NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Space Research and Developmentjpl.jobs

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federally funded research and development center operated by Caltech under contract with NASA, focused on robotic space exploration. It designs and builds spacecraft and exploration technologies in Pasadena, California, serving NASA as its sole funder.

Company typePrivate
Founded-
HeadquartersPasadena, United States
Headcount1–10
GTM typeB2B
OfferingServices

What NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory does

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) operated by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) under contract with NASA. Headquartered in Pasadena, California, on a campus that includes mission control, a public museum, and the Mars yard testing grounds, JPL is described in the source as "the leading center for robotic space exploration." Its work focuses on building innovative spacecraft, instruments, and exploration technologies to advance understanding of the universe, serving NASA as its primary and effectively sole customer.

JPL's core activities span engineering, science, computer science, and new technology development, supported by business functions such as administration, communications, human resources, and finance. The laboratory employs scientists, engineers, technologists, and mission support professionals, recruiting through internships, research programs for students and postdocs, and the Project Discovery returnship program (a partnership with the Society for Women Engineers and iRelaunch). It also maintains a multi-channel presence on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter/X, and Facebook under @NASAJPLCareers, and participates in career fairs, conferences, and virtual tours to engage talent globally.

JPL's business model is government-funded: NASA provides the primary funding, and Caltech provides institutional management under the unique public-private FFRDC arrangement. It has no external commercial customers, no stock symbol, and no disclosed pricing model because it does not sell products or services to third parties. Its deliverables are scientific, technological, and mission outputs for NASA, with the broader public reached through educational and outreach channels rather than commercial transactions.

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory firmographics

Firmographics

Name: NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Legal name: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Website: https://jpl.jobs
Company type: Private
Operating status: Operating
Headcount range: 1–10 employees
Short description: NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a federally funded research and development center operated by Caltech under contract with NASA, focused on robotic space exploration. It designs and builds spacecraft and exploration technologies in Pasadena, California, serving NASA as its sole funder.
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory industry classification

Industry

Product category: Space Research and Development
NAICS: Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Space Research and Technology (92711), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)
SIC: Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)
akta.pro primary industry: Spacecraft & Satellites (Civil/Commercial) (IMABACAB)
akta.pro secondary industries: Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR) (IMABACAD), Space-Based Defense Systems (SSA, Missile Warning, Protected SATCOM) (IMABAOAH)

Keywords

Robotic space exploration
Spacecraft engineering
Planetary science research
Aerospace research and development
Space mission systems

Where NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city: Pasadena
HQ country: United States
HQ region: North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory business model

Business model

GTM type: B2B
Offering type: Services
Cost components: Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

NASA Government Funding: JPL is a research and development center funded by NASA. As a unique collaboration between NASA and Caltech, JPL operates as a government-funded research laboratory.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory product offering

Product offering

Core offering

JPL is a federally funded research and development center that designs, builds, and operates robotic spacecraft and supporting mission systems for NASA, including mission control operations and Mars yard testing. It conducts planetary and Earth science research and develops new technologies across engineering, computer science, and instrumentation to advance robotic space exploration.

Product overview

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is a research and development center funded by NASA in collaboration with Caltech. It is not a commercial product company but rather a center for robotic space exploration, building innovative space exploration technologies. The source content focuses on JPL as an employer rather than describing specific commercial products or services for external customers. The careers page outlines areas of expertise in engineering, science, computer science, new technology development, and business functions, along with workforce programs like internships, research programs, and Project Discovery returnship.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Companies that use NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Customer profile

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API: No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

NASAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJPL is a unique collaboration with NASA as a research and development center funded by NASA to build innovative space exploration technologies. NASA is the primary funding source and partner.
Caltech (California Institute of Technology)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJPL is a unique collaboration between NASA and Caltech. Caltech operates JPL under contract with NASA, making it a distinctive public-private partnership in space exploration.
Society for Women Engineers (SWE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through Project Discovery, a returnship program focusing on bringing professionals back to the workforce after an extended absence. Joint initiative with iRelaunch.
iRelaunchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through Project Discovery, a returnship program focusing on bringing professionals back to the workforce after an extended absence. Joint initiative with Society for Women Engineers.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Direct peers

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center: Another NASA center and FFRDC that designs and operates science missions and spacecraft. Direct structural peer within the same NASA funding umbrella, with overlapping scope in Earth science and astrophysics missions.
NASA Ames Research Center: NASA center focused on aeronautics, supercomputing, and small spacecraft missions. Operates under the same NASA FFRDC model and competes for similar mission work in robotics and exploration technology.
Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL): FFRDC that builds and operates spacecraft for NASA and DoD, including planetary missions. Closest external analog to JPL in mission scope, FFRDC structure, and government-funded R&D model.

Broad incumbents

Lockheed Martin Space: Major prime contractor building spacecraft and exploration systems for NASA. Frequently partners with JPL as an integrator while competing for adjacent mission contracts.
Ball Aerospace (BALL): Builds spacecraft, instruments, and sensors for NASA science missions. Closely comparable in delivering instruments and hardware against the same agency customers.
Boeing Defense, Space & Security: Prime contractor in human spaceflight and exploration systems. Partners with NASA and competes for mission contracts that JPL would otherwise influence.
Northrop Grumman Space Systems: Prime contractor in space science and exploration, involved in flagship missions and propulsion. Comparable as a NASA mission partner and competitor for spacecraft prime contracts.

Emerging players

Blue Origin: Commercial space company developing lunar landers and other exploration systems under NASA contracts. Competitor for mission scope and engineering talent.
SpaceX: Commercial space company increasingly serving NASA mission needs. Represents a structural shift in the supply of space capabilities that competes with JPL's traditional role.

Others

Aerojet Rocketdyne (L3Harris): Propulsion provider for NASA robotic and human exploration missions. Adjacent ecosystem participant supplying critical hardware to JPL-built spacecraft.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

What does NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory do?

Is NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory a public or private company?

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.

When was NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory founded?

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.

Where is NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory based?

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory is headquartered in Pasadena, United States, in the North America region.

How does NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory make money?

One revenue line is on record: NASA Government Funding.

Who are NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory's main competitors?

Direct peers on record are NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA Ames Research Center and Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL). Broad incumbents are Lockheed Martin Space, Ball Aerospace (BALL), Boeing Defense, Space & Security and Northrop Grumman Space Systems. Emerging players are Blue Origin and SpaceX. Aerojet Rocketdyne (L3Harris) is listed as an others.

Does NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory have an API?

No public API is recorded for NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

What industry is NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in?

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory's product category is Space Research and Development. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABACAB, Spacecraft & Satellites (Civil/Commercial), with a secondary code of IMABACAD, Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR). Its NAICS code is 336414 and its SIC code is 3760.