Pathways Intern, Student Trainee - NASA (Various Locations)
Disciplines: Civil/Industrial
Targeted Majors: Architecture, Civil Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Systems Engineering
Open & closing dates
09/22/2025 to 09/26/2025
Salary
$17.27 to - $47.59 per hour
Pay scale & grade
GS 4 - 9
Locations
Huntsville, AL
Edwards AFB, CA
Moffett Field, CA
Washington, DC
Kennedy Space Center, FL
Stennis Space Center, MS
Cleveland, OH
Houston, TX
Hampton, VA
To view this job and apply, click here.
Duties
This vacancy is open to students pursuing Aerospace Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, Architecture, Astronautical Engineering, Ceramic Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Computational Science and Engineering ...
.... Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Engineering Mechanics, Fire Protection Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Materials Engineering, Materials Science ...
... Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Metallurgical Engineering, Molecular Engineering, Optical Engineering, Optical Sciences, Organic Chemistry, Polymer Chemistry, Polymer Engineering, Robotics Engineering, ...
..... Software Engineering, Structural Engineering, Systems Engineering, or Welding Engineering majors.
Work under the guidance of senior engineers/scientists to support NASA mission operations in groundbreaking design, development, test and evaluation, and/or research work of aerospace technologies that align to your academic studies and interests.
Specific duties will be dependent upon the assigned occupational specialty in preparation for more difficult tasks as a professional trainee after graduation.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
This position is open to U.S. citizens, nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
At the time you apply for this announcement, you must be a degree or certificate seeking student who is enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an accredited educational institution on at least a half time basis as defined by the institution.
At the time you apply for this announcement, you must have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.9 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent).
The expected start date is January 26, 2026.
You must be able to work a minimum of 480 hours after your start date and before you complete your academic program requirements.
Applicants must have a graduation date on or after April 19, 2026.
If you are selected, you must maintain your enrollment at your current educational institution during periods you are not working at NASA. You must also maintain a GPA of at least 2.9 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent).
If you are selected, you will be required to sign a Pathways Participant Agreement which outlines the conditions of employment.
If you are selected, you will be subject to a pre-employment background investigation or higher level clearance. The level of investigation/clearance may differ and be required based on the duties/location-NASA Center requirements.
Financial Disclosure, Drug Testing, and/or the Risk Designation for this position may differ and be required based on the duty location/NASA Center requirements.
Salary Range reflects the lowest and highest salary for the advertised duty locations. Actual salary will be dependent on the NASA duty location for which you are selected.
Rotational assignments are at management's discretion.
After submitting your application via USAJOBS, you may be notified via email to take additional USA Hire assessments online. Please refer to the "How to Apply" section for important information.
If you are selected, you must be at least 16 years old at the time of your start date.
All Pathways interns are expected to report onsite.
This position may require a two-year trial period. If selected, the requirement to serve such period will be determined by Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 11. **See Additional Information section**
Qualifications
Starting GS grade levels are determined by education level COMPLETED at this time:
For GS-4: Completed at least 30 semester credit hours or at least 45 quarter hours in a certificate program, associate's or bachelor's degree program.
For GS-5: Completed at least 60 semester credit hours or at least 90 quarter hours in a certificate program or bachelor's degree program.
For GS-6: Completed 90 or more semester credit hours or 135 or more quarter hours in a certificate program or bachelor's degree program.
For GS-7: Accepted into a master's or juris doctor program OR in the first year of a master's or juris doctor program.
For GS-9: Completed 1 academic year* of a master's or juris doctor program OR accepted into a doctorate program OR in the first year of a doctorate program.
*An academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credit hours that the school attended has determined to represent 1 academic year of full-time study.
Your responses to the initial application questionnaire will determine the grade for which you will be considered. You will only be considered for the grade level matching your claimed academic level.
Documentation must be provided which adequately supports your answers to the eligibility questions. If enrolled in a dual degree program, your supporting documents must show how your credit hours apply to each degree and, if applicable, which degree(s) you have completed.
NASA prohibits the use of artificial intelligence (AI) or AI-assisted tool in drafting application and assessment responses. Please visit https://www.nasa.gov/careers/how-to-apply/#Artificial-Intelligence to review NASA's guidance on the use of AI tools during the application process.
Education
To be eligible for this position, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree with a major in one of the following required fields:
Aerospace Engineering
Aeronautical Engineering
Architecture
Astronautical Engineering
Ceramic Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Chemistry
Civil Engineering
Computational Science and Engineering
Computer Engineering
Computer Science
Electrical Engineering
Electronics Engineering
Engineering Mechanics
Fire Protection Engineering
Industrial Engineering
Materials Engineering
Materials Science
Mechanical Engineering
Mechatronics
Metallurgical Engineering
Molecular Engineering
Optical Engineering
Optical Sciences
Organic Chemistry
Polymer Chemistry
Polymer Engineering
Robotics Engineering
Software Engineering
Structural Engineering
Systems Engineering
Welding Engineering
Degrees in engineering technology are not qualifying for this position.
Engineering programs from institutions within the United States: You must be enrolled in a degree program at a college or university school of engineering with at least one curriculum accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) as a professional engineering curriculum. Degrees must be received in the year of, or any year subsequent to the original date of accreditation. To find out if a degree meets this requirement, go to the ABET website.
Engineering programs from institutions outside the United States: Engineering programs from educational institutions outside the United States must be recognized by an ABET Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA), often known as accords. These are non-governmental agreements among organizations that accredit academic degree programs. MRAs recognize the substantial equivalence of mature accreditation systems and programs accredited by signatory organizations within their jurisdictions. For a listing of Signatories, please visit, https://www.abet.org/global-presence/mutual-recognition-agreements/is-your-program-recognized/.
Science programs from institutions within the United States: Science and other related degree programs within the United States must be from colleges or universities that are accredited by recognized accrediting organizations. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, go to http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.
Science and other related degree programs from institutions outside the United States: If you are currently enrolled in a degree program at a foreign college or university, your degree may need to be evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs, in order for you to be eligible for conversion to a permanent or term position. Your degree must be deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit must be given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.
College Transcript: Applicants must submit a copy of their most recent college transcript that lists the school's name, student's name, degree program, major, GPA, college courses, course title, and number of credit hours completed. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted, however should you be selected, official transcripts will be required prior to your appointment date.
Accepted for Enrollment: If you have been accepted for enrollment in an institution but have not yet begun coursework, you must submit an Acceptance Letter from the institution AND your most recent academic transcript from your previous program.
Additional information
PLEASE TAKE CARE IN PREPARING AND SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION.
When completing the Questionnaires, please pay close attention to the selections and inputs you are making. Entries regarding your eligibility made in error cannot be modified after the application is submitted and you will lose consideration if you are determined to be ineligible based on the answers to the questionnaire.
This announcement is for positions at the following Centers: Armstrong Flight Research Center, Ames Research Center, Glenn Research Center, Headquarters, Johnson Space Center, Kennedy Space Center, Langley Research Center, Marshall Space Flight Center, and Stennis Space Center.
If you are referred for consideration, your application will be reviewed to see if you meet the specific requirements of the Centers you applied to. If you do not meet these requirements, you may not move further in the process.
Interns may be promoted to higher grades based on the amount of education completed and acceptable performance. However, promotions are not guaranteed. Special rate tables may apply for graduate students.
Trial Period
You may be required to serve a two-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. If selected, the requirement to serve such period will be determined by Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 11.
In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
your performance and conduct;
the needs and interests of the agency;
whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Upon completion of your trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
Conversion Eligibility
Interns may be considered for conversion to a Term or Permanent appointment within 180 days of completion of degree requirements provided they:
Successfully completed an academic course of study with a grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.9 (on a 4.0 scale);
Complete a minimum of 480 hours of work experience before completing degree requirements.
Meet the qualification requirements for the position to which they are converted (including any required coursework); and
Maintain acceptable performance.
Eligibility for conversion does not guarantee that NASA will offer conversion to a Term or Perm job.
The full performance level (FPL) of the position for conversion is GS-13 level.
As identical vacancies are identified, additional selections may be made.
