You’ve probably heard about the numerous benefits of pursuing a career in the federal government. What most people envision when they think of government jobs, however, can be a bit misleading. While many positions do involve working at a desk or, at the very least, in an office building, there are a surprising number of roles that include some extremely atypical duties. These are some of the coolest jobs the federal government has to offer.
1. Aerospace engineer
Have you dreamed of working at NASA, but you’ve come to the cold hard truth that you wouldn’t cut it as an astronaut? Then you might want to look into becoming an aerospace engineer. It’s obviously a science-heavy position in which you would be tasked with the research, design, and testing out of all the various parts and systems that are involved with space crafts. Just be warned, though, NASA is almost as famous for its program competitiveness as it is for its work in space, so prepare yourself for a lengthy and rigorous application process.
2. Archivist for the Smithsonian Institute
If history is your thing, look no further than the Smithsonian Institute, which is officially the world’s largest museum, education, and research network. It includes 21 museums and the National Zoo, so you can imagine just how many vital documents it contains. Someone has to collect, catalog, and care for all those records—which is exactly the job of an archivist. You’d be responsible for organizing the various papers, artifacts, and photographs that come through the Smithsonian’s doors. It’s a unique chance to work with a large slice of America’s past.
3. Technician for the Motion Picture Preservation Lab
The Motion Picture Preservation Lab is in charge of preserving and restoring various historically important film collections. Technicians are responsible for things like analog-to-analog and analog-to-digital reformatting, classifying particular film-element types, digital conversion, and assessing the physical condition of certain films. This position falls under the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), which handles the publication of laws and various other public documents, as well as the management of the Presidential Libraries system and all U.S. government records.
4. Foreign service officer
Have you ever seen one of those political thriller movies featuring diplomats and wondered, “How can I do that?” Well, here’s your answer: become a Foreign Service Officer (FSO). In charge of promoting peace and prosperity while protecting American citizens and maintaining the country’s interests while abroad, FSOs often deal with high-stress situations that require a steady hand and demeanor. And while the good news is that there is no particular academic degree needed in order to try for this position, the truth is that the application process is known to be intense. It includes an official FSO test, a personal narrative, an interview that includes role-playing exercises, and medical and security clearance.
5. Nuclear engineer
The responsibilities of this extremely important position include all the high stakes duties that come when working with nuclear energy. From designing and operating nuclear power plants to making sure all nuclear materials are being used responsibly and developing new nuclear technology, the nuclear engineer seemingly does it all. This position can actually fall under the Department of Energy (which advances America’s energy, environmental, and nuclear security) or the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (which licenses and regulates nuclear energy used by civilians).
While a job in the federal government isn’t necessarily right for everyone, you should definitely know that not all of them require business attire in order to clock into a stuffy office. Just keep in mind that there are positions out there that fulfill the needs of Uncle Sam while also being really cool and, dare we say, fun.
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