Good Place to work - if you're male - Anonymous employee NASA Employee Review

3.0
Sep 5, 2010
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Face it, it is NASA. They do awesome stuff if you can get on a good project. Ames is known for having the projects that may be a little too crazy or risky for other centers (at least that is what I picked up when I was there) so it is a good place to see what NASA could become given the chance. Really interesting work is coming out of there. The projects do take a long time and have a lot of red tape since it is the government. You will also encounter the civil servants waiting out their time until retirement but they tend to at least somewhat care and will pass on tribal knowledge.

Cons

The flip side to working for NASA? Welcome to the good ole boys club. If you are a female engineer prepare to be stared at any time you walk outside. Prepare to be questioned first and trusted later. Prepare to be ready to hold your own at all times. I now understand why women don't stick around, it isn't worth it in my view. Until they embrace diversity and teach the guys about working with women, run across the street to the other places in the valley. Also, pay is much lower than you can get anywhere else. Start looking at McDonald's for a second shift if you like something higher up than a cardboard box and you have only a BS.

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5.0
Jul 3, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

So many ways to engage yourself in the work Great hours, benefits

Cons

Pay is rather low for Aerospace, even as an intern

1.0
Jul 4, 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

I have nothing good to say.

Cons

If you are the victim of a crime or experience something illegal connected to NASA, do not blindly trust the internal process to protect you. In my experience, NASA has built relationships with local and federal agencies in a way that can push people right back into NASA’s own internal channels, including HR, the Inspector General, and Protective Services. The problem is that those offices may not have the authority, independence, or experience to properly handle serious criminal or legal issues. Once you are back inside that system, the priority can quickly become protecting the organization, managing liability, and controlling the narrative instead of protecting the person who was harmed. Victim intimidation is not just possible in that kind of environment. It should be expected. Once the organization is involved in controlling the process, the person reporting harm can end up pressured, isolated, discredited, or steered away from outside accountability. That is unacceptable. Victims should not be forced into a process where the organization involved gets to influence how the matter is handled. Internal offices are not a replacement for real legal protection, outside law enforcement, or independent legal counsel. If something illegal happens to you, talk to a lawyer first. Get independent advice. Have your attorney guide you through the appropriate outside agencies and legal channels. Do not assume NASA’s internal process is neutral, independent, or designed to protect you.

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