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Applying to NASA · researched 30 Oct 2026

How to apply to NASA

Create a USAJOBS profile, attach a resume of two pages or fewer to a NASA announcement, finish the application in NASA's own system before midnight Eastern Time on the closing day, then wait for the eligibility review, a referral to the hiring manager and interviews. Civil service roles are open to U.S. citizens.

, the SpaceJobs.Now board shows 5 open NASA roles; typical pay across them is $129k to $216k a year (median $167k).

NASA careers site (opens the job details)

The NASA application, one step at a time

Researched Oct 2026

Create a USAJOBS profile, attach a resume of two pages or fewer to a NASA announcement, finish the application in NASA's own system before midnight Eastern Time on the closing day, then wait for the eligibility review, a referral to the hiring manager and interviews. Civil service roles are open to U.S. citizens.

Who can apply

  • U.S. citizenship: NASA's civil service employees must be U.S. citizens, and NASA calls exceptions extremely rare.
  • Students (Pathways internships): a U.S. citizen, enrolled or accepted on at least a half-time basis at an accredited institution, with a cumulative 2.9 GPA on a 4.0 scale kept throughout.
  • Each announcement asks its own eligibility questions, which vary by type of announcement.

Step by step

  1. 1

    Create or review your USAJOBS profile

    A USAJOBS profile is required before you can apply for any NASA civil service job. If you already have one, check that it is accurate before applying.

  2. 2

    Write a resume of two pages or fewer

    Every resume submitted through USAJOBS must be two pages or fewer, and longer ones are automatically rejected. NASA recommends the USAJOBS resume format, with each job title, its dates (month and year) and a short description of your key duties and accomplishments.

  3. 3

    Apply to the announcement

    Open the vacancy on USAJOBS, click Apply and attach your USAJOBS resume. You are then taken to NASA's own application system to complete the application, and sent back to USAJOBS when you finish.

  4. 4

    Answer the eligibility questions and any assessment

    The questions vary by type of announcement. You may also be emailed an invitation to a USA Hire assessment of non-technical skills, whose results stay valid for one year.

  5. 5

    Make changes before the closing date

    You can update your application while the announcement is open, but an update must be completed and resubmitted before midnight Eastern Time on the closing date.

  6. 6

    Review, referral and interviews

    After the announcement closes, NASA checks applicants' eligibility and qualifications. If your resume is forwarded to the hiring manager, you may be contacted for an interview, by a panel, in person, by phone or virtually, sometimes over several rounds. If you are selected, NASA contacts you to start the job offer process.

The USA Hire assessment and NASA's interviews

Some announcements send an emailed invitation to a USA Hire assessment, which tests non-technical skills and whose results are valid for one year. Applicants whose resume reaches the hiring manager may then be interviewed, by a panel, in person, by phone or virtually, sometimes over several rounds.

Format

An online assessment, then one or more interviews

How to prepare

  • Read the eligibility questions of the announcement before you start: they differ by type of announcement.
  • Write your answers yourself: NASA allows AI tools for grammar and style only, not to generate the content of your responses.

Why people get rejected

  • A resume longer than two pages is automatically rejected.
  • A change not resubmitted before midnight Eastern Time on the closing date does not count.
How long it takes

NASA reviews eligibility and qualifications only after an announcement closes, then forwards resumes to the hiring manager, who may call applicants for interviews.

Tips to get hired

  • Roles at NASA's contractors are not NASA civil service jobs: each contractor company runs its own application process and hiring, so you apply to the company directly.
  • A Pathways internship can lead to a permanent or term (one to six year) position after graduation with no additional application. You must be able to complete at least 480 hours of work before finishing your degree.
  • NASA posts the disciplines and skills it is hiring Pathways interns for in the weeks before applications open, and every Pathways vacancy is on USAJOBS.
  • If you are not a U.S. citizen, NASA points to its international partner agencies instead of its civil service.

What isn't public

  • NASA does not publish how long its announcements stay open or how long it takes to decide after one closes.
  • NASA's application pages do not describe the background investigation a selected candidate goes through.
  • NASA's Pathways page states no pay; each USAJOBS announcement states its own grade and pay range.
Sources (2)

Current NASA openings

All 5 open roles

Applying to NASA: questions

Do you need to be a U.S. citizen to work at NASA?

For a civil service job, yes: NASA says its civil service employees must be U.S. citizens and that exceptions are extremely rare. Its contractors run their own hiring, and NASA points non-citizens to its international partner agencies.

How long can a NASA resume be?

Two pages or fewer. Resumes submitted through USAJOBS that are longer are automatically rejected.

Can I use AI to write my NASA application?

Only for grammar and style. NASA says AI tools may not be used to generate the content of your responses.

What GPA does a NASA Pathways internship require?

A cumulative 2.9 on a 4.0 scale, kept while you are enrolled at least half time. Pathways is open to U.S. citizens.

Where are NASA internships posted?

Every Pathways internship vacancy is posted on USAJOBS, and NASA lists the disciplines it is hiring for in the weeks before applications open.

Does NASA hire through contractors?

Yes. Each contractor company handles its own application process and hiring, so you apply to the contractor directly.

How soon does NASA reply to an application?

NASA reviews eligibility and qualifications only after an announcement closes, then forwards resumes to the hiring manager, who may call applicants for interviews.

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