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Nasa Postdoctoral Program Jobs in Alabama (NOW HIRING)

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Nasa Postdoctoral Program information

See Alabama salary details

$22.7K

$53.5K

$75.7K

How much do nasa postdoctoral program jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 14, 2026, the average yearly pay for nasa postdoctoral program in Alabama is $53,497.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $44,400.00 and $60,300.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What types of projects do participants in the NASA Postdoctoral Program typically work on, and how much autonomy do they have in shaping their research?

Participants in the NASA Postdoctoral Program usually engage in cutting-edge research aligned with NASA’s strategic goals, often spanning fields such as astrophysics, planetary science, Earth science, and engineering. While each postdoc is matched with a NASA mentor and joins an established team, there is significant autonomy to propose and develop independent research projects within their area of interest. Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams is common, and postdocs are encouraged to take initiative, contribute fresh ideas, and even lead projects, which can be a major advantage for career growth in academia or industry.

What is the NASA Postdoctoral Program?

The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) provides early-career scientists and engineers the opportunity to conduct research in collaboration with NASA scientists at NASA centers and institutes. Fellows work on projects that contribute to NASA's mission in science, aeronautics, and space technology. The program is highly competitive and offers unique resources, mentorship, and exposure to cutting-edge research. Appointments are typically for one to three years and include a stipend and other benefits. The NPP is open to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and foreign nationals with a doctoral degree.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the NASA Postdoctoral Program, and why are they important?

To thrive in the NASA Postdoctoral Program, candidates generally need a Ph.D. in a relevant scientific or engineering field, strong research skills, and a record of scholarly achievement. Familiarity with specialized research tools, data analysis software, and sometimes experience with NASA mission systems or laboratory instrumentation is often required. Critical thinking, effective communication, and the ability to collaborate in multidisciplinary teams are standout soft skills. These competencies enable postdocs to contribute impactful research aligned with NASA's missions and advance their scientific careers.

What is the difference between Nasa Postdoctoral Program vs Nasa Research Fellow?

FeatureNasa Postdoctoral ProgramNasa Research Fellow
CredentialsPhD in relevant fieldPhD in relevant field
Work EnvironmentResearch at NASA facilities or partner institutionsResearch at NASA centers or partner institutions
Employer & IndustryNASA, aerospace, space scienceNASA, space science, research institutions
PurposePostdoctoral research and trainingResearch fellowship for early-career scientists

The Nasa Postdoctoral Program and Nasa Research Fellow are both research-focused roles for early-career scientists in space science and aerospace. The main difference lies in their structure: the Postdoctoral Program offers structured research training at NASA facilities, while the Research Fellow is a fellowship providing independent research opportunities. Both require a PhD and involve work within NASA or affiliated institutions, but the Postdoctoral Program emphasizes training and mentorship, whereas the Research Fellow emphasizes independent research.

What are popular job titles related to Nasa Postdoctoral Program jobs in Alabama? For Nasa Postdoctoral Program jobs in Alabama, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Nasa Postdoctoral Program jobs in Alabama look for? The top searched job categories for Nasa Postdoctoral Program jobs in Alabama are:
Nasa Postdoctoral Program jobs near you
Infographic showing various Nasa Postdoctoral Program job openings in Alabama as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $53,497 per year, or $25.7 per hour.
Postdoc Researcher

Postdoc Researcher

Universities Space Research Association

Huntsville, AL • On-site

$116K/yr

Full-time

Posted 19 days ago

Job description

USRA and the Science and Technology Institute are seeking a full-time, Postdoc Researcher to work in our Huntsville Al office. The Postdoc Researcher will lead the advancement of the Enhanced Vertical Long Trace Profiler (eVLTP) to support NASA MSFC’s goal of advancing replicated X-ray optics to sub-arc-second angular resolutions. This position is supported by a recently selected 3-year award from the NASA Astrophysics Research and Analysis (APRA) Program and is based at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. The VLTP is the only instrument in the world in its vertical long-trace configuration, specifically designed to measure slope and figure errors of grazing-incidence X-ray mirrors with extremely high accuracy over meter-class apertures. The successful candidate will play a central role in developing and advancing the eVLTP to support the development and validation of next generation grazing incidence optics for NASA X-ray missions.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities:

Instrument Development:

  • Lead the development and implementation of enhancements to the VLTP to improve slope accuracy and repeatability.
  • Identify, model, and mitigate systematic error sources.
  • Design and integrate improved optical, optomechanical, and environmental control systems.
  • Develop advanced calibration techniques and establish quantitative error budgets.

Software, Analysis, and Modeling

  • Develop and maintain software for instrument control, data acquisition, and analysis.
  • Implement algorithms for slope extraction and surface figure reconstruction.
  • Model instrument performance and guide design improvements.

Precision Metrology

  • Perform high-accuracy slope measurements of grazing-incidence X-ray mirrors.
  • Develop improved measurement methodologies to enhance accuracy, efficiency, and robustness.
  • Support fabrication, process development, and validation of optics for future NASA missions.

Project and Scientific Contributions

  • Support milestones and deliverables for the NASA APRA-funded project.
  • Publishing results in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at scientific conferences.
  • Collaborate with NASA engineers, scientists, and academic partners.
  • Contribute to the long-term development of world-leading X-ray optics metrology capabilities.

This position offers a rare opportunity to play a leading role in advancing a one-of-a-kind optical metrology instrument that supports NASA’s next flagship X-ray observatory. The successful candidate will have significant technical ownership, opportunities for scientific leadership, and the ability to make lasting contributions to the development of next-generation spaceflight optics.

Required Qualifications:

Education: Ph.D. in Physics, Optical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field.

Experience:

  • Experience with precision optical instrumentation or metrology.
  • Strong experimental laboratory skills.
  • Programming experience in LabView, MATLAB, Python, or similar scientific environments.
  • Demonstrated ability to work independently on complex technical projects.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience with slope profilers, interferometers, or long trace profilers.
  • Experience with grazing-incidence, X-ray, or optics.
  • Knowledge of optical alignment and optomechanical system design.
  • Experience identifying and mitigating systematic measurement errors.
  • Experience developing scientific instrumentation.
  • Ability to obtain a security clearance is a benefit.


Working Conditions: This job operates in a professional office. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, etc. This is largely a sedentary role. This job may require extended work hours, evenings and weekends to meet milestones/deadlines.

Remote Working: This position is not available for remote work. Candidate must be in the Huntsville, AL area.  

Travel: Negligible – attending scientific conferences 1-2 times per year


US Citizenship is required.

This position is contingent upon funding.


Applicants should apply to the posting at Home | USRA Careers and include a letter of interest, resume, or curriculum vitae. Additional information on USRA can be found at Home | USRA

USRA is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Minorities / Females / Protected Veterans / Disabled / Sexual Orientation / Gender Identity.