Taking a job at SpaceX was an irrational move by OP - the job ending in a way he desired was extremely unlikely. Getting up the management ladder in any large organization is a matter of making personal connections with the current leaders - like it or not it's just human nature. The guy expected to be promoted only based on the work he did :)

For someone with so much experience in a niche technical area starting a consulting company is obviously a better choice. You have far better pay, you don't have to play all the HR games and if they want to get rid of you it's nobody's problem - you just get an extra bonus.