NASA jobs in California: JPL, Ames, Armstrong, and 1,700 aerospace roles

California is the epicenter of the American space industry. Between NASA's own centers, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and the hundreds of aerospace companies that cluster around them, the state offers more space-sector career opportunities than any other — 1,707 active job listings on our platform alone.

But "NASA jobs in California" covers a surprising range of facilities, programs, and career paths. Here's the complete picture.

Jet Propulsion Laboratory (Pasadena)

JPL is NASA's planetary exploration arm, operated by Caltech. It's where Mars rovers are built, where deep-space missions are designed, and where some of the most complex robotic spacecraft in history originate. JPL currently has 39 active job listings on our platform, though the lab has been through a difficult stretch — multiple layoff rounds in 2024-2025 reduced the workforce from roughly 6,500 to about 5,500 employees, driven by reduced NASA funding allocations.

Unlike most NASA centers, JPL employees are Caltech employees — not civil servants. This means different pay scales (generally competitive with Southern California tech companies), different benefits, and a different hiring process. You don't apply through USAJobs; you apply through jpl.caltech.edu.

Current open roles at JPL include:

Role	Area
Navigation Engineer	Mission Design
Electronics Engineer	Spacecraft Hardware
Network Engineer	IT Infrastructure
Cybersecurity Engineer / ISSO	Information Security
Cost Accountant	Finance
Employee Relations Partner	HR
Industrial Security Rep	Security
Resource Analyst	Program Management

JPL's work is almost entirely robotic exploration and Earth science. Active and upcoming missions include Europa Clipper (launched October 2024, arriving Jupiter 2030), the Perseverance rover (still operating on Mars), and SPHEREx (all-sky spectral survey). The lab also operates the Deep Space Network — the global array of radio antennas that communicates with every NASA spacecraft beyond Earth orbit. Each mission generates demand for systems engineers, flight software developers, navigation analysts, and instrument specialists.

NASA Ames Research Center (Moffett Field, Mountain View)

Ames sits in the heart of Silicon Valley on the grounds of the former Moffett Federal Airfield. It's NASA's center for computational research, astrobiology, and small spacecraft development. With roughly 2,800 research personnel and an annual budget of about $750 million, Ames is smaller than Johnson or Goddard but punches above its weight in research output.

Key areas where Ames hires:

Astrobiology and life sciences — Ames runs NASA's Astrobiology Institute and conducts research into the origins of life, extremophile biology, and biosignature detection. If you want to search for extraterrestrial life as a career, Ames is one of the few places on Earth where that's a real job.

Computational sciences — Ames operates the NASA Advanced Supercomputing (NAS) facility, which includes the Pleiades and Aitken supercomputers. They hire computational fluid dynamics specialists, data scientists, and HPC engineers.

Small satellites — Ames has a significant smallsat program, building and managing CubeSat and small satellite missions. This is where NASA experiments with faster, cheaper approaches to space missions.

Air traffic management — Ames leads NASA's work on Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) and unmanned traffic management (UTM) for drones and air taxis.

The Silicon Valley location means Ames competes with tech companies for talent, particularly in software and data science. Contractor salaries at Ames tend to be higher than at centers in lower-cost areas, though still below major tech company compensation.

Armstrong Flight Research Center (Edwards AFB)

Armstrong (formerly Dryden) is NASA's premier flight test facility, located at Edwards Air Force Base in the Mojave Desert. This is where experimental aircraft are tested, where the Space Shuttle landed, and where cutting-edge aeronautics research happens.

NASA currently has 2 active listings at Edwards AFB. The center primarily hires:

• Flight test engineers and instrumentation engineers
• Aeronautics research engineers
• Flight operations specialists
• Aircraft mechanics and technicians

Armstrong is smaller and more specialized than other NASA centers. If you're interested in flight testing, experimental aeronautics, or hypersonic research, this is your target. The X-59 Quesst (quiet supersonic aircraft) and various hypersonic research programs drive current hiring.

The location is remote — Edwards AFB is in the desert, roughly 100 miles north of Los Angeles. Most employees live in Lancaster/Palmdale, and the base has its own community infrastructure.

The broader California aerospace ecosystem

NASA's California centers are just the tip of the iceberg. The state's 1,707 active space jobs span major employers:

Company	CA Jobs	Primary CA Location
SpaceX	624	Hawthorne, Redmond Beach
RTX	203	El Segundo
Northrop Grumman	192	Redondo Beach, El Segundo
Boeing	147	El Segundo, Huntington Beach
Blue Origin	139	El Segundo
The Aerospace Corporation	118	El Segundo
Northwood Space	49	Various
Stratolaunch	47	Mojave
Turion Space	31	Irvine
Planet Labs	28	San Francisco
Rocket Lab	12	Long Beach

The El Segundo corridor — a stretch of offices and facilities near LAX — is the densest concentration of space industry employers in the world. Within a few square miles, you'll find SpaceX, Northrop Grumman Space, Boeing Satellite Systems, Blue Origin, The Aerospace Corporation, and Raytheon's space division. If you want to maximize your career options in space, El Segundo puts more employers within commuting distance than anywhere else.

Civil servant vs. contractor vs. commercial

Understanding the three employment paths is essential for navigating California's space job market:

NASA civil servant — Apply through USAJobs.gov. GS pay scale ($73K-$192K for GS-12 through GS-15 in the San Jose/SF locality area). Outstanding job security, federal benefits, pension. Extremely competitive — some postings receive hundreds of applications. U.S. citizenship required.

NASA contractor — Work at NASA facilities but employed by companies like KBR, Jacobs, Leidos, SAIC, or Caltech (JPL). Pay varies by company but often exceeds GS rates for comparable technical work. Less job stability since contracts are rebid every 5-10 years, though experienced workers typically migrate to the new contractor. Citizenship requirements vary by contract.

Commercial aerospace — Work at SpaceX, Blue Origin, Rocket Lab, Planet, or the many other commercial space companies. Typically highest cash compensation (especially with equity at pre-IPO companies), fastest-paced work, least job security. ITAR restrictions mean most roles require U.S. person status.

Salary expectations in California

California's high cost of living is offset by higher pay rates. Here's what to expect:

Keep in mind that California's state income tax (up to 13.3%) and housing costs significantly reduce purchasing power compared to space hubs in Texas, Florida, Alabama, or Colorado.

Start your search

Browse all 1,707 active California space jobs on Zero G Talent. For specific employers, see SpaceX careers, JPL positions, or Northrop Grumman California roles. Compare California opportunities with other space hubs in Florida, Texas, and Colorado.