From tracks to space: How this Indian engineer went from working with railways to leading at Elon Musk's SpaceX

An inspiring LinkedIn profile of a mechanical engineer has gone viral after being shared by an X user. The post highlights the career journey of Sanjeev Sharma, an IIT Roorkee graduate, who once worked with the Indian Railways for over 11 years and is now making strides at SpaceX, Elon Musk's space exploration company.

From railways to space
Sharma's LinkedIn profile reveals that he started his career with Indian Railways, working as a mechanical engineer from 1990 to 2001 after graduating from IIT Roorkee. His transition from working with Indian Railways to SpaceX, where he has led significant efforts like recovery and reusability of the first-stage boosters, caught the attention of netizens.


After working with the railways, Sharma pursued a master’s degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Colorado. His journey didn’t stop there—he worked as a senior engineer at a tech company for over nine years, and later returned to the US for a second master's degree in Technology Management. This educational pursuit gave him the boost to join SpaceX as a Dynamic Engineer, focusing on structural dynamics and working closely with other teams like propulsion and aerodynamics.

A career path worth applauding
What really captured people's attention was Sharma’s patience and perseverance, with many calling his career shift remarkable. The idea of working for 11 years in a stable government job and then making the jump to the fast-paced world of private tech was seen as courageous by users. As one user commented, "Not many can resist the comfort and predictability of the government. jobs."

Others admired his resilience, especially when Sharma took a career leap during a challenging economic period. A user noted, "Man took a promotion in the worst phase economically over the entire globe aka 2008," applauding his determination.

What patience looks like
Sharma’s career is a testament to the power of patience and long-term vision. After working for a drone company for nearly four years, he rejoined SpaceX as a Principal Engineer. His profile bio speaks volumes about his experience: "Experienced Head Of Engineering with a demonstrated history of working in the aviation and aerospace industry."