We counted how often SpaceX's own 161 ads (those with a full description) state each requirement. This shows the filters the ads apply before anyone reads a resume. We have no data on why candidates are rejected after applying, and we do not guess.
Years of experience. 157 of 161 ads (98%) state a number of years. The median is 4 years; 41% ask for 5 or more and 1% for 10 or more.
Education
Sort:
Requirement ⇅
Ads that state it ⇅
Share of ads ⇅
Bachelor's degree
157
98%
Master's degree
41
25%
'or equivalent experience' accepted
31
19%
High school diploma or GED
6
4%
PhD or doctorate
5
3%
Legal and eligibility: what can rule you out
Sort:
Requirement ⇅
Ads that state it ⇅
Share of ads ⇅
U.S. citizenship mentioned
161
100%
U.S. person / export-control (ITAR, EAR) rules
161
100%
Security clearance mentioned
95
59%
Background check or drug test
16
10%
Working conditions
Sort:
Requirement ⇅
Ads that state it ⇅
Share of ads ⇅
Nights, weekends, holidays or on-call
157
98%
Travel mentioned
121
75%
On-site or in-person work
31
19%
Relocation mentioned
19
12%
Heavy lifting
6
4%
Skills and tools named most often
Sort:
Requirement ⇅
Ads that state it ⇅
Share of ads ⇅
python
105
65%
kubernetes
82
51%
linux
54
34%
c++
51
32%
machine learning
27
17%
docker
25
16%
sql
14
9%
aws
12
7%
azure
12
7%
gcp
12
7%
typescript
11
7%
react
11
7%
java
9
6%
excel
8
5%
matlab
7
4%
How to stand out
First, cover the basics the ads ask for most (see the requirements above: python (65%), kubernetes (51%), linux (34%), c++ (32%)). Then look at what separates higher-paid ads:
Too few ads publish a pay range to compare, so we do not rank items by pay.
We describe only what the ads state. We do not know how recruiters rank candidates.
Same role elsewhere
Where else the same role family is open, with the pay each posts: