Jobs at KSC in 2026: current openings and how to apply
Kennedy Space Center has approximately 19,700 badged workers, but only ~2,091 are NASA civil servants. The rest are contractors and commercial partners. Here's where to find openings and how to apply for each type.
Where to find KSC job listings
Contractor jobs (fastest path to working at KSC)
| Employer | Where to Apply | Typical Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Jacobs Technology | jacobs.com/careers | Ground systems, vehicle processing, launch ops (COMET contract, $3.2B) |
| SpaceX | spacex.com/careers (filter Cape Canaveral) | Launch operations, Crew Dragon, Starship |
| Boeing | boeing.com/careers | Starliner processing and operations |
| ULA | ulalaunch.com/careers | Atlas V / Vulcan launches from SLC-41 |
| Northrop Grumman | northropgrumman.com/careers | SLS booster engineering support |
| ASRC Federal | asrcfederal.com/careers | Multi-discipline technicians, Artemis support |
Jacobs is the single largest employer through the COMET (Consolidated Operations, Management, Engineering & Test) contract — they hire for ground systems development, processing, and launch/recovery operations.
NASA civil servant jobs
Apply through USAJobs.gov — search "Kennedy Space Center" or location "Merritt Island, FL."
NASA's workforce reduction in 2025 saw ~4,000 employees take deferred resignation agency-wide. KSC may lose approximately 311 civil servant positions under proposed FY2026 cuts. New civil servant hiring is minimal in the near term. Contractor roles through Jacobs, SpaceX, and other partners are the realistic path to working at KSC right now.
What KSC jobs pay
| Role Type | Salary Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Technician (contractor) | $22–$34/hr ($46K–$71K) | Vehicle processing, ground support |
| Engineer (contractor) | $75,000–$140,000 | Jacobs, Boeing, Northrop |
| Engineer (civil servant) | GS-7 to GS-13+ | $50K–$145K with 20.15% locality |
| SpaceX Launch Engineer | $85,000–$150,000+ | Plus pre-IPO equity |
| Program Manager | $110,000–$170,000 | Contract or civil servant |
Florida's zero state income tax effectively adds 5–10% to take-home pay compared to California or Maryland. Combined with moderate Space Coast housing costs, KSC positions offer strong purchasing power.
Programs with active hiring
Artemis — SLS/Orion processing, Exploration Ground Systems. Artemis II targeting April 2026 after helium flow issues caused a rollback from LC-39B.
Commercial Crew — SpaceX Crew Dragon (Crew-10, Crew-11) is operational. Boeing Starliner working toward NASA certification.
Starship at KSC — SpaceX is developing Starship launch infrastructure at the Cape, which will drive additional hiring.
Tips for getting hired
- Start with contractors — Jacobs alone has hundreds of KSC positions. Contractor hiring is faster than federal hiring (weeks vs. months).
- Security requirements — Many positions require U.S. citizenship. Some require ability to obtain a Secret clearance.
- Technician roles — Don't overlook technician positions. They're the entry point for many KSC careers, and internal mobility is common.
- Live nearby — The Space Coast (Titusville, Cocoa Beach, Melbourne) has multiple aerospace employers within commuting distance: KSC, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Blue Origin's $3B+ Cape facility, L3Harris, and Relativity Space's LC-16.
For the full employer breakdown, see our Kennedy Space Center jobs guide. Browse Space Coast jobs on Zero G Talent, or see our NASA careers guide and SpaceX careers guide.
