Applying to NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) · researched 30 Oct 2026
How to apply to NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
Apply for JPL's jobs on its own careers site, where every posting states NASA's designated-country rule; students apply to JPL's internship programs through its Academic Engagement Office, ideally between October and February for a summer internship.
, the SpaceJobs.Now board shows 118 open NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) roles; typical pay across them is $91.5k to $216k a year (median $124k).
The NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) application, one step at a time
Researched Oct 2026Apply for JPL's jobs on its own careers site, where every posting states NASA's designated-country rule; students apply to JPL's internship programs through its Academic Engagement Office, ideally between October and February for a summer internship.
Who can apply
- JPL is a federal facility: under NASA's rules it does not accept applications from citizens of designated countries, or people born in one, unless they are U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents or have other protected status under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). Each posting says so.
- Internships: students with citizenship on NASA's designated countries lists, or another affiliation with a designated country such as country of birth or dual citizenship, are ineligible; foreign nationals from other countries have limited places through the JPL Visiting Student Research Program.
- Internships: continued student status, the program's own requirements, and study in a STEM or STEM-adjacent field.
Step by step
- 1
Find a job on JPL's careers site
JPL posts its openings on its own careers site, where each posting states its requirements, its pay range and NASA's designated-country rule.
- 2
Students: choose an internship program
JPL's programs include the Student Independent Research Internship (SIRI), the JPL Visiting Student Research Program and the JPL Visiting Researcher Program; JPL Human Resources offers student employment separately. Apply only to programs whose requirements you meet.
- 3
Apply early for the summer
Deadlines vary by program. For summer internships JPL recommends applying between October and February, and an application stays active in its system for 8 months.
- 4
Get a nomination where a program needs one
For programs that require a nomination, connect with your campus faculty advisors.
- 5
Review by the Academic Engagement Office
Program coordinators in JPL's Academic Engagement Office review internship applications. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee a placement.
For summer internships, JPL recommends applying between October and February; an application stays active for 8 months.
Tips to get hired
- JPL internships are paid: most programs come with a stipend, and most require a commitment of at least 10 weeks.
- JPL says students gain the most from research experiences on Lab, so expect to work in Pasadena.
What isn't public
- JPL publishes no step-by-step account of its full-time hiring beyond its postings: its interviews and timelines are not described.
- JPL's internship FAQ states no GPA minimum; each program's own page sets its requirements.
What our research measures about NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)'s postings
Read from the open postings on 2026-10-30 by our space industry research, rebuilt every day. Every figure opens the row of the report it comes from.
- Who is hiring118 open roles, 0.7% of all the space roles we read, across 13 kinds of work; 65 of them posted in the last 30 days.
- Who can apply8.5% of the postings are open only to US persons or US citizens, and 16.9% name a security clearance.
- Degrees and experience7.6% of the postings take a high school diploma or an associate's degree, 88.1% name a master's or PhD.
- Pay transparency100.0% of the postings state their pay, at a median $124,000 a year.
- Internships and entry level12 open roles are for someone starting out (10.2% of its open roles), 6 of them internships or co-ops.
- Shifts, weekends and travel0.8% of the postings ask for weekend work, 1.7% for overtime or extended hours.
- Who can applyIt had 9 H-1B visa applications and no green card (PERM) certification from 1 Oct 2025 to 30 Jun 2026, by the Department of Labor's public data (which space companies sponsor H-1B visas and green cards).
Current NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) openings
All 118 open rolesCybersecurity Requirements and Data Protection Lead (opens the job details)
Software & IT · JPL Campus· 2mo agoDetails
$159,952–$197,184/yrProduction Control Manager (opens the job details)
Supply Chain · JPL Campus· 3w agoDetails
$108,680–$143,728/yrMaterial Control Administrator II (opens the job details)
Supply Chain · JPL Campus· 3mo agoDetails
$78,728–$93,912/yrCommunications Specialist II (opens the job details)
Programs & Business · JPL Campus· 3mo agoDetails
$87,360–$107,432/yr- $212,264–$264,992/yr
Media Relations Specialist III (opens the job details)
Programs & Business · JPL Campus· 1w agoDetails
$112,528–$136,760/yr
Applying to NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL): questions
Can non-U.S. citizens work at JPL?
JPL does not accept applications from citizens of NASA's designated countries, or people born in one, unless they are U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents or otherwise protected under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3). Each posting states any further export-control requirement of the role.
Are JPL internships paid?
Yes: most of JPL's internship programs come with a stipend.
When should I apply for a JPL summer internship?
Between October and February, JPL recommends; deadlines vary by program and an application stays active for 8 months.
How long is a JPL internship?
Most internships offered through JPL's Academic Engagement Office require a commitment of at least 10 weeks.
Can international students intern at JPL?
On a limited basis, through the JPL Visiting Student Research Program, and not students whose citizenship is on NASA's designated countries lists.
How soon does NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) reply to an application?
For summer internships, JPL recommends applying between October and February; an application stays active for 8 months.
More on NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
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- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL): overview and live roles
- What space job applications ask (research report)
- Space jobs open to non-US citizens
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