A monumental career opportunity in federal technology leadership is now open with the NASA Chief Information Officer job USA. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is actively seeking a visionary executive to serve as its Chief Information Officer (CIO) at the agency’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. This is a Senior Executive Service (SES) position, offering a rare chance to steer the IT strategy for one of the world’s most innovative organizations. If you are an experienced leader in enterprise IT, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence, this NASA CIO position places you at the helm of a $2 billion IT portfolio supporting missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
NASA Chief Information Officer Job Overview
This table provides a summary of this high-level NASA Washington DC job.
Property |
Details |
|---|---|
Agency |
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) |
Position |
Chief Information Officer (CIO) |
Location |
NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C. |
Salary Range |
$221,000 – $226,000 per year (ES-00 Pay Scale) |
Appointment Type |
Senior Executive Service (SES), Permanent |
Work Schedule |
Full-time |
Security Clearance |
Top Secret / SCI |
Closing Date |
January 13, 2026 |
Application Portal |
USAJOBS / NASA Executive Staffing |
About the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO)
This official recruitment is for the top IT leadership role within NASA. The Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO) provides the digital backbone for NASA’s scientific and engineering achievements. As the Chief Information Officer NASA, the selected candidate will serve as the principal advisor to the NASA Administrator and other senior officials on all matters pertaining to information technology, data management, and cybersecurity. This role is critical for ensuring that NASA IT jobs and digital infrastructure align with the agency’s evolving mission requirements, including the Artemis program and future deep space exploration.
Key Responsibilities and Strategic Priorities
As the NASA leadership position holder for IT, you will drive the digital transformation of the agency. Your core responsibilities will include:
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Strategic Leadership: Developing and executing a comprehensive IT strategy that supports NASA careers USA and mission priorities, ensuring alignment with federal mandates.
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Budget & Workforce Management: Overseeing an annual IT budget exceeding $2 billion and leading a diverse workforce of over 1,500 civil servants and contractors.
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Cybersecurity & Risk: acting as the authorizing official for agency-wide systems, ensuring robust cybersecurity posture against evolving global threats.
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Innovation & AI: Leading the adoption of emerging technologies, specifically Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), to enhance mission capabilities.
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Data Governance: Championing data management strategies that make NASA’s vast scientific data accessible, secure, and usable for researchers worldwide.
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Stakeholder Engagement: Representing NASA on the Federal CIO Council and collaborating with other Federal CIO job openings holders to drive government-wide IT modernization.
Required Qualifications and Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs)
To qualify for this Senior Executive Service NASA role, candidates must demonstrate both technical expertise and executive leadership capabilities:
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Technical Authority: Proven experience in managing large-scale, complex IT operations, including legacy system modernization and cloud migration.
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Enterprise Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead a geographically dispersed IT organization (NASA has 10 major centers) and drive cultural change.
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Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs):
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Leading Change: Ability to bring about strategic change, both within and outside the organization.
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Leading People: Ability to lead people toward meeting the organization’s vision, mission, and goals.
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Results Driven: Ability to meet organizational goals and customer expectations.
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Business Acumen: Ability to manage human, financial, and information resources strategically.
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Building Coalitions: Ability to build coalitions internally and with other Federal agencies, State and local governments, and foreign governments.
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Salary and Federal Benefits
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Executive Compensation: The position offers a highly competitive salary range of $221,000 to $226,000, commensurate with the Federal executive jobs IT market.
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Comprehensive Benefits: As a federal executive, you will have access to:
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Premium Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB).
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Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS).
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Generous annual and sick leave accrual.
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Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with government matching (similar to a 401k).
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Performance Awards: Eligibility for Presidential Rank Awards and performance-based bonuses recognizing exceptional sustained accomplishment.
How to Apply for NASA Executive Jobs
The application process for NASA headquarters jobs is rigorous and managed through USAJOBS.
Application Deadline: January 13, 2026
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Prepare Your Portfolio: You must submit a resume (up to 5 pages) and a separate narrative statement addressing the five Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) and mandatory technical qualifications.
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Apply Online: Visit the official listing on USAJOBS.gov and search for “Chief Information Officer” under NASA.
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Review Requirements: Ensure you meet all citizenship and security clearance requirements (Top Secret/SCI is standard for this level).
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Submit Before Deadline: Applications must be received by 11:59 PM ET on the closing date. Late submissions for Senior Executive Service NASA roles are rarely accepted.
For specific inquiries, candidates can contact the NASA Executive Staffing Office directly through the contact information provided in the USAJOBS announcement.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the Senior Executive Service (SES)?
The SES is a corps of men and women who administer public programs at the top levels of the federal government. NASA leadership positions like the CIO are part of this elite group, serving as the link between presidential appointees and the federal workforce.
2. Do I need a background in aerospace to be NASA’s CIO?
While beneficial, it is not mandatory. The primary requirement is demonstrated success in IT management careers NASA or similar large-scale enterprise environments (public or private sector) involving complex data and security challenges.
3. Is this a remote position?
No, this is an onsite executive role based at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., requiring regular engagement with agency leadership and federal partners.
