Women have always played a critical role in NASA’s history. From the first black female engineer to the first female astronaut—many of our female pioneers have been the “first” to achieve something monumental in their fields. Today, the women of NASA continue to lead and inspire in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and truly make an impact on society. As we look ahead, we know it will take a diverse workforce to achieve our ambitious goals—like putting the first woman and first person of color on the Moon. NASA is committed to recruiting and retaining women in STEM to help the agency continue to push boundaries to achieve the impossible.
NASA offers a variety of roles across the STEM fields. From the traditional roles you might imagine when you think of NASA, like aerospace engineer and astrophysicist, to roles that support our mission in areas such as accounting–we have a variety of opportunities to support NASA’s critical missions across STEM.
Engineering: To tackle our diverse missions, NASA hires 20 different types of engineers; the most common fields are aerospace, general, and computer engineers. Learn more about engineering careers.
Science & Research: NASA scientists conduct groundbreaking research across earth science, planetary science, heliophysics and astrophysics to answer some of the most profound questions facing humanity. Read more about science and research careers.
Mathematics: Our business professionals contribute to critical support operations. We rely on accountants and finance experts to manage budgets for complex projects and ensure our technical teams have the resources they need to perform their mission. Read more about business services careers.
Systems Engineer, Josephine Santiago-Bond
“I recognize that I am a minority in my work area, not only for my gender but also my race. Because NASA has a very inclusive culture, I don’t ever feel the need to change my ways as a woman in a male-dominated field.” -Josephine Santiago-Bond
Diversity Drives Innovation
As a NASA employee you’ll welcomed into a diverse environment. We strive to ensure that everyone feels empowered to speak up and that their insights and opinions are respected and valued. This culture is part of why NASA is consistently named the best place to work in the federal government and ranked #1 for inclusion which measures the extent to which employees believe that leadership promotes and respects diversity. We believe that diversity drives innovation. Programs like our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) provide a sense of connection and belonging. Some of these groups are dedicated to bringing women together to provide opportunities for personal and professional growth through leadership, education, and networking.
At NASA, we are continuously learning and growing. You’ll have the opportunity for professional development through a variety of mentoring, coaching, and leadership programs—some of which are targeted for women and women of color. We ensure you have access to training in areas such as project management, systems engineering, and technical communication, which can open doors for new project opportunities. And you’ll have the freedom to shape your own career path based on your personal and professional goals. Whether you’re interested in pursuing a different project within your field, expanding your expertise in another STEM discipline, or moving into management by leading more complex projects and teams.
We believe if you take care of the people, they will take care of the mission. We offer fantastic benefits, like health insurance, life insurance, retirement plan, and a generous leave program, including paid holidays, paid parental leave, vacation, and sick time. As a NASA employee, you may be eligible to enroll in health insurance programs, including access to benefits that support Federal employees in growing their families through fertility treatments. You may also be eligible to enroll in dental and vision insurance programs as well as flexible spending accounts.
We are committed to providing flexibility in your work hours and telecommuting options to help you achieve the balance that works for you. Our “Work from Anywhere” initiative is designed to ensure that employees are equipped to do just that—work from anywhere—their office, a lab, an airstrip, the space station, or their dining room table. In addition, most NASA locations offer onsite or nearby childcare facilities.
We also aim to inspire young girls to pursue STEM careers, which is why we partner with schools and organizations to support girls and create mentorship and internships opportunities.
NASA has held career question and answer sessions on LinkedIn during Women’s History Month. Our women leaders answer questions about what it’s like to work for NASA, their career paths, and advice for applying to NASA. We’ve compiled a list of all of the Q&As from the last event here!
Society of Women Engineers Conference
NASA Attends SWE yearly. At SWE 2021, several of our NASA women In STEM, Deboshri Sadhukhan, Erika Alvarez, Nicole Smith, and Helen Vaccaro, discussed their experiences working at NASA in preparation for going to the Moon during the Pandemic.
Talent Community
Join our Women in STEM Talent Community! Sign up below to receive bi-monthly communications about job opportunities, career tips, and guidance from NASA employees on how to position yourself to join our team! Click here to register.
Employee Spotlight
NASA Women Receive the Most Promising Scientist in Government Award
Dr. Lyndsey McMillon-Brown and Dr. Jamesa Stokes were recognized for their outstanding achievements in engineering,
Two engineers from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) received the Most Promising Scientist in Government Award, a selection made by a committee of scientific and technical leaders and supporters of the 15 ABET-accredited historically Black colleges at the 2023 Black Engineer of the Year Awards (BEYA) in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) conference held in February.
