How to get a job at NASA in 2026

NASA received over 18,300 applications for its last astronaut class and hired 10. But here is the thing most people miss: the agency posts around 3,000 non-astronaut positions every year, and plenty of them go unfilled on the first round. Getting a job at NASA is hard, but not for the reasons you think.

The real barrier is not your GPA or your degree. It is the application process itself. USAJobs, the federal hiring portal, is a system designed to screen people out, and most qualified candidates get rejected because they do not know how to write a federal resume. This post covers the actual steps to get a job at NASA in 2026, based on how the federal hiring process works.

Understand how NASA hires (it is not like applying to SpaceX)

NASA is a federal agency. Every civilian position goes through USAJobs, the U.S. government's centralized hiring portal. This means the process follows the General Schedule (GS) pay system, requires U.S. citizenship for most roles, and moves slowly. Typical time from application to offer: 3 to 6 months.

There are three main tracks to get into NASA:

• Direct hire through USAJobs job announcements
• NASA Pathways programs for students and recent graduates (see our NASA Pathways program guide)
• Contractor positions through companies like Jacobs, KBR, Leidos, and SAIC that support NASA centers

Contractor roles are worth paying attention to. Roughly 60% of the workforce at many NASA centers consists of contractor employees, and these jobs do not require the federal application process. They post on normal job boards, hire faster, and sometimes convert to civil servant positions.

Write a federal resume that does not get screened out

This is where most people fail. A standard one-page resume that works at SpaceX or Blue Origin will get automatically screened out by USAJobs. Federal resumes are a different format entirely.

What a federal resume needs that a normal resume does not:

• Length: 3 to 5 pages is normal. Yes, really.
• Hours per week for each job listed (e.g., "40 hours/week")
• Supervisor name and phone number for each position
• Salary for each position
• Month/year start and end dates (not just years)
• Detailed descriptions of duties using the exact language from the job announcement

The questionnaire matters as much as the resume. USAJobs postings include a self-assessment questionnaire where you rate your experience level on each requirement. Underrating yourself is the fastest way to get screened out. If you have the experience described, select the highest applicable rating and make sure your resume backs it up.

Meet the education and experience requirements

NASA hires across hundreds of job series. The qualifications vary by role, but here are the general patterns:

Engineers and scientists (GS-0801, GS-1301, etc.)

A bachelor's degree in a relevant STEM field is the minimum. For GS-7, you need either a bachelor's with superior academic achievement (3.0+ GPA) or one year of graduate study. For GS-9, a master's or two years of graduate work. For GS-11 and above, you need specialized professional experience or a PhD.

IT and software roles (GS-2210)

These are more flexible on education. A combination of education and experience can qualify you, and NASA has used direct hire authority for IT positions in recent years, which speeds up the process significantly.

Administrative and support roles

Positions in project management, communications, finance, and HR exist at every center. These typically require relevant work experience rather than specific STEM degrees.

Role type	Typical GS grade	Education minimum	Experience needed
Entry engineer	GS-7	Bachelor's (STEM)	None with degree
Mid-level engineer	GS-11/12	Bachelor's + experience	3-5 years specialized
Senior scientist	GS-13/14	PhD preferred	5-10 years research
IT specialist	GS-9/11	Bachelor's or equivalent experience	1-3 years
Branch chief	GS-14/15	Advanced degree typical	10+ years with leadership

Handle the security clearance process

Not every NASA job requires a security clearance, but most require at minimum a background investigation. Here are the levels you will encounter:

• Public Trust (moderate/high risk): Most common at NASA. Involves a background investigation but is not a security clearance per se. Takes 1 to 3 months.
• Secret: Required for some programs with DoD overlap. Takes 3 to 6 months.
• Top Secret/SCI: Rare at NASA, mostly at facilities that support classified missions. Takes 6 to 12 months.

You do not need an existing clearance to apply. NASA will sponsor your investigation. But certain things can slow down or disqualify you: recent drug use, significant foreign contacts or dual citizenship, and major financial problems. Be honest on the SF-86 form. Investigators verify everything, and omissions are treated more seriously than the underlying issues.

Pick the right NASA center for your skills

Each of NASA's 10 centers has a distinct focus. Applying to the right one increases your odds.

Center	Location	Primary focus
Johnson Space Center (JSC)	Houston, TX	Human spaceflight, astronaut training, ISS
Kennedy Space Center (KSC)	Cape Canaveral, FL	Launch operations, vehicle assembly
Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)	Pasadena, CA	Robotic exploration, Mars missions
Goddard Space Flight Center	Greenbelt, MD	Earth science, Hubble/Webb, satellites
Marshall Space Flight Center	Huntsville, AL	Propulsion, SLS, in-space manufacturing
Ames Research Center	Mountain View, CA	AI/ML research, aeronautics
Langley Research Center	Hampton, VA	Aeronautics, atmospheric science
Glenn Research Center	Cleveland, OH	Electric propulsion, power systems
Stennis Space Center	Bay St. Louis, MS	Rocket engine testing
Armstrong Flight Research	Edwards, CA	Flight test, experimental aircraft

JPL is a special case. It is managed by Caltech, not directly by NASA, so it uses its own hiring process at jpl.nasa.gov/careers rather than USAJobs. JPL positions do not require U.S. citizenship for all roles, making it the most accessible NASA center for non-citizens.

Build a real application strategy

Applying to NASA is not a one-shot process. Most successful hires applied multiple times before getting an offer.

Set up USAJobs saved searches

Create alerts for the job series and centers you want. NASA positions sometimes close within 5 to 7 days, so you need to move fast. Search for agency "National Aeronautics and Space Administration" and set email alerts.

Apply to multiple announcements

Do not wait for the perfect posting. Apply to every announcement where you meet the minimum qualifications. Federal hiring is partly a numbers game because each announcement is reviewed independently.

Consider the contractor path first

Companies like Jacobs, KBR, Leidos, and SAIC have large contracts at every NASA center. Working as a contractor for 2 to 3 years gives you insider knowledge, a network, and a clear understanding of which civil servant positions open up. Many NASA employees started as contractors.

Use NASA-specific networking channels

• NASA OSTEM (Office of STEM Engagement): runs internship and fellowship programs
• Space Generation Advisory Council: student and young professional organization with NASA connections
• Center-specific LinkedIn groups: engineers at each center often post about upcoming openings before they hit USAJobs
• NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS): read papers by researchers at your target center, then reach out with informed questions

Avoid the mistakes that eliminate most applicants

These are the most common reasons qualified people get rejected:

1. Submitting a private-sector resume. One page, bullet points, no dates. It gets auto-screened.
2. Not answering the questionnaire accurately. Rating yourself as "expert" on everything looks dishonest. Rating yourself too low gets you screened out. Match your ratings to the evidence in your resume.
3. Applying only to one announcement. Federal hiring can be unpredictable. The same position might get re-posted if the first round yields no selections.
4. Ignoring status preferences. Some announcements are "status" (open only to current/former federal employees). Apply to "public" or "all sources" announcements if you have no federal experience.
5. Missing the citizenship requirement. All civil servant positions require U.S. citizenship. If you are a permanent resident, look at JPL or contractor positions.

The timeline: what to expect after you apply

Federal hiring is slow. Here is a realistic timeline:

1. Application closes (day 0)
2. HR review of qualifications and questionnaire (2-4 weeks)
3. Referred to hiring manager if qualified (you will get a USAJobs notification)
4. Interview, typically a structured panel format (1-3 weeks after referral)
5. Selection (1-2 weeks after interviews)
6. Tentative offer with background investigation initiated (2-4 weeks)
7. Final offer after investigation clears (1-6 months depending on clearance level)
8. Start date, usually 2-4 weeks after final offer

Total from application to first day: 3 to 8 months, depending on clearance requirements.

FAQ

Can I work at NASA without a degree?

For some technician and trades positions (e.g., machinist, electrician, HVAC), yes. These fall under Federal Wage System (WG) grades rather than GS grades. For professional engineering and science roles, a bachelor's degree is the minimum requirement.

Does NASA hire non-U.S. citizens?

Civil servant positions require U.S. citizenship. JPL (managed by Caltech) can hire permanent residents for some roles. NASA contractor companies can sometimes sponsor work visas depending on the specific contract and security requirements.

How much does NASA pay compared to the private sector?

NASA base pay follows the GS scale, which tops out around $191,900 for GS-15 Step 10 in 2026. With locality adjustments, this can reach over $200,000 in high-cost areas. For full salary breakdowns by grade, see our NASA scientist salary guide. Companies like SpaceX and Boeing typically pay 10-30% more in base salary, but NASA offers a pension, better job security, and more leave time.

Is NASA hiring in 2026?

Yes. NASA's workforce has been growing in areas related to Artemis lunar missions, Mars sample return planning, Earth observation programs, and the transition from ISS to commercial space stations. The agency also has ongoing hiring needs for IT modernization and cybersecurity.

What GPA do I need for NASA?

For GS-7 positions using the "superior academic achievement" pathway, you need a 3.0 overall or 3.5 in your major. For higher grade levels, GPA becomes less relevant and specialized experience matters more.

Start your NASA job search today

Browse current NASA positions on Zero G Talent, where we pull listings directly from USAJobs. If you want to explore the broader space industry while building toward a NASA career, check out aerospace engineering jobs and research scientist positions at companies that work closely with the agency. For students, read our guide to the NASA Pathways program for the clearest path from campus to a NASA badge.