SpaceX hiring engineers, Elon Musk reviewing CVs himself, AI skills not needed

As layoffs sweep across Silicon Valley, Elon Musk is looking for fresh talent. The SpaceX CEO says the company is hiring engineers and physicists for its AI division, and candidates do not need previous AI experience to get a foot in the door.

In Short

• Elon Musk says SpaceX is hiring engineers and physicists for its AI division.
• Interested engineers can apply even if they have never worked in artificial intelligence before.
• Musk says he will personally look at shortlisted applications.

Silicon Valley is once again facing turbulence as layoffs continue to ripple across the technology industry. Thousands of workers have lost their jobs as companies increasingly double down on artificial intelligence and redirect resources towards AI-focused initiatives. Amid all the uncertainty surrounding the job market, Elon Musk has announced that SpaceX is actively hiring engineers and physicists for its AI division. And by the way, the candidates do not need any prior experience in artificial intelligence to apply.

According to the SpaceX CEO, prior AI experience is not the key requirement for the role. Instead, Musk says the company is looking for exceptionally talented people who can learn quickly, solve complex problems and adapt to new technologies.

In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), Musk revealed that SpaceX is recruiting for what he called "SpaceXAI", the company's artificial intelligence initiative. "SpaceX is actively hiring world-class engineers/physicists for SpaceXAI, even if you have zero prior experience in AI. Smart humans figure it out fast," Musk wrote. He asked interested candidates to send an email to ai_eng@spacex.com with around three bullet points demonstrating evidence of "exceptional ability".

Musk followed up the post by clarifying what kind of applicants SpaceX is looking for. According to him, candidates who have built "a very complex thing" that performs useful work would have a significant advantage. He later added that he would personally review all applications that pass initial screening checks, a statement that quickly drew attention online given Musk's hands-on involvement in the hiring process.

While Musk did not share detailed information about the positions, responsibilities or ongoing projects under SpaceXAI, the recruitment pitch suggests the company is prioritising deep engineering expertise, scientific knowledge and problem-solving skills over traditional AI credentials.

Layoffs in tech companies

The hiring announcement also comes against the backdrop of a difficult job market across the technology sector.

Meta, for instance, has recently cut around 8,000 jobs across multiple rounds of restructuring while continuing to invest heavily in artificial intelligence infrastructure and talent. Financial software giant Intuit has also reduced its workforce by approximately 3,000 employees as part of a broader organisational overhaul. Meanwhile, LinkedIn has eliminated more than 600 positions in California, joining a growing list of technology companies trimming headcount despite continued spending in strategic growth areas.

One of the key reasons behind these ongoing layoffs is said to be the company's effort to reshape workforces around AI-related products and services. Many companies are restructuring their workforce to focus more on AI products and services, leading to job cuts in some teams. At the same time companies are also continuing to hire engineers and AI specialists, creating new opportunities for skilled professionals despite the broader layoffs.

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