So this is how a business writes a job position for a farmer. Interesting
Now let's just hope HR and the interviewers don't require the applicant their Github profile or something.
" typically, SpaceX employees work a minimum 50 hour week" yehaa.. just sleep in the office!
I don't know whether I'm more excited about the fact that this could be an interstellar-themed joke, or that SpaceX is trying to do something interesting/ambitious in the farming industry.
I know companies are mostly in it to profit, but it's hard not to like/want to think the best of SpaceX
Isn't this technically a farm-manager position, as the occupant will neither own nor rent the land?
I misread the title, I thought they hired some farmer who builds a rocket in his barn, similar to the movie The Astronaut Farmer.
Turns out it's a regular farmer... growing rocket fuel?
Actually... if the new rocket is using methane could they be growing crops that decompose into lots of methane? Are they experimenting with alcohol/LOX? Are they growing biofuel to refine to RP-1?
Requirements:
*Understand the implications of the weather and make contingency plans
I first thought this was for testing farming in space/Mars. But yes, in reality it's for tax reason. And it doesn't make sense to let all that land go unused.
Interestingly I know a family that 'farms' on Maui so they can live on a land that's zoned for farming. Supposedly the land is zoned for farming, so they bought the land, built nice houses and also farm to satisfy the requirement for zoning. But of course they are not farmers...
If you have ever driven around Texas, you will see "farmland" like this all over the place. A random factory or warehouse with cows grazing around it is quite common, even in the greater Austin area.
Like other's have said, it's for tax reasons. I figured they didn't even bother trying to make an actual profit from the farm, but maybe in this SpaceX case they will since the scale is so large.
Dang, I have to be a US citizen. Surely SpaceX's agricultural activities aren't subject to space industry regulations?
That page doesn't zoom well. Hit Cmd-Plus several times to magnify and see how it destroys the text. I would have expected better from what wants to be a professional presentation. No responsive web sites for astronaut farmers.
So is it to train people to create farms on space colonies?
the position is subject to ITAR.
Ha! They say to work at SpaceX you have to be extremely flexible, and work 50 hours a week. They're saying that to a farmer, with a straight face.
I can't help but think about the plot of Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six.
> SpaceX is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by ... veteran status, disability status ...
> Applicants wishing to view a copy of SpaceX’s Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities ...
Seems a bit contradictory?
> Must be able to climb ladders and work in tight spaces.
This is the most interesting bit.
Interstellar...it's happening
The resume's being sent in for this will be worth a read. I hope someone hacks SpaceX and leaks them. ;)
My best guess is that SpaceX had to buy a lot of land in the buffer region surrounding their testing facilities in McGregor, and they're just looking to put it to good use.
In addition to the direct income from farming, farming the land would maintain its eligibility for an "open-space appraisal" under Texas law, which would reduce its property taxes by changing the valuation methodology for the land. Although there are two types of agricultural property tax exemptions in Texas, only the open-space appraisal eligibility requirements allow the owner's principal source of income to be something other than farming.
Sources: http://recenter.tamu.edu/pdf/1361.pdf http://bigskyranchtexas.com/everything-you-want-to-know-abou...