[phkahler]

Yes, the bus factor was high but:

>> I hadn’t even been told that people were being hired, nor was I invited to sit in on interviews—though I was the most qualified to discern candidates’ qualifications and experience.

This has become one of my favorite things to do with my experience, and I've helped hire some great people. To keep him out of this process was a terrible decision.

I don't think it was age discrimination so much as politics and empire building.

There is also a tech-bro factor at play here. I saw this while working at a supplier to another Elon company. They get these 23 year-olds that think they can do anything (them getting hired by XYZ Corp is proof right?) and then they do silly things or don't understand the basics. Hey but when they eventually figure stuff out they can claim a few miles range improvement on that car as their own fabulous innovation!