5 ms·

Such good motivation to want to be an even better programmer / engineer / scientist. So inspiring what mankind is capable of when we work together.

by rvdm 11y ago

AtmaScout 11y ago
My thoughts exactly.
- rvdm 11y ago
  Every time we reach these new frontiers I'm reminded of Sagan's 'Pale Blue Dot'. http://oi46.tinypic.com/11w8z7n.jpg http://oi46.tinypic.com/11w8z7n.jpg
  - AtmaScout 11y ago
    Love that pic.
lutorm 11y ago
You guys know we are looking for software people, right? http://www.spacex.com/careers http://www.spacex.com/careers
- VieElm 11y ago
  You guys regularly fire some portion (3% to 5%) of your employees every year yes? I love what you're doing and I'd love to be part of it, but the press doesn't make it out like a great place to be an employee. It makes sense I guess, given the risk involved in launching rockets, but this kind of work environment is probably not for everyone. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-spacex-employees-lawsuit-20140811-story.html http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-spacex-employees-lawsu...
  - nine_k 11y ago
    Being fired for low performance is okay — if you feel you're continually perform poorly, you should start to look for another job well ahead of this moment. California is not a particularly saturated market for software developers. Not following the legally required procedure is bad, though.
    - justin66 11y ago
      > Being fired for low performance is okay The problem is that companies following the "fire at least 10% every year in every department" Jack Welch philosophy tend to let some good people go. It's a management philosophy that just assumes that there's no such thing as a really good team, full of worthwhile players. Its an attitude that works better in professional sports, where hyper-competitiveness is more often an asset than a liability. The knock-on effects of a bunch of coworkers trying to outdo one another to make the cut seem as though they'd make for a crappy work environment, which I believe is what VieElm was talking about.
      - lutorm 11y ago
        It's not appropriate for me to comment on company HR policy. All I'm going to say is that my impression of the atmosphere on the software team is not at all "a bunch of coworkers trying to outdo one another to make the cut".
        justin66 11y ago
        lutorm, I should have put a disclaimer in there. I know nothing about SpaceX policy and so I wasn't trying to cast any aspersions. (and frankly, the 3% figure VieElm mentioned sounds more like attrition than Neutron Jack policy)
    - VieElm 11y ago
      Well it's well documented that what happens is that the system ends up being gamed. For example managers hire people to fire so they don't have to fire the people they've friended. See Microsoft Stack Ranking. http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2012/07/microsoft-downfall-emails-steve-ballmer http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2012/07/microsoft-downfall-em...
- deleted 11y ago
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- deleted 11y ago
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- myth_buster 11y ago
  > To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Optimistic that in the distant future we will be eligible.
- clebio 11y ago
  The HR screen was a bit off. I applied as a Python developer and was given a purely C memory-leak multiple-choice quiz. Sort of annoying, considering I told the recruiter explicitly that I don't know C. EDIT: My broader qualm is this. If you've got hundreds of open req.s, but fail a candidate based on a quiz that you know the candidate doesn't know (but which aligns with one specific job posting), you're maybe doing hiring wrong.
- toomuchtodo 11y ago
  I applied to the same Linux Admin position in Cape Canaveral 3 times over a year that sat vacant, having 14 years of Linux experience and willing to take the ~60%+ paycut. No response ever.
- icandownvote 11y ago
  Do you have any particular insights how to get a reply from the HR? Applied twice through this form to a super relevant position with matching skills -- no reply, not even a negative one. All at the time when I'm rejecting other offers expecting to have a chance to talk to SpaceX.
  - ulcertified 11y ago
    Hey, I work at SpaceX, and made the initial contact through HN. What kind of position are you looking for? If it's software, I can at least make sure someone internally looks at your resume.
    - icandownvote 11y ago
      Hi, thanks for the reply! Yes, software development. Seattle office. My mail is spin.stabilized in the public google mail service.
- rvdm 11y ago
  I actually went through a few stages of the interview process at SpaceX but was offered only a fraction of my current income. Regardless, I greatly admire the company's ambition and goals. The methane powered Raptor engine for the MCT is just sheer insanity. I love it. SpaceX inspires many of us, young and old.

Such good motivation to want to be an even better programmer / engineer / scientist. So inspiring what mankind is capable of when we work together.

by rvdm 11y ago

Such good motivation to want to be an even better programmer / engineer / scientist. So inspiring what mankind is capable of when we work together.

AtmaScout 11y ago

My thoughts exactly.

rvdm 11y ago
Every time we reach these new frontiers I'm reminded of Sagan's 'Pale Blue Dot'. http://oi46.tinypic.com/11w8z7n.jpg http://oi46.tinypic.com/11w8z7n.jpg
- AtmaScout 11y ago
  Love that pic.

lutorm 11y ago

You guys know we are looking for software people, right? http://www.spacex.com/careers http://www.spacex.com/careers

VieElm 11y ago
You guys regularly fire some portion (3% to 5%) of your employees every year yes? I love what you're doing and I'd love to be part of it, but the press doesn't make it out like a great place to be an employee. It makes sense I guess, given the risk involved in launching rockets, but this kind of work environment is probably not for everyone. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-spacex-employees-lawsuit-20140811-story.html http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-spacex-employees-lawsu...
- nine_k 11y ago
  Being fired for low performance is okay — if you feel you're continually perform poorly, you should start to look for another job well ahead of this moment. California is not a particularly saturated market for software developers. Not following the legally required procedure is bad, though.
  - justin66 11y ago
    > Being fired for low performance is okay The problem is that companies following the "fire at least 10% every year in every department" Jack Welch philosophy tend to let some good people go. It's a management philosophy that just assumes that there's no such thing as a really good team, full of worthwhile players. Its an attitude that works better in professional sports, where hyper-competitiveness is more often an asset than a liability. The knock-on effects of a bunch of coworkers trying to outdo one another to make the cut seem as though they'd make for a crappy work environment, which I believe is what VieElm was talking about.
    - lutorm 11y ago
      It's not appropriate for me to comment on company HR policy. All I'm going to say is that my impression of the atmosphere on the software team is not at all "a bunch of coworkers trying to outdo one another to make the cut".
      - justin66 11y ago
        lutorm, I should have put a disclaimer in there. I know nothing about SpaceX policy and so I wasn't trying to cast any aspersions. (and frankly, the 3% figure VieElm mentioned sounds more like attrition than Neutron Jack policy)
  - VieElm 11y ago
    Well it's well documented that what happens is that the system ends up being gamed. For example managers hire people to fire so they don't have to fire the people they've friended. See Microsoft Stack Ranking. http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2012/07/microsoft-downfall-emails-steve-ballmer http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2012/07/microsoft-downfall-em...
deleted 11y ago
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deleted 11y ago
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myth_buster 11y ago
> To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Optimistic that in the distant future we will be eligible.
clebio 11y ago
The HR screen was a bit off. I applied as a Python developer and was given a purely C memory-leak multiple-choice quiz. Sort of annoying, considering I told the recruiter explicitly that I don't know C. EDIT: My broader qualm is this. If you've got hundreds of open req.s, but fail a candidate based on a quiz that you know the candidate doesn't know (but which aligns with one specific job posting), you're maybe doing hiring wrong.
toomuchtodo 11y ago
I applied to the same Linux Admin position in Cape Canaveral 3 times over a year that sat vacant, having 14 years of Linux experience and willing to take the ~60%+ paycut. No response ever.
icandownvote 11y ago
Do you have any particular insights how to get a reply from the HR? Applied twice through this form to a super relevant position with matching skills -- no reply, not even a negative one. All at the time when I'm rejecting other offers expecting to have a chance to talk to SpaceX.
- ulcertified 11y ago
  Hey, I work at SpaceX, and made the initial contact through HN. What kind of position are you looking for? If it's software, I can at least make sure someone internally looks at your resume.
  - icandownvote 11y ago
    Hi, thanks for the reply! Yes, software development. Seattle office. My mail is spin.stabilized in the public google mail service.
rvdm 11y ago
I actually went through a few stages of the interview process at SpaceX but was offered only a fraction of my current income. Regardless, I greatly admire the company's ambition and goals. The methane powered Raptor engine for the MCT is just sheer insanity. I love it. SpaceX inspires many of us, young and old.