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Summer 2024 NRO Cadre Student Internship Program

Open until: October 31, 2023 - Chantilly, VA - Internship

WE ARE THE NRO

For sixty years, the NRO has developed, acquired, launched, and operated the satellites that are the foundation for America’s advantage and strength in space. Using a diversified architecture of spacecraft, NRO collects and delivers the best space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance content on the planet.

Learn more at nro.gov.

Basic Eligibility For A Position With The NRO

You must be a U.S. Citizen
You must be able to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance
You will be subject to pre-employment and periodic drug testing
You will be subject to pre-employment and periodic polygraph examinations

NRO Summer Intern Program

Are you ready to learn what it takes to be a member of our vibrant and diverse team of experts? Apply to participate in our summer NRO Cadre Undergraduate and Graduate Student Internship Program today! We’re actively seeking motivated, highly qualified candidates in a wide variety of career categories including: STEM/Technical, Contracts, Financial Management, Mission Support, and Security. To learn more about the Career Fields, please click here.

The NRO Cadre Undergraduate and Graduate Student Internship Program provides students pursuing advanced education with paid opportunities to work at the NRO and explore career paths related to their academic field of study or career interests. Interns will receive training and guidance to prepare them to support NRO projects and initiatives.

Summer interns are full-time employees on a temporary appointment for the period of 10 weeks between June and August. There may be opportunities to return during subsequent summers based on mission requirements, continued eligibility, and the student's availability.

Benefits Available to Interns

Onsite workout facility
MaxiFlex work schedule
Upon successful evaluation and mission need, there is a chance to 'convert' to a full-time employee after graduation
With a successful evaluation at the end of the summer, interns could be invited back for multiple summers

Application Review Process

First Review Period: Applications submitted January 1-June 30; Applicant will be notified of selection NLT 31 October

Second Review Period: Applications submitted July 1-October 31; Applicant will be notified of selection NLT 30 November

To be considered for the upcoming intern cohort, please ensure that your application is submitted before October 31. Applications received by October 31 will be reviewed for the summer 2024 internship program.

What You Will Be Doing

Intern Projects: Each intern will be given a project to complete that aligns with her/his experience and education. Specific duties will expose individuals to independent and team-oriented work opportunities. Each intern performs under direct supervision and will be provided feedback on a regular and timely basis.

Professional Development and Training: Throughout the summer, NRO interns will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of professional development and training experiences. Some of these events include speaker series with NRO seniors; resume writing workshops, security lunch and learns, and NRO mission overviews.

External Events and Experiences: As time and availability permit, interns will be able to take advantage of selected events outside of the NRO. These include tours of mission partner agencies such as the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and National Security Agency (NSA) and potentially NRO launches.

Who May Apply

To be eligible for the program, the requirements include:

Be enrolled full-time in an undergraduate or graduate degree program at an accredited college or university.
Undergraduates must have completed a minimum of 24 credit hours.
Provide an unofficial transcript at the time of application and an official transcript upon acceptance into the program from the academic institution.
Be available for an interview and other applicable processing.
Pass a drug test, and not have illegal drug use in the past 12 months. Prior drug use is carefully evaluated.
Be available, and geographically located near Chantilly, Virginia, or NRO's ground stations for the 10-week summer program from June – August.

Preferred qualifications include:

A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Strong oral and written communication skills.
Good organization and planning skills and be able to demonstrate effective project coordination and implementation based on past work or school experiences.
Possess deductive reasoning skills and be able to analyze and synthesize information for problem-solving.
Prior experience in the intelligence community or space-related agency.

What You Need to Apply

Required - Resume

Applicants are required to provide a resume reflecting applicable experience that demonstrates the possession of the knowledge, skills, and competencies necessary for immediate success in the position

Optional – Cover Letter

Applicants are highly encouraged to provide a cover letter. Cover letters cannot exceed 5,000 characters and should include the following:

Reasons you want to work at the NRO
The experience you would like to obtain while interning at the NRO
The unique characteristics and/or experiences that make you a good fit for the NRO

Locations

Chantilly, Virginia

Fort Belvoir, Virginia

White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico

Buckley Air Force Base Colorado Springs

Salary

2023 Salary Range for Washington DC Area:

Working towards:

Bachelor’s Degree: GG-06, Step 5 - $54,159 per year or $25.95 per hour
Master’s Degree: GG-07, Step 5 - $60,185 per year or $28.83 per hour
Doctorate: GG-09, Step 5 - $73,617 per year or $35.27 per hour

Federal pay is a combination of base and locality pay which is based on the geographic location of where you work.

These positions are Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS) positions in the Excepted Service under 10 USC 1601. 

Application Information

Please review instructions prior to completing the application and answer all questions carefully.

NRO interns will be placed in 1 of 5 career fields based on their selection in their application (Contracts, Financial Management, Mission Support, Security, and Technical). If you are unsure which Career Field you should select, please review a description of each one below:

Contracts

Ensures that contractual baselines meet with Federal and NRO laws, regulations, policies, and standards. In coordination with Acquisition Program Management, develops and implements contractual direction on all contracts within the NRO.

Financial Management

Supports the NRO in formulation and execution of the NRO budget. Works with program management to ensure program closure. These responsibilities include analyzing program and/or acquisition data through qualitative and quantitative techniques, identifying and evaluating options to solve program budget issues, certifying funding availability, providing regulatory and procedural guidance, and providing overall financial management support to the NRO’s directorates and offices. Example jobs in this career field include:

Budget Formulation
Budget Execution
Accounting
Fiscal Law & Policy
Financial Systems
Audit Compliance

Engineering/Technical

Provides technical expertise in support of acquisition, operations, customer support, launch, and other NRO missions. Provides expertise on a wide range of technical fields and disciplines, such as program management, research, design, development, integration and test, launch, operations, sustainment, and disposal of innovative overhead intelligence systems for national security. Some of the unique aspects of engineering and operating NRO satellite reconnaissance systems and infrastructure include: working with a large, diverse group of systems developers; leading within a large population of support contractors; and delivery and support to numerous worldwide operating locations.

Example jobs in this career field include:

Physical Science
Information Technology
Engineering
Mathematics
Program Analysis

***Interns selected for the Technical Career Field may be offered to work at one of NRO's ground stations instead of NRO HQ in Chantilly, VA.***

Ground Station Locations Include:

Fort Belvoir, VA (Springfield, VA)
White Sands Missile Range, NM (194 miles from Albuquerque, NM)
Buckley Air Force Base, CO (Colorado Springs, CO)

Security

Develops security threat protection planning and execution for operations across NRO programs and facilities. Provide personnel security services to support all NRO workforce. Example jobs in this career field include:

Program Security
Counterintelligence
Polygraph
Cyber

Mission Support

Provides expertise in unique disciplines supporting a wide range of functions, such as administrative, equal employment, human resources, logistics, and non-acquisition program management. Example jobs in this career field include:

Equal Employment Opportunity

Logistics
Facilities Operations
Human Resources Office
Administration

Although NRO will accept unofficial transcripts, we cannot accept transcripts with limited information. When uploading your transcript, ensure it includes the following information.

Your Name
College/University Name
Overall GPA
Number of course credits

Please upload a transcript from the institution you are currently attending. If you have started a graduate program but have not completed your first semester, you must submit your undergraduate transcript along with proof of enrollment in a graduate program.

Trial Period

All new DCIPS employees will be required to serve a 2-year trial period.

Veterans’ Preference

DoD Components with DCIPS positions apply Veterans’ Preference to preference eligible candidates as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 USC, in accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Vol 2005, DCIPS Employment and Placement. If you are a veteran claiming veterans’ preference, as defined by section 2108 of Title 5 USC, you must submit documents verifying your eligibility upon request.

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

The United States Government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) for federal employees & job applicants

Reasonable Accommodation Policy

Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process should follow the instructions in the job opportunity announcement. For any part of the remaining hiring process, applicants should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

A reasonable accommodation is any change to a job, the work environment, or the way things are usually done that enables an individual with a disability to apply for a job, perform job duties or receive equal access to job benefits.

Under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodations when:

An applicant with a disability needs an accommodation to have an equal opportunity to apply for a job.
An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to perform the essential job duties or to gain access to the workplace.
An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to receive equal access to benefits, such as details, training, and office-sponsored events.

You can request a reasonable accommodation at any time during the application or hiring process or while on the job. Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis. Please send your request to Hiring@nro.mil.

Privacy Act Notice

Privacy Act Notice (PL 93-579): We use this information to determine qualifications for employment. This is authorized under Title 5 U.S.C. 3302 and 3361.