Elon Musk is looking for trades workers to build AI data centers — and his famous 3-bullet-point requirement applies

Elon Musk is recruiting skilled trades workers for SpaceX's AI data center buildout, asking applicants to email three bullet points demonstrating exceptional ability to datacenters@spacex.com. The push follows SpaceX's acquisition of xAI, rebranded as SpaceXAI, which operates the Colossus supercomputer campus in Memphis, Tennessee, training Grok AI models.

Elon Musk is reviving one of his famed hiring tactics as he recruits skilled trades workers for the AI data center buildout by his rocket company, SpaceX https://www.businessinsider.com/spacex-stock-down-ipo-price-bears-valuation-elon-musk-spcx-2026-7 . Musk, in an X post last week, said SpaceX is hiring "exceptional engineering & skilled trades talent to build & operate the most powerful AI supercomputer clusters on & off Earth." The "off Earth" reference reflects Musk's vision of placing data centers in space https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-ai-data-centers-spacex-will-send-into-space-2026-6 as a potential solution to AI's soaring energy demands. Interested applicants were asked to email "3 bullet points demonstrating evidence of exceptional ability," along with their resume, to datacenters@spacex.com mailto:datacenters@spacex.com . The three-bullet-point requirement https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-spacex-ai-hiring-personally-reviews-applications-2026-5 has become a hallmark of the world's richest man's recruiting style. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO has previously asked potential candidates for white-collar roles at his companies to provide three bullet points "demonstrating evidence of exceptional ability" or three bullet points on the "toughest technical problems" they've solved. Musk's hiring push for trades workers to build data centers comes as SpaceX plays an increasingly central role in his AI ambitions. Earlier this year, SpaceX acquired Musk's AI startup https://www.businessinsider.com/spacex-acquiring-xai-deal-elon-musk-2026-2 , xAI, which was rebranded as SpaceXAI. SpaceXAI now operates Colossus https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-spacex-anthropic-escape-hatch-2026-5 , the massive AI supercomputer campus built in Memphis, Tennessee, that trains the company's Grok AI models.