Physician (Direct Hire)

About the Role

NASA Johnson Space Center seeks an experienced undersea and hyperbaric medicine physician to serve within the Space and Occupational Medicine Branch, supporting the health and medical care of astronauts and other personnel in existing and future human spaceflight programs.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a subject matter expert on human health and performance in altered pressure environments for spaceflight programs.
• Provide expertise in a human systems approach to evaluate/integrate evidence from space medicine, research, operations, and engineering to define risk assessments and human standards requirements.
• Support test team operations at the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory and other NASA chamber facilities, including monitoring hazardous tests in altered pressure environments.
• Provide expertise to human test and research programs, including hyperbaric and hypobaric environment exposures, and medical/exercise projects promoting astronaut health.
• Attend and preside over committees and meetings involving the JSC Clinic Medical Staff.
• Communicate clearly and consistently with Human Spaceflight Program customers and stakeholders.
• Train astronauts, flight crews, flight surgeons, and aerospace medicine residents in areas of expertise.
• Contribute to or lead health/medical support and clinical care for NASA astronauts and human test activity participants, including treatments inside the hyperbaric chamber.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship, national status, or allegiance to the U.S.
• Potential one-year probationary period.
• Pre-employment background investigation or higher-level clearance.
• Financial disclosure, drug testing, and/or travel requirements may apply.
• Active/unrestricted medical license.
• Application deadline: October 26, 2026, by 11:59 PM ET.

Qualifications

• Basic Requirement: Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree from an accredited U.S. or Canadian school, or equivalent foreign degree with certification.
• Experience/Training: 5 years of graduate training in the specialty or equivalent combination of experience and training.
• Preferred Experience: 5+ years in Aerospace Medicine and/or Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine.
• Graduate Training: 1+ year of supervised clinical experience (internship/residency) in an accredited program.
• Selective Factor:
  • Board-certification or eligibility in Aerospace Medicine and/or Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine.
  • Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) certificate for controlled substances.
  • Current, active, full, and unrestricted medical license from a U.S. state, D.C., Puerto Rico, or U.S. territory.

Education

M.D. or D.O. degree from an accredited U.S. or Canadian school, or equivalent foreign degree with certification (e.g., ECFMG, U.S. Medical Licensing Examination). Foreign education must be evaluated for equivalency to U.S. standards.

Additional Information

This position may offer a Physicians' Comparability Allowance (PCA) of up to $14,000/year (24 months or less of service) or $30,000/year (more than 24 months of service), with a service agreement required. Additional selections may be made for similar positions across NASA. CTAP/ICTAP eligibility applies. VSIP repayment may be required if applicable. This position is not part of a bargaining unit.