NASA JPL
Might be a long shot since I’ve never seen anyone with the NASA company tag...but has anyone had experience working or interviewing for a position at the JPL? What was the work-life-balance like? What was the workflow process like? Could you get things done or was the coding process very procedural and structured? I’d be interested in embedded systems programming and launch control systems programming if that makes a difference.
Have a friend there now. Hiring bar is quite low, and the pay is abysmal. But, WLB is amazing, and much like any other government job, there isn’t much, if any, stress at the low and middle levels. It’s like SpaceX, but without the prestige and stress that goes with it.
Thanks for the info!
I worked at JPL, and bar was very high, I was 1 of 500 applications. But other location bar may not be that high.
I’ve applied 2 times within a 10 yr period to multiple jobs, 0 responses. Top 2 engineering and cs school but to be fair my experience is finance and analytics/data science. Any tips to get in to JPL?
Apply more. You will need to do hundreds of applications to stand a chance. Not two.
Going to be completely honest with government jobs. You have to attend conferences and network. Applying on job portals are futile.
Pay is really low, but pretty good work life balance and awesome people and really cool project. If you don’t have PhD then you would be doing grunt work for PhD. One thing, every year you worry if budget cut will result in job cut. I left after 6 years, I would go back only if I am single and no family to support.
Thank you, I appreciate the info.