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NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Is this your company?

Okay as long as you aren't female - Structural Engineer II NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Employee Review

1.0
14 Mar 2016
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

You get to work for a company whose goal is to further humanities place among the solar system. There is a diverse range of topics to explore.

Cons

As a female I have been told in emails management wouldn't send me on a trip without a male coworker to escort me. I was described as young and pretty but smart to a manager of an outside company I'm working with. I fix the screw ups done by the senior males and when I am frustrated by it never being acknowledged they say I am too inexperienced to have been given the task. When I went to one of our contract facilities I was sat across a table from the director of the site. He questioned me on how I got my job. After a minute it became clear it was not in an interested way it was in a how did you possibly get this job way? I went to the top school in the world for my masters degree. The older male from JPL I was with went to some school so crappy I've never even heard of it and it's in la. They discussed my qualifications for about 30 min while I sat there and let the male folk do their thing. When I complained to my management they suggested I see a therapist.

Explore other reviews about NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

5.0
2 Jun 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great environment to work and learn

Cons

More salary would be appreciated.

5.0
20 Apr 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Working on actual flight missions and pre-phase A studies from day one — not coffee runs or toy problems. The technical depth of your colleagues is extraordinary and you absorb a huge amount just from proximity. Access to JPL's internal tools, simulation frameworks and mission heritage is something you can't get anywhere else. Pasadena is a great place to live, and the lab culture is collaborative and intellectually stimulating. Supervisors generally treat you as a real contributor rather than a student.

Cons

Onboarding and badging can be slow and bureaucratic — expect delays getting computer access and lab clearances in the first weeks. The sheer size of the lab means it can take time to understand where your work fits in the broader mission context. Housing in Pasadena on an intern stipend is tight given California costs. Some teams are more structured than others so the experience varies a lot depending on your supervisor and group.

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