Launching an early career at SpaceX

JUSTIN MAAS ’21 never thought his very first job after graduation would be at SpaceX. After graduating with a degree in electrical engineering, he applied to jobs locally in the Madison, Wisconsin, area and—as an afterthought—sent his resume to SpaceX, not expecting to hear from them. A few weeks later, he received a phone call and invitation to interview. Maas was hired as an associate engineer with the SpaceX launch team at Space Launch Complex 4 East within the Vandenberg Space Force Base, in Lompoc, California, where he quickly advanced to his current position of Launch Engineer.

“I can confidently say that I never imagined myself in this position,” said Maas. “Even just three years ago I would not have believed that I would have been given this opportunity.”

Maas, who grew up in Seymour, Wisconsin, credits UW-Platteville for this, particularly the faculty; hands-on experiences, such as the Senior Design capstone course; and the community he built among classmates.

“I figured there was little chance that a company as well-renowned as SpaceX would consider me a candidate,” said Maas. “Most employers consider UW-Platteville as a smaller school compared to more nationally recognized universities. However, it was actually because I attended UW-Platteville and took full advantage of the hands-on coursework that I had the opportunity for an interview at SpaceX. The opportunities for development at UW-Platteville exceeded my expectations. Every course, professor, and fellow classmate prepared me for my career better than I could have imagined.”

As a Launch Engineer, Maas develops and implements a number of systems that ensure the safe, reliable launch of rockets, including operating and controlling ground systems at the launch pad before flight. The systems include electrical controls, propellant, cryogenics, hydraulics, and automation.

“There is not a career I would have rather pursued,” said Maas. “The ability to be part of a team that is revolutionizing the history of space exploration is incredibly satisfying, yet always challenging. There is a common saying that ‘you learn something new every day,’ except this is not true at SpaceX, because you learn up to a dozen new pieces of information every day.”

His favorite part of the career, Maas said, is launching rockets.

“There is nothing more exhilarating than watching your hard work pay off by sending a rocket into orbit,” said Maas. “It is an instantaneous feedback loop, knowing that all the work you have put in has meant something meaningful.”

Alison Parkins