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Brian Bjelde

Vice President of Human Resources at SpaceX

Brian Bjelde is a prominent figure at SpaceX, currently serving as the Vice President of Human Resources.1 His career at SpaceX has been both extensive and diverse, spanning over two decades.

Career Progression at SpaceX

Brian joined SpaceX in 2003 as an Avionics Engineer, making him the company's 14th employee.2 Over the years, he has held several key positions within the organization:

  • Avionics Engineer (August 2003 - May 2005)
  • Mission Manager (May 2004 - October 2008)
  • Product Director, Falcon 1 Launch Vehicle (December 2006 - August 2009)
  • Senior Director, Product and Mission Management (August 2009 - August 2014)
  • Vice President of Human Resources (August 2014 - Present)1

Education and Early Career

Brian Bjelde has a strong academic background in aerospace engineering:

  • Bachelor's Degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Southern California
  • Master's Degree in Astronautical Engineering from the University of Southern California2

Before joining SpaceX, Brian worked as an Associate Engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) from May 2002 to June 2003.1

Role and Responsibilities

As VP of Human Resources, Brian focuses on:

  • Hiring and developing talent
  • Creating more efficient and effective teams
  • Developing SpaceX's company culture3

His unique background as an aerospace engineer who transitioned into HR allows him to bring a technical perspective to human resources management in a highly specialized industry.

Brian Bjelde's career trajectory at SpaceX, from being one of its earliest employees to leading its human resources department, showcases his adaptability and deep understanding of the company's mission and culture.

Highlights

Sep 29 · Benzinga
SpaceX Celebrates 15 Years Since Falcon 1's Historic Launch To Orbit Amid Challenges - Benzinga
SpaceX Celebrates 15 Years Since Falcon 1's Historic Launch To Orbit Amid Challenges - Benzinga
Sep 22 · Axios
Wildfire startup Rain raised $9.7M led by Tesla-investor DBL - Axios
Aug 2 · reddit.com
I am SpaceX employee #14, aerospace engineer, and VP of Human ...

Related Questions

What inspired you to transition from aerospace engineering to HR?
How has your technical background influenced your approach to HR at SpaceX?
What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced in your HR role at SpaceX?
How does SpaceX's company culture differ from other tech companies?
What initiatives has SpaceX implemented to improve team efficiency and effectiveness?
Brian Bjelde
Brian Bjelde, photo 1
Brian Bjelde, photo 2
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Experience

Vice President of Human Resources at SpaceX since August 2014
Senior Director, Product and Mission Management at SpaceX; Product Director, Falcon 1 Launch Vehicle at SpaceX; Mission Manager at SpaceX; Avionics Engineer at SpaceX; Associate Engineer at JPL (NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory)

Education

Bachelor's Degree and Master's Degree from the University of Southern California

Location

Hawthorne, California, United States