Musk vs. the MAG7: How Hiring Strategies Define Tech’s Future

In the race for talent, few figures in tech have disrupted hiring patterns as much as Elon Musk. From Tesla’s gigafactories to SpaceX’s engineering hubs, Musk's companies build everything from rockets to AI-driven cars. But how do Musk’s companies (as a whole, including his private companies) compare to the MAG7, the heavyweight group of tech giants including Nvidia, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta, Alphabet, and his own Tesla?

While Tesla appears in both portfolios, the MAG7 otherwise focuses primarily on large-cap tech and e-commerce giants, whereas Musk’s Companies have a more diversified hardware, manufacturing, and engineering focus.

Aura’s latest workforce intelligence reports (Feb 2025 for Musk’s portfolio and Jan 2025 for the general MAG7 portfolio) reveal key hiring trends, role demand shifts, and workforce strategies that define these two powerhouses.

The Divide: Hardware vs. Software Hiring

The workforce focus of these two groups is quite distinct. While software developers are in high demand across both portfolios, Musk’s companies lean heavily into hardware and production roles, whereas the MAG7 skews toward software and service-oriented hiring.

Musk’s Companies: Keeping Hands on the Machines

Strong demand for mechanical, industrial, and production talent, with Mechatronics Engineers, Automotive Service Technicians, and Repair Technicians among the most sought-after roles.

• While software roles remain critical (especially at Tesla and X), the portfolio’s heart lies in engineering and manufacturing.

The MAG7: Software is King

• The most in-demand roles? Software Developers, Cloud/IT specialists, and Program Managers—aligned with AI, cloud computing, and digital services.

• Mechanical and industrial roles are declining, marking a stark contrast to the rise of such positions in Musk’s ecosystem.

• Amazon remains an exception, with logistics and supply chain roles staying prominent due to its warehouse-driven operations.

Hiring Trends Reflect Business Priorities

Musk’s Companies are expanding hardware capabilities, while the MAG7 is solidifying its grip on software and cloud infrastructure.

Hardware Expansion: A "Muskian" Priority

• Across Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink, and The Boring Company, there’s a clear push for manufacturing, industrial, and technical roles.

• SpaceX and Neuralink, in particular, show growing demand for highly specialized engineers as their R&D efforts intensify.

Software & Services Dominate in MAG7

• Microsoft, Meta, Alphabet, and Apple are prioritizing software engineering, AI development, and cloud-based roles.

• Even though Tesla appears in both groups, its hiring aligns more with Musk’s industrial and engineering-heavy companies rather than its MAG7 peers.

Where Are These Companies Hiring?

Musk’s Companies: U.S. Stronghold with Select Global Growth

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  Hiring remains concentrated in the United States, but Germany, the Netherlands, and Canada are key international hubs.

• This trend correlates with Tesla’s growing global production plants and SpaceX’s expanding R&D and testing sites.

MAG7: A More Global Approach

• Broad hiring across the U.S., India, and Europe, with Amazon and Microsoft making aggressive expansions in cloud services and e-commerce regions.

• Data center and AI-driven hiring surges in India, reinforcing the global spread of MAG7’s workforce strategy.

Growth vs. Retrenchment: Who’s Expanding Faster?

A key differentiator between the two portfolios is who’s growing in engineering and production roles—and who’s stepping back.

Musk’s Companies: Engineering & Production Boom

• Industrial and mechanical jobs are among the fastest-growing positions in Musk’s portfolio.

• Tesla, SpaceX, and The Boring Company are accelerating hiring for hands-on, high-skill roles needed for their expanding manufacturing operations.

The MAG7: Less Focus on Physical Engineering

• Mechatronics Engineers, Industrial Mechanics, and Repair Technicians are declining in demand.

• AI, cloud computing, and managerial roles dominate hiring priorities in the MAG7, reflecting its shift toward digital and software-driven strategies.

Hiring Speed & Employee Sentiment: Who Moves Faster?

Both groups face intense hiring demands, but their time-to-hire and employee satisfaction trends reveal a few interesting patterns.

Musk’s Companies: Fast Hiring, High Turnover in Some Roles

• Technician and production roles see rapid hiring cycles, likely due to the urgency of large-scale manufacturing projects.

• Employee sentiment trends indicate high engagement among engineers, but some roles, particularly technicians, experience faster turnover.

MAG7: Perhaps More Selective, Longer Hiring Pipelines

• Hiring for software development, managerial, and R&D roles tend to take longer.

• Employee satisfaction remains strong across compensation and senior management approval metrics, with fewer backfill needs compared to Musk’s companies.

Two Distinct Workforce Strategies

Musk’s Companies: Industrial & Engineering-Heavy

• Manufacturing and hardware-focused, with fast-paced hiring in engineering, industrial, and production roles.

• Expanding manufacturing footprint globally, but largely centered in the U.S.

• Moves quickly in recruitment, but some roles see higher turnover rates.

The MAG7: Digital, Software, and AI-Driven

• Software, cloud computing, and AI lead hiring priorities.

• More geographically diversified, with increasing workforce presence in India and Europe.

• Longer hiring cycles as companies prioritize specialized and high-skilled roles.

Looking ahead, expect Musk’s companies to keep scaling industrial and engineering talent, while the rest of the MAG7 continues its push into AI, cloud computing, and digital services—reshaping workforce demand in the process.

This analysis is powered by Aura Intelligence, a leading workforce analytics platform that tracks hiring trends, skills evolution, and workforce strategies across industries. These reports are based on publicly available information, but should be used for general and informational purposes only. Validity has not been verified with companies directly. For more data-driven insights, try a demo of the platform.