Things You'll Need:
- High school diploma
- College degree (recommended)
- Professional credentials (needed for engineering and professional positions)
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Step 1
Get a strong background in mathematics and science (all branches) at the high school level.
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Step 2
Identify the professional capacity in which you want to work for NASA. At the NASA Ames Research Center, there are opportunities for not only engineers, but also computer programmers, biologists, chemists and other scientists. You'll need to complete, at minimum, a bachelor's degree in your chosen field, though graduate and doctoral-level degrees are recommended to give yourself the best career flexibility.
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Step 3
Use your summers wisely while you complete your college training. If possible, land a cooperative training position or internship, or work for NASA for the summer. The Student Opportunities page on the NASA Jobs website links you to opportunities (see Resources below).
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Step 4
Complete the necessary professional credentials if you want to work with NASA in an engineering capacity.
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Step 5
Search directly for work with the NASA Ames Research Center on the NASA Jobs website, the official source for all employment opportunities with NASA (see Resources below). You can modify your search criteria to locate positions available at the Ames Research Center in California, as well as the type of work you're looking for.
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Step 6
Remember that NASA hires much more than just scientists. They offer rewarding career opportunities to people with varied skills, such as writers, maintenance mechanics and workers, administrative and support staff, accountants, payroll workers and human resources specialists. Opportunities like these are also posted on the NASA Jobs site.
