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NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

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Death of a Software Engineer - Software Systems Engineer NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Employee Review

3.0
Nov 21, 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Lots, if not all of the Pros that made JPL a good place to work are.... gone. I literally can't think of anything. If you are starting out it looks good on your resume but you WILL stagnate at JPL so make sure you have a migration/exit plan.

Cons

Salary stagnation Deceitful leadership Weak Group Supervisors, Section and Division Management Toxic culture with issues constaty being swept under the rug by HR Total lack of career mentoring Huge gap between rhetoric (the fake positive image that JPL wants the public and NASA to see) VS reality (the sinkin ship which is what it's like internally) Employees being treated like morons during recent layoffs Lower salaries than comparable jobs in industry Lack of vision from the top down Lack of trust and confidence in leadership No accountability from Group Supervisors or any Management Loads of Supervisors without necessary essential training. Apparently being there for a while qualifies someone as a Supervisor... actual managerial competence is ignored Hellish bureacracy Incredible silos with career bureaucrats fighting holy wars for years and never being held accountable for actions or outcomes This place is literally a graveyard for Software Engineers The list goes on and on... stay away with a 10 foot barge pole

Explore other reviews about NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

5.0
Jul 13, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

- great culture - impactful projects - well organized internship program

Cons

- they give a stipend, not standard salary

4.0
Jul 9, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Excellent fit for superconducting detectors, KIDs/TKIDs, cryogenic readout, microwave systems, and quantum/space sensing. JPL has work in superconducting devices, microwave readout, quantum detectors, and advanced sensors.

Cons

Salary; Many restrictions, internal review, export-control considerations, and delays before publication.

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