Is JPL a government job?
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is operated by California Institute of Technology (Caltech) for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC). JPLers are Caltech employees and are considered Federal Contractors. A JPL Engineering job involves designing, developing, and testing technology for space exploration and scientific missions. Engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) work on spacecraft, rovers, satellites, and robotics to support NASA’s missions.Managed by Caltech, JPL is NASA’s only federally-funded research and development center. Designed, built, and operated the United States’ first satellite, Explorer 1, launched in 1958.Managed by Caltech, JPL is NASA’s only federally-funded research and development center. Designed, built, and operated the United States’ first satellite, Explorer 1, launched in 1958.
Who runs JPL?
Founded in 1936 by California Institute of Technology (Caltech) researchers, the laboratory is now owned and sponsored by NASA and administered and managed by Caltech. Managed by Caltech, JPL is NASA’s only federally-funded research and development center.Founded in 1936 by California Institute of Technology (Caltech) researchers, the laboratory is now owned and sponsored by NASA and administered and managed by Caltech.
What is JPL USA?
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) – Robotic Space Exploration. Managed by the California Institute of Technology and based in Pasadena, JPL is NASA’s only federally-funded research and development center. JPL is the result of a Caltech graduate student’s research into rocket propulsion in the late 1930s.To thrive in a role at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), you typically need a strong background in engineering, computer science, physics, or a related STEM field, often supported by an advanced degree.
Does JPL pay well?
How much does a Nasa Jpl make in Pasadena, California? As of Oct 28, 2025, the average annual pay for a Nasa Jpl in Pasadena is $108,784 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $52. This is the equivalent of $2,092/week or $9,065/month. Aerospace engineer positions at SpaceX begin at $95,000 per year, dwarfing NASA’s offering which must adhere to the federal government’s General Schedule pay scales. Here, salaries begin at around $55,000 for engineers with bachelor’s degrees working at the Kennedy Space Center, based in Florida.