NASA General Intern Interview Questions
& Process
Real candidates share what happened, how many rounds they had,
and how the experience turned out.
Based on 120 interview experiences · FREE TO READ
Candidate interview experiences
First-hand accounts from people who interviewed at NASA.
NASA
Intern
Intern Difficult Neutral experience No offer 1 round
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen Group
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
They set up a Teams call with three other teams I didn't apply to unexpectedly, and all of them asked me questions. They literally read my resume on the spot; many didn't even know the interview was happening until the Teams invite popped up.
Confirmed questions3 questions
- Can you introduce yourself?
- Have you ever worked with optical software?
- Are you familiar with Linux?
NASA
Intern
Intern Average Positive experience Accept offer 3 rounds
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen Panel Presentation
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical Presentation
After passing the online USA Hire Assessments and meeting the 'Best Qualified' criteria, your application goes to NASA managers at your chosen locations. If selected, you'll face a panel interview (usually with a matrix supervisor and other managers/engineers), often virtually via Teams. The interview, lasting about 45 minutes, includes time for your questions. Expect a mix of technical (resume-based) and behavioral questions, depending on the specific organization. Lab-focused groups tend to ask more technical questions than others. They aim to understand both your personality and your skills. For the 'Why NASA' question, try to tell a compelling story. For technical questions, ensure you're solid on fundamentals and can connect them to the role you're interviewing for.
Confirmed questions2 questions
- What makes you want to join NASA?
- Describe your process for troubleshooting a system issue.
NASA
Intern
Intern Easy Positive experience Accept offer 1 round
Interview process
Recruiter call Technical screen
Interview formats
Behavioral Technical
The interview for the OSTEM Intern position at NASA was pretty laid-back and conversational. The interviewer really took their time to explain the job, what I'd be doing, and how it all fits into NASA's bigger picture. They gave me a good look at the team, what projects are happening, and some of the challenges I might face, so I knew exactly what the role was about. It wasn't just about technical stuff; they also wanted to know about my background, what I'm interested in, and how my skills match up. All in all, it was a really informative and engaging chat where we could talk openly, and I got a much better feel for the position.
Confirmed questions1 question
- Do you prefer working in a team or on your own?
NASA General Intern Interview Questions
Quoted word for word from NASA interview reports.
“Regarding punctuality and quality, is it preferable to be absolutely perfect but delayed, or to be sufficiently good and timely?”
Read reports →“Can you provide specific reasons for your college GPA being on the lower end of the suggested range in your application?”
Read reports →“What steps would you take if you found yourself in disagreement with a colleague or supervisor?”
Read reports →“Describe a situation where you disagreed with a teammate's decision on a group project and explain how you handled it.”
Read reports →“Can you explain the specific algorithms you chose for your project and the reasoning behind those choices?”
Read report →“Could you tell me about yourself, including where you are from and what school you attend?”
Read report →“Tell me about what got you interested in space exploration and how you see yourself contributing to NASA's mission.”
Read report →“Why are you interested in NASA, and what unique qualities do you possess that set you apart from other candidates?”
Read report →“Describe a situation where you were part of a team and had to manage a conflict.”
Read report →Formats, difficulty and experience
Across all 120 NASA interview reports.