions are possible.
- misterbwong 14y agoTry applying and find out. You have nothing to lose but a little time.
- Osmium 14y agoI won't be in a position to apply for another two years, but if I thought there was even a chance of being accepted there're things I could do in the meantime to make myself a much more attractive applicant.
- ballooney 14y agoIf you want potentially revolutionary, reusable space projects with some ninja materials science, there is a project rather closer to home for you, which you might be interested in: www.reactionengines.co.uk
- Osmium 14y agoThanks, the link's appreciated. I've heard of REL before, but I didn't realise they were doing quite so well at the moment!
- skrebbel 14y agoThen ask them that. Really, competent potential hires showing early interest for that reason is the dream of every engineering/R&D HR person. They'll be very happy to tell you what you want to know if you're at all interesting for them as a potential hire. Spontaneous passionate applicants are usually much more interesting to a high tech company than nearly anyone a recruiter can come up with.
- jlgreco 14y agoI think the limitation is actually put in place by the US government because rocket technology is basically weapons technology. I may be wrong about that though.
- Macca 14y agoIt's a hard and fast rule. You must either be a US citizen or permanent resident. ITAR is the reason.
- danielweber 14y agoDon't forget that Elon Musk was born in South Africa and became an American citizen. You would definitely have to move to the US and plan to stay, but Musk won't hate immigrants.
- starpilot 14y agoIt's not that hard to become a US permanent resident. SpaceX doesn't hire many PhD's though, they're quite manufacturing/design oriented. The guys I knew who got in were all bachelor's and master's holders with hands-on experience building stuff that flies (mostly via student projects) and high gpa's (3.7+) from good schools.
- Osmium 14y agoThanks for the info and the advice. I know my PhD isn't going to help me, at least not directly, because it's only peripherally related but my undergrad background is very solid. I've also interned at Rolls-Royce working on jet engines, and I know the kind of materials design issues they'll be running up against. e.g. in the article he mentions stir welding, something I've studied (and had the pleasure of visiting the organisation that developed it, TWI). So while I don't have actual "hands-on" experience building stuff that flies, I still think I could be useful.
- geoffw8 14y agoDude go for it! Sounds like the opportunity of a life time and you sound like you know your stuff. Send some emails!
- maaku 14y agoYes, you must be a U.S. citizen. It's an ITAR restriction (google it) because essentially you'd be working on an intercontinental ballistic missile.
- lutorm 14y agoOR permanent resident.