Apply to be a Flight Director: Frequently Asked Questions
NASA Science ·
Frequently Asked Questions What is a flight director? Flight directors lead teams of flight controllers, astronauts, and commercial and international partners in real-time mission execution and risk management. In preparation for a mission, flight directors collaborate with engineering, safety, and program partners to ensure operational plans align with spacecraft capabilities and mission objectives. What missions […] The post Apply to be a Flight Director: Frequently Asked Questions appeared first on NASA Science .
NASA will open applications for the next class of flight directors on October 2, 2026. The application window will remain open for 10 days, closing October 12, 2026. Selected flight directors will lead human spaceflight missions to the International Space Station, Artemis missions to the Moon, and eventually the first human missions to Mars.
What is a flight director?
Flight directors lead teams of flight controllers, astronauts, and commercial and international partners in real-time mission execution and risk management. In preparation for a mission, flight directors collaborate with engineering, safety, and program partners to ensure operational plans align with spacecraft capabilities and mission objectives.
What missions do flight directors support?
NASA flight directors lead human spaceflight missions to the International Space Station, Artemis missions to the Moon, and, eventually, the first human missions to Mars.
What are the education requirements to be a flight director?
Flight director candidates must be U.S. citizens with a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in engineering, biological science, physical science, computer science, or mathematics.
Do you have to have previous flight controller experience?
Although many flight directors have previously been NASA flight controllers, it is not a prerequisite to apply.
What type of professional background is NASA looking for?
Flight director candidates will need substantial related, progressively responsible professional experience, including time-critical decision-making experience in high-stress, high-risk environments.
What does flight director training include?
Flight director training consists of comprehensive technical instruction across all spacecraft systems and extensive simulations. Candidates also participate in on-the-job training with dedicated mentoring from senior members of the flight director team. This combination of training ensures both deep technical knowledge and practical operational readiness.
How long is the training timeline?
Once selected, candidates are tasked with technical and leadership assignments within the Flight Director Office, which complement the formal training program. Achieving initial certification can take up to 16 months. In addition, flight directors engage in continuous learning throughout their careers, adapting to increasingly complex missions and incorporating lessons from on-orbit experience into future mission planning and execution.
Where are NASA flight directors based?
NASA’s flight directors are based at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.
When does the application window open and close?
NASA will open applications for the next class of flight directors on October 2, 2026. The application window will remain open for 10 days, closing on October 12, 2026.
How do I apply?
Applications for this opportunity will be accepted soon. Once the application period opens, instructions and the official link will be provided on this page. In the meantime, you can visit www.usajobs.gov/ to learn more about federal job opportunities and prepare your application materials.
What does a flight director’s day-to-day look like?
Each day is different and unique, bringing a new set of opportunities and challenges. The role of flight director is hands-on, involving activities such as participating in spacewalk training at NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Lab to working on console in mission control. The vast array of responsibilities requires a broad set of skills to develop, plan, train, and fly human spaceflight missions.
For additional information about NASA Careers, visit https://www.nasa.gov/careers/faq/
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