Dajae Williams: NASA’s Hip-Hop Rocket Scientist Inspiring the Next Generation

She’s one of the dopest engineers NASA has seen so far — and she knows it!
Dajae Williams, a 26-year-old engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), is redefining what it means to be a rocket scientist. But her journey to NASA wasn’t part of some lifelong plan. In fact, it started with a simple scheduling mistake.

During her freshman year at Kirkwood High School in Missouri, a teacher accidentally enrolled her in honors geometry. That “happy accident,” as Williams calls it, changed the entire course of her life. Today, she’s not only working at NASA but also traveling the country using hip-hop music to make math and science exciting for students of all backgrounds.

“Sometimes I still have to pinch myself,” Williams told reporters. “It’s always an exhilarating experience being around so many smart people, just being present, and taking it all in because there’s so much to learn” (St. Louis Public Radio).

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From St. Louis to the Stars

A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Williams now lives in Los Angeles, where she serves as a quality engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab. Her position came through NASA’s prestigious Early Career Initiative program — a highly competitive opportunity designed to support young professionals and increase innovation across the agency (NASA.gov).

At JPL, Williams is one of the few Black women engineers on staff, a fact she acknowledges with pride and humor. “There are some pretty dope people that I work with across all the NASA campuses,” she said, laughing. “But I’m pretty sure I’m the dopest” (St. Louis Public Radio).

Her confidence is backed by talent. Williams has turned complex scientific theories into catchy rap songs, breaking down intimidating STEM concepts into something accessible, rhythmic, and memorable. Her viral songs, such as her remix of Soulja Boy Tell’em’s “Crank That” explaining the quadratic equation, have become cult favorites among teachers and students alike (The Washington Post).

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Turning Trauma Into Teaching

Williams’ passion for outreach comes from her own struggles growing up in a predominantly white school district. “Sometimes education — especially in math and science — can be a very traumatic experience for kids of color,” she shared in an interview with St. Louis Public Radio. “Your teachers don’t look like you. They don’t understand where you’re coming from.”

Those experiences inspired her to make learning more inclusive. By blending music and science, she helps students feel seen, heard, and capable. “To see the kids dancing and laughing while learning — that’s what brings me joy,” she said.

Her performances and workshops have reached classrooms across the U.S., and she recently served as a keynote speaker for the Science Teachers Association of Texas, where she shared her story and her belief that representation matters in STEM (NPR).

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A Hip-Hop Path to NASA

Music was Williams’ first love — she once dreamed of becoming a music producer. But when her mother saw her talent for math, she encouraged Dajae to explore the STEM field. “She told me, ‘There aren’t many women or Black people in this field. See if you can make a change,’” Williams recalled.

Following her mother’s advice, Williams attended the Missouri University of Science and Technology, majoring in engineering management with an emphasis on industrial engineering. While in college, she perfected her educational raps, merging rhythm and equations to help students grasp tough material (CNN).

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Engineering Excellence and Inspiration

At NASA, Williams has contributed to major projects, including the Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich mission, the first in a series of satellites designed to monitor Earth’s oceans and climate changes (NASA.gov). Her work on the ground support equipment helped ensure a successful launch, proving that creativity and precision can coexist — even in rocket science.

Now, she uses her platform to motivate others, especially young women of color, to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math. Her message is as empowering as her beats:

“Put yourself out there. Apply for things you don’t think you qualify for. Take classes you don’t think you’re smart enough for. It will take you further than you realize.”

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A Supernova in STEM

Williams continues to merge her two passions — music and engineering — into a mission much greater than herself. Whether she’s in the lab testing spacecraft systems or in a classroom teaching through rap, she’s proving that brilliance comes in all rhythms.

“Representation and creativity are not opposites,” she once said. “They’re both forms of innovation — and innovation is what NASA is all about” (NASA JPL).

Dajae Williams isn’t just a rocket scientist — she’s a cultural force, a trailblazer, and a reminder that science doesn’t have to sound like silence. It can sound like hip-hop, confidence, and a dream reaching for the stars.

Dajae, you’re a supernova — keep shining.