Aerospace engineering jobs in NASA in 2026

NASA posted over 400 aerospace engineering positions across its ten field centers in the first quarter of 2026 alone, with the Artemis program and Mars Sample Return driving most of the demand. If you want to work on missions that will actually reach another planet, here is what the job landscape looks like right now.

What aerospace engineering jobs at NASA actually involve

Aerospace engineering at NASA is not one job. The agency splits the discipline into branches that each handle a distinct phase of spacecraft or aircraft development. You might work in aerodynamics at Langley Research Center, propulsion at Stennis Space Center, or guidance navigation and control (GNC) at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The 0861 series (Aerospace Engineering) is the most common federal classification, but NASA also hires under the 0830 (Mechanical Engineering) and 0855 (Electronics Engineering) series for roles that overlap.

Day-to-day work varies enormously by center. At Johnson Space Center, aerospace engineers support crewed vehicle operations for the International Space Station and Orion. At Marshall Space Flight Center, they design and test propulsion systems for the Space Launch System. Glenn Research Center handles advanced propulsion research, including electric and nuclear thermal concepts. The work is real hardware, real testing, and real mission consequences.

Most positions require U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain a security clearance. Dual citizens and permanent residents sometimes qualify for contractor roles through companies like Jacobs, KBR, or Leidos, but civil servant positions remain restricted.

NASA centers hiring aerospace engineers in 2026

Each NASA center has its own focus areas, and where you apply determines the type of work you will do.

JSC and MSFC consistently have the highest volume of aerospace engineering openings because of Artemis. JPL operates under Caltech management and has its own hiring process separate from USAJOBS, which catches many applicants off guard.

GS pay grades and what they mean for aerospace engineers

NASA engineers are hired under the General Schedule (GS) pay system. Your grade determines your base salary, and locality pay adjustments can add 17% to 45% on top depending on where the center is located.

Each grade has 10 steps, with automatic step increases every 1-3 years. The jump from GS-12 to GS-13 is typically the hardest because it often requires a competitive promotion rather than a ladder progression. Many NASA engineers stay at GS-13 or GS-14 for the majority of their careers and still earn well above $130,000 with locality adjustments.

The 2026 GS base pay received a 1% across-the-board increase, though locality rates were frozen at 2025 levels. Congress has been slow to close the locality pay gap, which OPM estimates still sits around 22% below private sector equivalents for many technical roles.

Disciplines in demand right now

Not all aerospace engineering specialties are equally in demand at NASA in 2026. The agency's hiring trends reflect its active programs.

Propulsion engineering is the hottest area. The SLS program at MSFC needs engineers for RS-25 engine refurbishment, and the agency is investing in nuclear thermal propulsion for Mars transit. Roles in this area often require background in thermodynamics, combustion, or fluid mechanics.

GNC (guidance, navigation, and control) stays consistently in demand across multiple centers. Orion needs GNC engineers at JSC, Mars missions need them at JPL, and the Gateway lunar station adds another stream of openings at both facilities.

Structures and materials engineers support basically every program. If you have experience with composite structures, additive manufacturing for flight hardware, or fracture mechanics, NASA has work for you.

Thermal engineering is a smaller discipline but critically short-staffed. Thermal engineers who can model spacecraft thermal environments and design thermal protection systems have fewer applicants to compete against.

Systems engineering sits at the intersection of all disciplines. NASA hires systems engineers under the 0861 and 0801 (General Engineering) series, and these positions tend to be at GS-13 and above.

How to actually get hired at NASA

The federal hiring process is slower and more bureaucratic than private sector recruiting, but it follows a predictable pattern. Understanding it gives you a real advantage.

First, your resume must be in federal format. That means including every relevant detail: hours worked per week, supervisor names and phone numbers, specific GS grades if you held prior federal positions, and detailed descriptions of accomplishments with measurable results. A typical NASA-ready federal resume runs 4-6 pages. The one-page resume that works at SpaceX will get you screened out at NASA.

Second, pay close attention to the "specialized experience" section of each job announcement. Hiring managers cannot consider qualifications that are not explicitly listed in your resume. If the announcement says "experience with finite element analysis of launch vehicle structures," your resume needs to use those exact words.

Third, the Pathways program is NASA's primary pipeline for students and recent graduates. Pathways Intern positions (while still enrolled) and Recent Graduate positions (within 2 years of graduation) offer a direct path to conversion to a permanent civil servant role. In 2026, roughly 40% of NASA's entry-level aerospace engineering hires come through Pathways.

Apply broadly across centers. Getting your foot in the door matters more than getting your dream center on the first try. Internal transfers between centers are common after 2-3 years.

Contractor vs. civil servant roles

About 60% of the technical workforce at NASA centers is made up of contractor employees rather than civil servants. Companies like Jacobs, KBR, Leidos, and SAIC operate large support contracts at every center. These roles involve the same day-to-day engineering work but with different benefits and career structures.

Contractors can earn more in base salary, especially at the senior level where GS-15 caps around $191,000 with maximum locality pay. But the federal retirement system (FERS pension plus TSP with 5% matching) adds significant long-term value that often closes the gap.

Many engineers start as contractors and convert to civil service after a few years, or vice versa. There is no stigma either way, and the technical work is largely interchangeable.

What is changing for NASA hiring in 2026

The 2026 federal budget has created some turbulence for NASA workforce planning. The Artemis program remains funded, which protects engineering jobs tied to SLS, Orion, and Gateway. But the Mars Sample Return mission has been restructured with a reduced budget, which means some positions at JPL and GSFC may shift to other programs rather than being backfilled.

NASA's workforce is aging. The agency's internal data shows that roughly 25% of its engineering workforce is eligible for retirement within the next 5 years. This creates a steady stream of replacement hiring even when new programs are not adding headcount.

The Commercial Crew and Commercial LEO Destination programs continue to shift some work to private companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin, but NASA still needs in-house engineers to oversee these contracts, review designs, and manage safety certification. These "insight and oversight" roles are GS-13 and above and require deep technical expertise.

Browse current aerospace engineering jobs on Zero G Talent, including positions at NASA centers and the contractors that support them.

Frequently asked questions

What degree do I need for an aerospace engineering job at NASA?

A bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, or a closely related field qualifies you for GS-7 entry. A master's degree starts you at GS-9, and a PhD starts at GS-11. NASA accepts degrees from any ABET-accredited program and does not show preference for specific universities, though schools near NASA centers (like Purdue, Georgia Tech, and MIT) produce a disproportionate number of applicants.

How long does the NASA hiring process take?

From application closing date to a job offer, expect 3-6 months. Some positions take longer if security clearance processing is involved. The Pathways program tends to move slightly faster because it has a more streamlined selection process.

Can non-U.S. citizens work as aerospace engineers at NASA?

Civil servant positions require U.S. citizenship. However, permanent residents and some visa holders can work as contractor employees at NASA centers through companies like Jacobs and KBR. JPL, because it is managed by Caltech, has slightly different rules and can hire non-citizens for some unclassified positions.

Is it easier to get hired at a specific NASA center?

Stennis Space Center and Glenn Research Center tend to receive fewer applications per opening than JSC or JPL, partly because of their locations. If you are flexible on geography, applying to less popular centers can improve your odds significantly. Internal transfers to your preferred center become possible after establishing a track record.

How does NASA aerospace engineer pay compare to SpaceX or Boeing?

Entry-level NASA pay (GS-7/9) is typically lower than SpaceX starting salaries of $95,000-$115,000. At mid-career (GS-13), NASA engineers with locality pay earn $125,000-$150,000, which is competitive with Boeing but below SpaceX senior individual contributor pay. The federal benefits package (pension, TSP match, job security, work-life balance) narrows the total compensation gap for anyone planning to stay long-term.