Federal

Design Engineer for High Performance Computing - Mid to Experienced Level (Maryland)

๐Ÿ“ Fort Meade, Maryland GG-11/14 $105,262 - $192,764/yr
Posted: Apr 1, 2026 Deadline: Apr 15, 2026 (Closes in 11 days days left)

About This Position

As an Engineering and Physical Science professional, you will use your skills to create the systems and tools that will be used to enhance the operation of intelligence.

You will advise, administer and perform scientific projects, such as planning, designing, and constructing specialized equipment, and ensuring adherence to sound engineering and scientific standards and principles.

Qualifications

FULL PERFORMANCE With a degree in Engineering, entry is with a Bachelor's degree plus 3 years of relevant experience, or a Master's degree plus 1 year of relevant experience, or a Doctoral degree and no experience. With a degree in either (1) Physics or Astronomy from an accredited college or university or (2) a relevant professional technical field (for example, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, geology), entry is with a Bachelor's degree plus 3 years of relevant experience, or a Master's or Doctoral degree plus 1 year of relevant experience. Relevant experience must be in one or more of the following: digital equipment design, assembling computers, electronic design automation (EDA) tools, hardware description language (HDL), or printed circuit board (PCB).

SENIOR Entry is with a Bachelor's degree plus 7 years of relevant experience, or a Master's degree plus 5 years of relevant experience, or a Doctoral degree plus 3 years of relevant experience. Degree must be in either (1) professional Engineering, (2) Physics or Astronomy from an accredited college, or (3) a relevant professional technical field (for example, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, geology). Relevant experience must be in one or more of the following: digital equipment design, assembling computers, electronic design automation (EDA) tools, hardware description language (HDL), or printed circuit board (PCB).

At least one year of project management experience OR project management certification (for example, DAWIA, PMP) is also required.

Major Duties

With the ever-increasing technological complexities in the world of supercomputers, we need talented computer and electrical engineers to be part of our team architecting, designing and verifying the next generation of high performance computing solutions (HPCS) that will support of our mission. Our goal is to provide supercomputers of the highest quality to ensure the success of the NSA and its partners. The areas of responsibility may include one or more of the following: - Accelerating application performance using Register Transfer Level (RTL) design - Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) firmware development and integration - RTL design closure using logic simulation, functional verification, synthesis, and timing analysis - Printed Circuit Board (PCB) logic design, simulation and test - PCB layout - Signal Integrity / Power Integrity - Commercial systems acquisition and contracting - Create and maintain documentation on technical information - Operate specialized scientific and technical equipment - Attend conferences and communicate with people in a particular technical field to keep abreast of new technologies and information - Conduct research including studies, experiments, and investigations - Research emerging technologies for application(s) within the Agency - Serve as a subject matter expert to support research and development efforts - Work with customers to clarify their needs and to determine how their needs can be met - Modeling and simulation to evaluate design alternatives

Education

The qualifications listed are the minimum acceptable to be considered for the position. For all of the below degrees, if program is not ABET accredited, it must include specified coursework.* *Specified coursework includes courses in differential and integral calculus and 5 of the following 18 areas: (a) statics or dynamics, (b) strength of materials/stress-strain relationships, (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics, (d) thermodynamics, (e) electromagnetic fields, (f) nature and properties of materials/relating particle and aggregate structure to properties, (g) solid state electronics, (h) microprocessor applications, (i), computer systems, (j) signal processing, (k) digital design, (l) systems and control theory, (m) circuits or generalized circuits, (n) communication systems, (o) power systems, (p) computer networks, (q) software development, (r) Any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, or soil mechanics.

How You Will Be Evaluated

The ideal candidate is someone with excellent problem-solving, communication, and interpersonal skills who is: - Motivated - Creative - Able to work effectively across several different functional areas in a collaborative environment - Well-organized and able to handle multiple assignments - Customer service and requirements focused - Detail oriented Knowledge and experience in one or more of the following is desired: - Concepts, theories, and methods for designing, analyzing, testing, and verifying large scale computational and data storage systems - Translate conceptual designs into technical specifications - Designing digital logic (e.g., FPGAs, ASICs) - Experience using Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools - Unified Verification Methodology (UVM) - Applying engineering principles to design and layout PCBs - Firmware development for configuring and controlling hardware devices - Evaluate information in technical documents to understand its importance and significance - Operate specialized scientific and technical equipment - Applied Cryptography and Mathematics - Programming Languages (C, C++, OpenCL, Perl, Python, TCL) - Hardware description languages (VHDL, Verilog, SystemVerilog) - Computer System Architecture and Design - Computer Networks and Security - CPU and GPU processor architectures

Additional Information

Pay: Salary offers are based on candidates' education level and years of experience relevant to the position and also take into account information provided by the hiring manager/organization regarding the work level for the position. Salary Range: $105,262 - $192,764 (Full Performance, Senior) Salary range varies by location, work level, and relevant experience to the position. Training will be provided based on the selectee's needs and experience.

Benefits: NSA offers a comprehensive benefits package. Work Schedule: This is a full-time position, Monday - Friday, with basic 8hr/day work requirement between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. (flexible).

How to Apply

https://apply.intelligencecareers.gov/job-description/1255984

Required Documents

The National Security Agency (NSA) is part of the DoD Intelligence Community Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS). All positions in the NSA are in the Excepted Services under 10 United States Codes (USC) 1601 appointment authority. DoD Components with DCIPS positions apply Veterans' Preference to eligible candidates as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 USC, in accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 2005, DCIPS Employment and Placement.

If you are a veteran claiming veterans' preference, as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 U.S.C., you may be asked to submit documents verifying your eligibility.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the salary for the Design Engineer for High Performance Computing - Mid to Experienced Level (Maryland) position at National Security Agency/Central Security Service?
The salary range for this position is $105,262 - $192,764/yr. This is a GG-11/14 position on the General Schedule pay scale. Actual pay may vary based on locality adjustments.
Where is the Design Engineer for High Performance Computing - Mid to Experienced Level (Maryland) job located?
This position is located in Fort Meade, Maryland. This is an on-site position.
What qualifications do I need?
FULL PERFORMANCE With a degree in Engineering, entry is with a Bachelor's degree plus 3 years of relevant experience, or a Master's degree plus 1 year of relevant experience, or a Doctoral degree and no experience. With a degree in either (1) Physics or Astronomy from an accredited college or university or (2) a relevant professional technical f...
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 Apr 15, 2026.
Is a security clearance required?
Yes, a Top Secret clearance is required.
What does GG-11/14 mean?
GG-11/14 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.