Federal

Cooperative Education Program - Language (Maryland)

๐Ÿ“ Fort Meade, Maryland GG-3/7 $42,063 - $57,736/yr
Posted: Feb 4, 2026 Deadline: Mar 31, 2026 (Closes in 44 days days left)

About This Position

NSA's Cooperative Education (Co-op) Program offers students exciting, impactful professional work opportunities (with pay and benefits!) to grow their knowledge of the Intelligence Community and federal government while advancing NSA's two primary missions: 1) Collecting, analyzing, and producing foreign signals intelligence; and 2) Providing cybersecurity solutions and guidance to protect critical national infrastructure.

Qualifications

Only applicants that meet the following qualifications will be considered: - Must be a U.S. Citizen - Must be pursuing a Chinese language-focused major - Must be a second semester college freshman or a college sophomore - Preferred cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher for all college work completed - Must be eligible to be granted a TS/SCI security clearance after successfully completing a background investigation, a Full-scope Polygraph and a Psychological Evaluation - Must be available and in the U.S. for operational and technical interviews and other applicable processing, both in-person and via telephone/internet, between the months of March 2026 and December 2026.

Major Duties

NSA's Cooperative Education (Co-op) Program at Fort Meade, MD offers students exciting, impactful professional work opportunities (with pay and benefits!) to grow their knowledge of the Intelligence Community and federal government while advancing NSA's two primary missions: 1) Collecting, analyzing, and producing foreign signals intelligence; and 2) Providing cybersecurity solutions and guidance to protect critical national infrastructure. These Co-op opportunities are open to students who are pursuing a Chinese language-focused major. Right from the start, you will be involved in real life projects and will have full use of NSA labs, equipment, and advanced technologies. These areas will offer you increasing challenges and satisfying learning experiences, since our mission demands that we work on the cutting edge of technology. The full listing of each Co-op description and details can be found by visiting: Intelligencecareers.gov/nsa/students-and-internships. If unable to open this link, please copy and paste into your browser. Program Details: - 52 weeks of alternating semesters of school and work at NSA - During work tours, students work a 40-hour week - Subsidized student housing and travel entitlements during work tours if over 75 miles from Fort Meade, MD - Tuition reimbursement for one language-related course per semester (up to $2,500) - Although not guaranteed, potential for full time employment following successful completion of the program

How You Will Be Evaluated

***PLEASE NOTE: To be considered for our Co-op positions, you must submit a COMPLETE application package by 28 February. Your application package must include: 1. Unofficial transcript showing academic major and GPA - file name = LAST_FIRST_TRANSCRIPT 2. PDF copy of your current resume - file name = LAST_FIRST_RESUME IMPORTANT: Your application is not considered complete until the 2 items listed above have been emailed to [email protected] in addition to your online application. Any incomplete package will NOT be considered. If your Registrar is capable of sending electronic transcripts, please have them sent directly to you and then email the transcripts to [email protected] as an attachment. Please do not send HTML transcripts accessible via a website or text versions thereof.

Additional Information

Salaries are determined by the percentage of credits completed toward a degree. Each 20% block of credits completed with at least a 3.0 GPA will allow you to be promoted to the next grade. Grades range from GGD-03/05 to GGD-07/01, which equates to $42,063 - $57,736 annually. Due to the rotational nature of the Co-op program, students are paid proportionate to the number of weeks worked in a year and are authorized Leave without Pay during scheduled school rotations. The salaries aforementioned include a locality based comparability payment. Students will receive annual leave, sick leave and paid federal holidays.

How to Apply

Please visit our application site to apply: https://apply.intelligencecareers.gov/job-description/1253572

Required Documents

**VETERANS AND TRANSITIONING SERVICE MEMBERS** Thank you for your service! The National Security Agency (NSA) is part of the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS). All positions at NSA are in the Excepted Service under Title 10, United States Codes (U.S.C.), Section 1601 appointment authority. Veterans' Preference In accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 2005, "DoD Civilian Personnel Management System: Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System Employment and Placement," NSA applies veterans' preference, as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5, U.S.C., to eligible candidates. If you are claiming veterans' preference, you are required to provide acceptable documentation of your preference eligibility upon application. Acceptable documentation includes: - DD-214: "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty," which shows dates of service and discharge under honorable conditions (Copy 4); OR - Certification of Service: A written document on letterhead from the appropriate branch of the armed forces that certifies the service member is expected to be discharged or released from active duty service in the armed forces under honorable conditions not later than 120 days after the date the certification is signed. The certification should include the military service dates, including the expected discharge or release date; AND - Standard Form 15 (SF-15) Application for 10-point Veteran Preference (http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf15.pdf). If you are claiming a service-connected disability of 30 percent or more, the documentation you provide must specifically demonstrate this level of disability; AND - VA Letter of Disability (for 10pt and Sole Survivorship rating) You may obtain a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs reflecting your level of disability for preference eligibility by visiting a VA Regional Office, contacting a VA call center, or online (https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/). **Failure to provide sufficient documentation of veterans' preference eligibility may preclude NSA from identifying you as a preference eligible candidate during the hiring selection process.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the salary for the Cooperative Education Program - Language (Maryland) position at National Security Agency/Central Security Service?
The salary range for this position is $42,063 - $57,736/yr. This is a GG-3/7 position on the General Schedule pay scale. Actual pay may vary based on locality adjustments.
Where is the Cooperative Education Program - Language (Maryland) job located?
This position is located in Fort Meade, Maryland. This is an on-site position.
What qualifications do I need?
Only applicants that meet the following qualifications will be considered: - Must be a U.S. Citizen - Must be pursuing a Chinese language-focused major - Must be a second semester college freshman or a college sophomore - Preferred cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher for all college work completed - Must be eligible to be granted a TS/SCI security c...
How do I apply for this position?
Apply through USAJobs.gov by clicking the 'Apply on USAJobs' button. You'll need a USAJobs account, a federal-style resume, and supporting documents. The deadline is Mar 31, 2026.
Is a security clearance required?
Yes, a Top Secret clearance is required.
What does GG-3/7 mean?
GG-3/7 refers to the General Schedule grade level. Higher grades require more experience and offer higher pay. Visit our GS Pay Scale page for full salary tables by grade and locality.
What benefits do federal employees receive?
Federal employees receive comprehensive benefits including health insurance (FEHB), retirement through FERS, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with government matching, paid annual and sick leave, paid parental leave, life insurance, and student loan repayment programs.