Jet Propulsion Laboratory Employer Reviews

Filled with awe and wonder if you want it to be. It's a magic place you could say - not unlike Disneyland (in a different way,... but carries the same exicitement.

It was fun to interact with everyone there. The engineers had my help as an assistant and they tought me many things about electrical circuits, creating electronic logic circuits for computers – more... and writing computer programs. My co-workers were pleasant to work with and in this environment the work could sometimes be the same as play.

Now, the hardest thing about the job were when my supervisors would assign me to a project and I was to learn things as I went. This was challenging - and yet the success at finally achieving my goal and finishing my work (which ultimately never really is "finished").

The most enjoyable part of the job was being a part of this team of elite individuals who are literally changing the way we live our lives here on this planet so to speak. – less

Best parts of the Job: Always something new, coworkers open to ideas and discussions, regular free discussions/ lectures/ learning series on all aspects of Space and Technology.

Worst parts of the Job: Lack of funding, extremely limited on-site parking.

If you like scientific exploration, this is the place to work. There is always something exciting going on.

I was assigned to different duties over the years I worked there, so it was rarely boring. The spacecraft technology was awesome. I got to see the mars rovers being tested before they were sent to mars. How cool is that?
Being funded by government meant it was always subject to budget cuts, so job security was tenuous at best.
In the early years they – more... left you alone to do your job, As money got tight they started micro-managing making it difficult to perform my duties. – less

There are many challenging propject requirements at work in JPL which makes my job is more interesting daily.

The management is good in some areas and not so good in others,
kind of unconsistent since JPL has over 5000 employees and 113 buildings...

My co-workers, most of the are good and nice but there are some bad seeds, and has no team work but – more... it could happen anywhere.

The most enjoyable part of the jobs is to see the results of your years of work becomes sucessful after the project completed and launched, landed safely on MARS ( MSL's Curiosity Rover) – less

interesting to write code in C
got many achievement awards
good relationship with co-workers

A great place if you're starting out as they encourage growth. Not so great for a non-business oriented career as the Lab is based on science, research and engineering. Sometimes business logic takes a back seat to scientist or engineer need.

Much of the management has been around for decades and are set in their ways. On the other hand, most of those – more... ways are laid-back, so there's a balance. – less

They preach diversity, but do nothing about it. Facilities is poorly run and promote and hire unqualified people, which HR seems to allow.

I was at JPL for 17 years. I saw a lot of history being made and met famous people.

I don't think there is much hiring going on these days, since many people, including myself, were laid off in recent years.

I would love to see the Space Program get adequate funding since so much of our technology comes from it and the futures of our children are – more... in the stars. – less

Challenging work
Excellent coworkers
Terrific work environment

Large government company has many benefits and pays well. Usually hires from within so knowing someone will help. Always positive atmosphere and staff in all departments are hard working and nice.

I enjoyed my positions at
JPL because I was always able to achieve a net savings of 10-15% on the procurement either by competition or negotiating the price on noncoompetitive/sole procurements.

I enjoyed a nice work/balance because it was rarely necessary for me to work more than 40 hours per week.

The most enjoyable part is was worked whit a ROVER , and travel to new yor an worked and motor.

Interesting job, very long work day, poorly funded.
At this time there no vision in NASA for space exploration. Bureaucracy and politics became dominant forces in NASA centers.

Proactive and articulate employees with the motivation to achieve exceptional business performance and productivity. Team members possess diverse backgrounds of excellent organizational, technical and administrative skills.

JPL offers you the unique opportunity to work on mission of deep space exploration. The tradition at JPL is impressive. You will feel proud of working there every day. And for that pride you will have to put up with a few things: conservativism, budgetary issues, aging personnel

JPL is involved with interplanetary space missions for NASA. It is currently being downsized significantly.

I learned many new things in this company and was introduced with great people.