The High School Work Study (HSWS) Program is currently a highly competitive program designed for high school students who plan to participate in a paid part-time internship during their senior year. Students have the opportunity to gain work experience in business, computer, engineering, manufacturing, construction, intelligence analysis aide, and Chinese language.
Summary
The High School Work Study (HSWS) Program is currently a highly competitive program designed for high school students who plan to participate in a paid part-time internship during their senior year. Students have the opportunity to gain work experience in business, computer, engineering, manufacturing, construction, intelligence analysis aide, and Chinese language.
The National Security Agency's (NSA) High School Work Study (HSWS) Program application is open only to high school juniors who are enrolled in Business, Computers, Engineering, Manufacturing, Construction, Chinese courses, and who plan to participate in a school-sponsored Work Experience Program during their senior year.
**Program is subject to change**
APPLICATION INFORMATION:
To apply, students must check with their High School Work Experience Coordinator to determine the school's application process as well as specific course requirements for their school.
All applicants and employees are subject to random drug testing in accordance with Executive Order 12564. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a security background investigation and polygraph.
Qualifications
- Must be 16 years of age by 31 December 2025.
- Must be eligible to be granted a Security Clearance.
- Must be a U.S Citizen
- Unweighted GPA of 2.5 or higher is preferred
- Must be a High School Junior
- Must have reliable transportation
- Must complete at least two course in desired field of study prior to the completion of the junior year.
- Students interested in the HSWS Program at Fort Meade, Maryland must reside within commuting distance of this location.
**ATTENTION**: Applicants are not guaranteed to be placed in the position/area they select. The HSWS Program Manager will review the application materials (to include resume and transcript) and will make the final determination as to which position best utilizes the applicant's skills.
Additional information
Students will be on a Grade and Step Scale. All work studies are a Grade 01 Step 01. High School Work Study students are on a part-time schedule and make approximately $15.00 per hour (in Maryland).
Students will earn Annual Leave and Sick Leave at a rate of one hour of Annual Leave and one hour of Sick Leave for every twenty hours worked.
Students are to work a Monday - Friday work schedule. All students must work a minimum of 4 hours each day, 5 days a week, Monday through Friday. Report times are between the hours of 10:30 am and 12:30 pm with core work hours from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm. The maximum number of hours a student may work per week is 32 hours.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Online applications must be submitted by 11:59PM on September 30, 2025. Applications received after the deadline, as well as incomplete packets, will not be considered.
Students must also submit the following material via email to HSWS@uwe.nsa.gov by 11:59PM September 30, 2025:
(1) One Student Evaluation form (please email HSWS@uwe.nsa.gov to request form or contact your guidance counselor)
(2) Official transcript from High School, which MUST include their junior year work in progress courses for both first and second semester.
(3) Resume- Must include the relevant courses completed or in progress as well as the position to which you are applying.
Students must submit all required documents (resume, official transcript, student evaluation) in one email to HSWS@uwe.nsa.gov. Please do not submit as Google doc links.
Early Acceptance Incentive Applications are accepted 1 September - 30 September 2025, however, selections for this program are made on a rolling basis and applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as practical to allow sufficient time for review and security clearance processing.
You may call NSA Washington's HSWS Office at (410) 854-4592 for specific questions regarding the program. To apply for this position, please click the 'Apply' button located at the top right of this posting. After completing the application for the first time, or reviewing previously entered information, and clicking the 'Submit' button, you will receive a confirmation email. Please ensure your spam filters are configured to accept emails from noreply@intelligencecareers.gov.
Please note that you may be asked a series of questions depending on the position you apply for. Your responses will be used as part of the screening process of your application and will assist in determining your eligibility for the position. Be sure to elaborate on experiences in your resume. Failure to provide the required information or providing inaccurate information will result in your application not being considered for this position. Only those applicants who meet the qualifications for the position will be contacted to begin employment processing.
U.S. Citizenship is required for all applicants. NSA is an equal opportunity employer and abides by applicable employment laws and regulations. All applicants and employees are subject to random drug testing in accordance with Executive Order 12564. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a security background investigation and polygraph. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to applicants with disabilities during the application and hiring process where appropriate.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
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.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
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.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
