US space agency NASA raised plenty of eyebrows when it announced last week that it was looking for a new planetary protection officer.
The job, which conjures up images of superheroes fighting little green men, is primarily focused on preventing astronauts bringing biological contaminants back to Earth from space, and vice-versa.
But at least one stand-out applicant for the job saw things somewhat differently.
Jack Davis, a nine-year-old from New Jersey, sent in a handwritten application which noted that he would be the perfect fit for the job because "my sister says I am an alien."
The enterprising young applicant noted that he also had other skills which would make him a perfect fit for the job, including having watched "almost all the space and alien movies I can" and being an excellent video gamer.
It was Jack's closing line, though, which made the best case for his hiring.
“I am young, so I can learn to think like an alien,” he wrote, before signing off as 'Guardian of the Galaxy' and 'Fourth Grade'.
The handwritten letter has now gone viral, and older, more experienced job applicants might feel a pang of envy upon hearing that Jack actually managed to get confirmation that his job application was received.
NASA's planetary division boss James L. Green wrote back to Jack and congratulated him on the application and giving him some more insight into the planetary protection officer position.
“It’s about protecting Earth from tiny microbes when we bring back samples from the Moon, asteroids and Mars. It’s also about protecting other planets and moons from our germs as we responsibly explore the Solar System," he wrote.
Mr Green urged the aspiring spaceman to study hard and do well in school so that he could one day join the space agency.
He later said in a statement, “We love to teach kids about space and inspire them to be the next generation of explorers.
“Think of it as a gravity assist – a boost that may positively and forever change a person’s course in life, and our footprint in the universe.”