NASA ATS Tips

How to get your resume past NASA's Applicant Tracking System and into the hands of a recruiter.

Which ATS does NASA use?

NASA uses USAJobs as their Applicant Tracking System. This means your resume will be parsed and scored by USAJobs's algorithms before a human ever sees it.

Application Tips for NASA

NASA hires through USAJobs (usajobs.gov). Federal resumes are VERY different from private sector — they must be 3-5 pages with detailed descriptions.

Include hours worked per week, supervisor contact info, and exact dates (month/year) for every position.

Use KSA (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities) language that mirrors the job announcement word-for-word.

Highlight aerospace, propulsion, avionics, robotics, or scientific research experience. Publications and patents matter.

Mention GS grade expectations and any previous federal service. Citizenship is required for most positions.

Keywords That Resonate at NASA

These terms reflect NASA's culture and values. Naturally weaving them into your resume and cover letter signals cultural fit.

safetyintegrityteamworkexcellenceinclusionexplorationinnovationpublic service

General ATS Formatting Rules

✓Use a clean, single-column layout — multi-column formats confuse most ATS parsers.
✓Stick to standard section headings: Experience, Education, Skills, Certifications.
✓Avoid images, tables, text boxes, and headers/footers — these are often stripped.
✓Submit as PDF unless the job posting specifically requests .docx.
✓Match keywords from the job description exactly — ATS scores keyword overlap.

Check your resume against NASA's ATS

Huntly's ATS optimizer scores your resume and gives you specific suggestions to pass NASA's system.

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