Physician (Direct Hire)

Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center • Houston, TX

1d

About The Position

NASA Johnson Space Center is seeking an experienced undersea and hyperbaric medicine physician for the Space and Occupational Medicine Branch. The physician will support health and medical care for astronauts and other personnel involved in existing and future human spaceflight programs. The role provides expertise on human health and performance in altered-pressure environments, integrating evidence from space medicine, research, operations, and engineering to assess risks and define human standards that support crew safety. The physician will support testing and research, including work in hyperbaric and hypobaric environments, and provide clinical care for astronauts and human test participants, including treatment inside a hyperbaric chamber. The role also includes participation in clinic committees, communication with program stakeholders, and training for astronauts, flight crews, flight surgeons, and aerospace medicine residents.

The position requires a current, active, full, and unrestricted medical license, board certification or eligibility in Aerospace Medicine and/or Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine, and a federal Drug Enforcement Administration certificate for controlled substances. Applicants must meet the medical education and graduate training requirements described in the announcement, including the GS-15 specialty training requirement. Preferred experience is five or more years in Aerospace Medicine and/or Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine. The position may require a one-year probationary period and pre-employment investigation or clearance. It may offer a Physicians’ Comparability Allowance (PCA), subject to a service agreement.

Requirements

• Hold a Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, or equivalent degree meeting the stated accreditation or foreign-education equivalency requirements.
• Complete at least one year of supervised direct clinical service after obtaining an MD or DO degree through an internship or the first year of a residency program in an appropriately accredited institution.
• For the GS-15 level, have five years of graduate training in the position’s specialty, or an equivalent combination of experience and training.
• Possess board certification or eligibility in Aerospace Medicine and/or Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine.
• Hold a current federal Drug Enforcement Administration certificate for controlled substances.
• Possess a current, active, full, and unrestricted physician license or registration from a U.S. state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, or a U.S. territory.
• Meet the qualifications requirements by the announcement closing date.
• Submit a complete application by 11:59 PM ET on October 26, 2026.
• Be a U.S. citizen, national, or person who owes allegiance to the United States.
• Undergo a pre-employment background investigation or any higher-level clearance required for the duty location or NASA Center.

Nice To Haves

• Five or more years of experience in Aerospace Medicine and/or Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a subject matter expert on human health and performance in altered-pressure environments for current and future human spaceflight programs.
• Support the human-systems approach to evaluating and integrating evidence from space medicine, research, operations, and engineering to define risk assessments and human standards requirements for crew safety.
• 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 involving hyperbaric and hypobaric exposures, as well as medical and 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.
• Provide training in areas of expertise to astronauts, flight crews, flight surgeons, and aerospace medicine residents as required.
• Contribute to or lead health and medical support and clinical care for NASA astronauts and human test activity participants, including treatments inside the hyperbaric chamber.

Benefits

• Physicians’ Comparability Allowance (PCA) may be available: up to $14,000 annually for physicians with 24 months or less of service, or up to $30,000 annually for physicians with more than 24 months of service; a service agreement is required.
• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific benefits depend on position type and eligibility.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree