NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Engineer Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 9 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Candidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Failure Analysis Engineer
Mid Average Positive experience Accept offer 6 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Onsite Presentation
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical Presentation
I applied online and got a quick phone screen with a couple of behavioral questions. Then they invited me for an all-day onsite. They were cool about me postponing it until January since it was right before the holidays. The onsite itself had a bunch of 30-60 minute one-on-one chats, plus a presentation to the team. It started with HR, then the lab supervisor with a tour, then a group supervisor, lunch with the team, a 15-minute presentation with Q&A, a teammate chat, and finally, section management. Everyone was super friendly and it felt really relaxed, more like a meet-and-greet, which I liked.
Confirmed questions5 questions
- Can you tell me about your experience in failure analysis?
- What tools and equipment are you familiar with, and how often have you used them?
- Could you explain the process of photoemission?
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Engineer
Intern Average Neutral experience No offer 1 round
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
JPL visited my college and held interviews. I had an interview with an engineer and a recruiter. They asked typical questions like why I wanted to work there, and also some technical questions that I found confusing because they weren't phrased very clearly. Other people I talked to said their questions were more straightforward. I didn't get the job, but it was fine.
Confirmed questions1 question
- Suppose there's a spacecraft on an interplanetary journey with a boom supporting a mass at its end. How can you make the boom lighter without altering its cross-section?
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Engineer
Entry Easy Neutral experience No offer 1 round
Interview process
Recruiter call Phone screen
Interview formats
Behavioral
The interview process included a phone screening for a full-time engineering position. However, the recruiter seemed unprepared and didn't have my resume, which limited the number of resume-relevant questions they could ask. I feel this may have negatively impacted my chances.
Confirmed questions2 questions
- What are your salary expectations?
- What led you to pursue this career?
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory Engineer Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory interview reports.
“Suppose there's a spacecraft on an interplanetary journey with a boom supporting a mass at its end. How can you make the boom lighter without altering its cross-section?”
Read reports →“What is your understanding of CT scans?”
Read reports →“How would you report an issue to your superiors while respecting the chain-of-command?”
Read reports →“What led you to pursue this career?”
Read reports →“What tools and equipment are you familiar with, and how often have you used them?”
Read report →“Can you tell me about your experience in failure analysis?”
Read report →“How does your current job compare to the one you're applying for?”
Read report →“Describe a situation where you had to handle conflict.”
Read report →“What makes you a strong candidate for this role?”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 9 NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory interview reports.