ISRO opens 746 vacancies across scientist and administrative roles

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has launched one of its largest recruitment drives in recent years. Announcing 746 openings across scientific, administrative and apprenticeship roles as it seeks to strengthen its workforce amid a longstanding staffing shortage.

According to Firstpost, the recruitment comes even as the Department of Space continues to grapple with 5,632 vacancies, representing nearly 30% of its sanctioned workforce.

While the latest hiring marks a significant recruitment exercise, it is expected to address only a fraction of the organisation's workforce gap.

The recruitment includes 336 regular positions and 410 apprenticeship roles. Of the regular vacancies, 43 have been reserved for backlog recruitment.

Scientists to support key space and human spaceflight programmes

A major focus of the recruitment drive is the hiring of 92 Scientist/Engineer 'SC' positions under Level 10 of the pay matrix, with electronics engineering accounting for the largest share of vacancies.

The organisation is recruiting:

• 34 Electronics Engineers

• 26 Mechanical Engineers

• 13 Computer Science Engineers

• 10 Civil Engineers

• 4 Electrical Engineers

• Additional positions in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Architecture, and Civil Engineering at the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), Ahmedabad.

Successful candidates will be deployed across ISRO's major centres, including:

• UR Rao Satellite Centre (URSC), Bengaluru

• Human Space Flight Centre (HSFC), Bengaluru

• ISRO Headquarters, Bengaluru

• Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram

• Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), Sriharikota

• Space Applications Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad

• National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), Hyderabad

• Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC), Valiamala

• ISRO Propulsion Complex (IPRC), Mahendragiri

• ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC)

Several of these facilities have experienced workforce attrition in recent years, particularly those supporting satellite development and India's human spaceflight programme. The new recruitment is expected to strengthen technical capabilities, although it will leave thousands of vacancies unfilled.

Administrative hiring expands support functions

Alongside scientific recruitment, ISRO is filling 244 administrative positions through the ISRO Centralised Recruitment Board (ICRB).

The vacancies include 113 assistant posts, 81 junior personal assistants, 22 upper division clerks, 10 stenographers, 17 assistants for autonomous institutions and one junior personal assistant for an autonomous institution.

The hiring reflects the organisation's broader effort to strengthen both its technical and administrative workforce as India's space ambitions continue to expand.

Apprenticeship programme targets future talent

The UR Rao Satellite Centre has also opened applications for 410 apprenticeship positions for the 2026-27 training cycle.

The intake comprises 220 graduate apprentices, 120 technician apprentices and 70 diploma apprentices in commercial practice. Electronics and communication engineering accounts for the largest number of graduate apprenticeship positions, followed by mechanical and computer science engineering.

Conducted under the Apprentices Act, 1961, the programme is designed to provide practical industry training to fresh graduates and diploma holders. Selected candidates will receive a monthly stipend of Rs 10,900 or Rs 12,300, depending on the category, along with a completion certificate.

However, the apprenticeship programme does not guarantee permanent employment with ISRO, with the organisation positioning it as a skills development initiative rather than a direct recruitment pathway.