Washington, D.C. | August 25, 2025 —
Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has reacted to the resignation of Kairan Qazi, a teenage engineer who joined SpaceX at the record-breaking age of 14. Responding to the news on social media platform X, Musk remarked, “I have heard about him for the first time.”
Qazi, now 16, is leaving SpaceX after two years to pursue a new career path in quantitative finance. He will join Citadel Securities in New York as a developer, marking a dramatic shift from aerospace to high-frequency financial technologies.
Qazi on His New Journey
In an interview with Business Insider, Qazi explained his decision:
“After spending two years at SpaceX, I felt ready for new challenges. Quant finance is a fast-moving industry where AI research evolves rapidly. At Citadel Securities, I expect to see measurable results in days—not months or years.”
Who Is Kairan Qazi?
Kairan Qazi is a child prodigy who completed his computer science and engineering degree from Santa Clara University at just 14 years old—the youngest graduate in the university’s 170-year history. Immediately after, he was hired by SpaceX, where he contributed to the Starlink satellite internet project, helping enhance accuracy and performance.
Controversy With LinkedIn
In 2023, Qazi made headlines for criticizing LinkedIn, calling it “primitive” after the platform blocked his account for being too young. He later posted a screenshot of LinkedIn’s message on Instagram, sparking widespread debate about age barriers in professional networking.
Musk’s Response & Industry Impact
While Musk’s brief reaction suggested surprise at Qazi’s departure, industry experts note that the teenager’s move underscores the growing interconnection between aerospace engineering, AI, and quantitative finance.
Qazi’s journey—from child prodigy to SpaceX engineer, and now Wall Street developer—continues to inspire discussions on how young talent is reshaping industries at an unprecedented pace.