Boeing New Orleans LA facility in 2026: Michoud Assembly, SLS production, and space careers
The Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans East is where Boeing builds the largest single piece of rocket hardware in existence — the Space Launch System core stage. Standing 212 feet tall and 27.6 feet in diameter, the SLS core stage is the backbone of NASA's Artemis program, the vehicle architecture that will return humans to the Moon and eventually carry crew toward Mars. Boeing is the prime contractor for core stage production at Michoud, employing roughly 1,100 workers at the facility in 2026 across engineering, manufacturing, quality, and program management roles.
But Michoud's significance extends far beyond the current SLS contract. This facility has manufactured every large-scale NASA launch vehicle stage since the Saturn V first stage in the 1960s, making it one of the most historically important aerospace production sites on the planet.
Facility history: from Saturn V to SLS
Michoud Assembly Facility sits on 832 acres in New Orleans East, originally built as a shipyard during World War II. NASA acquired the facility in 1961, and its manufacturing floor — at 43 acres, one of the largest enclosed spaces in the world — has been building rockets continuously for over six decades.
| Era | Program | What Was Built |
|---|---|---|
| 1961–1973 | Saturn V | S-IC first stage (Boeing/Chrysler) |
| 1973–2010 | Space Shuttle | External Tank (Martin Marietta/Lockheed Martin) |
| 2011–present | Space Launch System | Core stage, upper stage (Boeing) |
The Saturn V first stage was the most powerful rocket stage ever flown, and it was assembled right here at Michoud before being transported by barge to Kennedy Space Center. During the Space Shuttle era, Lockheed Martin (then Martin Marietta) built all 135 External Tanks at Michoud — the large orange tank that fed the Shuttle's main engines during ascent. When NASA transitioned to the Space Launch System, Boeing won the core stage contract in 2012, and Michoud once again became the center of human-rated rocket production.
Rocket stages are too large to transport by road or rail. Michoud's location on the Intracoastal Waterway allows completed core stages to be loaded onto the Pegasus barge and shipped through the Gulf of Mexico to Stennis Space Center for testing, then onward to Kennedy Space Center for launch. This water access was the original reason NASA selected Michoud in 1961, and it remains the critical logistical factor today.
The SLS core stage: what Boeing builds at Michoud
The SLS core stage is a massive cryogenic propellant tank structure that holds 733,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen to feed four RS-25 engines. Boeing's work at Michoud involves fabricating, welding, and assembling the five major structural elements of the core stage:
- Forward skirt: Houses avionics and flight computers
- Liquid oxygen tank: Stores 196,000 gallons of LOX at -297°F
- Intertank: Structural connector between the two propellant tanks
- Liquid hydrogen tank: Stores 537,000 gallons of LH2 at -423°F — the single largest rocket propellant tank ever built
- Engine section: Structural mounting for four RS-25 engines and associated plumbing
Boeing uses friction stir welding to join the barrel panels and dome caps of each tank, a process that creates stronger, more consistent welds than traditional fusion welding. The Vertical Assembly Center, a 170-foot-tall welding tool, is one of the largest friction stir welding machines ever built and is a centerpiece of Michoud operations.
Current hiring and open positions
As of early 2026, Boeing is actively hiring for multiple roles at Michoud to support SLS production. The facility needs engineers, manufacturing specialists, and technical managers to maintain production of Artemis mission core stages. Current and recent openings include:
| Role | Level | Estimated Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Production Test Manager | Senior Manager | $130,000–$170,000 |
| Systems Engineer (Reliability & Maintainability) | Mid-Level | $95,000–$130,000 |
| Associate Industrial Engineer | Entry-Level | $72,000–$92,000 |
| Materials & Processes Engineering Manager | Senior Manager | $140,000–$180,000 |
| Production Engineering Manager (SLS) | Manager | $125,000–$165,000 |
| Manufacturing Technician | Mid-Level | $52,000–$72,000 |
New Orleans has a cost of living roughly 5% below the national average, which makes Boeing Michoud salaries stretch further than equivalent pay at Boeing's Seattle or Southern California locations. A mid-career engineer earning $120,000 in New Orleans has purchasing power equivalent to about $145,000 in the Seattle metro area. Housing in New Orleans East, Slidell, and Metairie is particularly affordable compared to other major aerospace hubs.
Engineering disciplines at Michoud
Boeing Michoud hires across a wide range of engineering specialties. The core stage program alone requires:
Structural engineers: Analyze loads, stress, and fatigue on tank structures. Friction stir weld qualification and cryogenic structural behavior are specialized skills that are hard to find outside of rocket manufacturing.
Systems engineers: Manage interfaces between the core stage and other SLS elements (boosters, upper stage, Orion spacecraft). Requirements management and verification planning are central to this work.
Manufacturing engineers: Design and optimize production processes for welding, insulation application, and assembly. This is where most of the day-to-day problem solving happens — figuring out how to build a rocket stage that meets dimensional tolerances measured in thousandths of an inch.
Test engineers: Plan and execute proof testing, leak testing, and systems-level functional testing before the core stage ships to Stennis Space Center for hot-fire testing.
Quality engineers: Manage nonconformance reports, statistical process control, and AS9100 compliance. NASA human-rated hardware has stringent quality requirements that exceed most commercial aerospace standards.
Industrial engineers: Optimize production flow, work cell layout, and tool utilization. With SLS production transitioning from single-unit builds to a more regular cadence, industrial engineering is becoming increasingly important at Michoud.
Life in New Orleans as a Boeing employee
Boeing Michoud workers are part of a small but established aerospace community in the New Orleans metro area. Unlike Boeing's massive Puget Sound presence where aerospace dominates the local economy, Michoud is a more self-contained operation.
The facility is located in New Orleans East, approximately 15 miles from the French Quarter. Most Boeing employees live in the suburbs — Slidell, Metairie, Kenner, and Mandeville are popular choices that offer shorter commutes and more suburban living. The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway connects the North Shore communities to the New Orleans area, giving employees a range of lifestyle options.
New Orleans offers a cultural experience unlike any other Boeing location. The food, music, and community culture are unique draws that make Michoud an attractive assignment for engineers who want more than just a job.
Future outlook: SLS production cadence
NASA's Artemis program calls for regular SLS launches through the late 2020s and into the 2030s. Boeing is working to reduce the production timeline for each core stage and establish a more sustainable manufacturing cadence. This means Michoud employment should remain stable, with the possibility of growth if the SLS Exploration Upper Stage enters production at the facility.
The Exploration Upper Stage, which would replace the current Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage for later Artemis missions, would be built at Michoud and would add substantial engineering and manufacturing work to the site's portfolio.
Search for open positions at Boeing in New Orleans or explore the full Boeing company profile on Zero G Talent.
Frequently asked questions
How do I apply for Boeing jobs at Michoud Assembly Facility?
All Boeing positions at Michoud are posted on jobs.boeing.com. Search for "New Orleans" as the location and you will see all open roles. Boeing uses Workday as its applicant tracking system — you will need to create an account and submit your resume through the portal. For engineering roles, tailor your resume to highlight experience with large-scale manufacturing, welding processes, or cryogenic systems if applicable.
Does Boeing own the Michoud facility?
No. Michoud Assembly Facility is owned by NASA and managed by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Boeing is the primary tenant and contractor at the facility, but other organizations also have a presence there, including Lockheed Martin (which builds the Orion spacecraft fairing tooling), NASA personnel, and smaller subcontractors. The facility is government property, which means access requires badging and background checks.
What happened to Boeing employment at Michoud during layoffs?
Boeing implemented layoffs at Michoud in 2024 as part of broader company-wide workforce reductions. The facility lost several hundred positions during that period. However, active hiring resumed in late 2025 and into 2026 as SLS production continued and Boeing stabilized its workforce planning. The facility currently employs roughly 1,100 Boeing workers, down from a peak of approximately 2,600 during the initial core stage builds.
Is there a path from Michoud to other Boeing space programs?
Yes. Boeing employees at Michoud can transfer to other Boeing space programs, including the Starliner crew vehicle program in Houston, the SLS program management office in Huntsville, or defense space programs in El Segundo, California. Internal mobility is a stated Boeing priority, and employees in good standing can apply for openings at other sites through the internal job board. Several Michoud engineers have transferred to the Starliner program in Houston, which is about a five-hour drive away.
What security clearance is needed for Michoud work?
Most SLS core stage work at Michoud does not require a security clearance because it is a NASA civil space program. However, some positions that involve Boeing proprietary data or future classified programs may require a clearance. The majority of current Michoud openings are unclassified, making them accessible to a broader candidate pool than Boeing's defense facilities in St. Louis or El Segundo.
