How to work at NASA

Want to play a leading role in bringing about the space age? Most NASA jobs don’t actually involve going into space. In fact, the organization only has 48 active astronauts out of 17,000+ employees.

This means it can be a great career path, even for those of us that like to keep our feet on the ground. If you’re interested in seeing the types of jobs NASA has on offer, a great place to start is Space Crew.

NASA application process - first steps

So, what does it take to be considered by NASA? Here are some key factors:

• Education - NASA only wants the best of the best working for their organization. The degree you get should be relevant to the role you want, and most jobs often require a STEM degree. It also helps if you get it from a highly respected institution. 

• Relevant experience - The job you’re applying for needs to be relevant to your past experience. If you’re early on in your career, NASA offers many different internships. Its most sought-after one is the Pathways Internship, where it hires “based on long-term potential and alignment with NASA’s future workforce needs”. 

• Industry connections - Much like anywhere else, it’ll be much easier to get a job at NASA if you already have a foot in the door.

• Resume and cover letter - Make sure what you mention aligns with NASA’s mission and values. Use the STAR system, mentioned in more detail below.

• Interview skills - You need to practice your interview skills and effectively answer their questions throughout the process. You’ll need to have a genuine passion for the role you’re applying for, so let this shine through.

Want to find a job at NASA? A great place to start is Space Crew. Once you find a suitable position, just fill out an application. 

Types of jobs at NASA

Although engineering jobs often come to mind when thinking of working at NASA, the roles you can apply for vary. The organization employs everyone from astronauts to historians and even canteen staff. Here are some of the most popular areas of work currently on offer at the company.

Science and Research

NASA employs many different types of scientists. The most common specialties are in physical science, astronomy & space, and physics. Not only do NASA’s scientists produce groundbreaking research for all things related to space, but they also innovate technologies for use on earth such as medical advances and water purification (though contrary to popular belief, not Velcro).

Engineering

NASA describes its engineers as “turning dreams into reality” and states that they’re responsible for, “pioneering new ways to discover the universe.” They participate in the design, research and maintenance of vehicles intended for space, and the equipment that is used to get them there. 

They’re also involved in cutting-edge technologies on earth, such as developing supersonic flight and new and improved propulsion systems. There are many different types of NASA engineering jobs, ranging from aerospace engineering to computer engineering.

A typical engineering job that you could work towards is a Systems Engineer III. For this job, you need a Bachelor’s degree in engineering, physics or a related technical discipline, along with 6 years of relevant experience. Alternatively, if you have a Master’s degree, you would need 4 years of experience. This goes down to 2 years in a similar role if you have a PhD.

IT and Data Science

Other in-demand areas at NASA include IT and data science. As with any modern organization, a great IT department is vital to design, maintain, implement and protect IT systems across the company. A data scientist can expect to have a varied career at NASA with the ever-growing amount of data they receive. This could be in the form of business matters, astronomical data, predicting weather on earth and monitoring information being sent from Mars.

An example of an IT job at NASA would be an Information Technology Specialist. For this, you must have 1 year of relevant experience. You would also need to have general IT experience and be able to demonstrate attention to detail, customer service knowledge and problem-solving skills.

Do NASA employees feel fairly compensated? 

NASA works hard to make sure every member of the team feels valued and is engaged both inside and outside the office. As an employee, you’ll be eligible to enroll in their health insurance program, alongside the NEBA (NASA Employees Benefit Association) which provides high-quality life insurance, at a fraction of the cost. There is also a focus on family time, with competitive paid leave and childcare facilities located in or nearby NASA facilities. 

This seems to have worked in their favor, as data taken from COMPARABLY indicates that 67% of employees believed that they’re paid fairly, with a further 77% being satisfied with their benefits. 

The majority of reviews screened from Glassdoor are overwhelmingly positive, with many citing a good work-life balance and an enjoyable working atmosphere. Additionally, many people made note of the diverse communities working within NASA and the collaborative efforts of everyone involved. 

On the critical side, many reviews note the red tape that must be cut through if you want to get anything done, due to the governmental nature of NASA. Management is also another factor that comes up, with some critiquing managers' ability to sort workplace disputes and remove obstacles to productivity. 

Best practices for getting a job at NASA

Build a relevant resume using STAR

According to a study done by The Undercover Recruiter, only 2% of resumes received by employers result in an interview, so it’s vital that you get it right. 

The STAR method provides a structure that will help take the stress out of writing a resume, as well as helping you prepare answers to interview questions later on. Unlike a traditional CV, the STAR method offers an accomplishment-based approach, which is ideal when applying for competitive workplaces like NASA.

The name STAR is an acronym, so the method is split into four parts, which are:

• Situation – Give details of a challenge you had to overcome.

• Task – What were the responsibilities you were tasked with and what were your desired end goals and outcomes?

• Action – What actions did you need to take to meet your responsibilities or goals? If teamwork or innovation was required, explain it.

• Result – What was the end result of the situation?

The aim here is to be concise and to the point. You need to relay to the employer that you have adequate skills and knowledge to succeed in your new role. 

A word of caution when filling out your resume and cover letter: NASA uses artificial intelligence known as Resumix to sift through the massive amount of applications they receive. 

This AI looks for the skills and attributes that are appropriate for the job, so make sure to:

• Thoroughly research the position you are applying for.

• Read the job listing and make a list of its duties, requirements and responsibilities.

• Make sure your resume mentions relevant topics and keywords mentioned in the job listing

Build your network

Building a network is a great way to improve your chances of finding work with NASA. There are several ways to do this including:

• Social media – Following relevant hashtags on Twitter and interacting with the industry on LinkedIn is a great way to meet like-minded people at all stages of their careers.

•  Join organizations in your chosen field – This is an excellent way to grow your network and help you connect with the right people. For instance, if engineering is your thing, you may want to check out the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) which will give you the chance to regularly talk with industry experts and even enter competitions.

•  Volunteer work – Working for the right non-profit and participating in volunteer work can help you gain valuable experience and expand your network. If you do a good job, you may even find that your managers will be happy to connect you to people from within their network.

• Talk to industry folks – People love talking about their passion, so if you see someone who has experience in a field you’re interested in, ask them questions. Have questions pre-prepared like, how did you get into this line of work? or what’s the best part about your job? At worst you’ll have a conversation about a subject you’re enthusiastic to learn about and at best, you’ll add to your ever-growing network.

Practice answering behavioral and technical questions

The key to a successful interview with NASA is to do your research and practice the types of answers you are going to give. The STAR method is also useful for answering behavioral interview questions that require you to show your approach to a certain situation.

Some examples of questions you may get asked are:

How would you manage a situation where the team was not meeting deadlines?

1. Situation – If you have an example of when you faced this challenge, mention it. If not, explain why deadlines are important.

2. Task – For example, tell the interviewer that you would hold a meeting with relevant team members to understand why the delays are happening.

3. Action – Explain how you would create a plan to implement a solution for this problem in future projects.

4. Result – Tell them what you’ve learned about limiting delays in the future.

Provide an example of a time when you worked effectively under pressure.

1. Situation – Briefly explain the situation. For example: “I had a project that needed to be finished a week ahead of the original schedule.”

2. Task – What role did you play? You might have been working under a manager who asked you to do overtime with little notice.

3. Action – In this case, you might explain that you worked overtime all week to finish the task.

4. Result – Explain how you managed to achieve the intended goal. For instance, was the project finished within the new time frame?

Have you ever had to deal with failure or setbacks? How did you handle it?

1. Situation – Explain exactly what went wrong in this situation. For example: “My work was lost due to a corrupted file.”

2. Task – What the desired outcome of the project was before things went wrong.

3. Action – What did you do about it? Tell the interviewer if you started from scratch or were able to salvage the project.

4. Result – What was the end result? For example, “Not only did we understand the value of creating backups and implement a new process to ensure this happens by default going forward, but we also learned how to correctly establish expectations when a project has gone wrong.”

Just to be considered for a job with NASA requires a lot of hard work and dedication. If you’ve got a good degree and/or relevant experience, it pays to follow the steps laid out above.

Get your resume and interview techniques on point by using the STAR method, and practice, practice, practice.

Then, once you feel ready to become one of the elite employees of NASA, head over to Space Crew to kickstart your NASA career.