NSA's development programs help employees enhance their skills and improve their understanding of a specific discipline. The programs are generally three years long and feature rotational tours throughout the Agency. Designed for entry to mid-level employees, development program participants are afforded the opportunity to receive tailored training, often with a cohort, and multiple assignments across Agency Directorates to develop skills and experience to ground their career at the NSA.
Summary
NSA's development programs help employees enhance their skills and improve their understanding of a specific discipline. The programs are generally three years long and feature rotational tours throughout the Agency. Designed for entry to mid-level employees, development program participants are afforded the opportunity to receive tailored training, often with a cohort, and multiple assignments across Agency Directorates to develop skills and experience to ground their career at the NSA.
**Applicants selected for interview as a result of this ad will be invited to attend an in-person interview event. Please apply to this ad only if you are available to attend an in-person interview.**
NSA's mission requires persistent engagement to anticipate and understand complex threats in real-time, on a global scale. Our Computer Scientists face technical challenges well beyond the wildest imaginations of most people. NSA's Computer Science community creates novel, cutting-edge solutions that advance science and underpin every aspect of our foreign intelligence and cybersecurity missions. Solving these extraordinary problems provides tremendous benefit to our Nation.
NSA's development programs help employees enhance their skills and improve their understanding of a specific discipline. The programs are generally three years long and feature rotational tours throughout the Agency. Designed for entry to mid-level employees, development program participants are afforded the opportunity to receive tailored training, often with a cohort, and multiple assignments across Agency Directorates to develop skills and experience to ground their career at the NSA.
Applicants will be considered for the Cryptanalytic Computer Network Operations Development Program (C2DP).
For additional information on these development programs please visit:
For any questions regarding the C2DP, please email C2DP@nsa.gov.
As an NSA computer science development program participant your responsibilities may include:
- creating analytic applications that scale across multiple, very large, data sets from disparate sources - leveraging and integrating open source, commercial off-the-shelf, and government developed software
- analyzing user/customer requirements related to software and/or software system design
- building software prototypes
- designing, developing, and debugging software applications
- troubleshooting and debugging computer code
- applying mathematical or computational methods and lines of reasoning to complex software systems
- identifying target communications within the global network
- designing and optimizing algorithms, data structures, modeling, and analytics to solve real-world scientific problems
- solving cryptanalytic, high-performance computing, and computer network problems
- leading new advances in computer science, such as:
- microprocessor-based advances
- beyond the horizon supercomputers
- signals processing (including analog control)
- user interfaces
- deep learning
- cybersecurity
- design and implementation of encryption
- advanced algorithms
- detecting, identifying, and evaluating vulnerabilities in cyberspace systems and/or networks
- developing software and/or hardware exploitation capabilities that enable collection of foreign intelligence from target networks and systems
- analyzing sophisticated malware to thwart cyber-attacks and identify new threats
- developing methods and applications for tools to exploit and analyze computer systems
** Please upload a copy of your transcripts from all schools attended, prior to applying for this position. Unofficial transcripts are fine at this stage. Providing a copy of your transcripts is essential since the minimum qualifications for this position require a specific degree that demonstrates a concentration of at least one programming course and four upper-level mathematics courses (Calculus and above).
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
The qualifications listed are the minimum acceptable to be considered for the position.
Degree must be in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, Mathematics (including Applied Math); or a related field (e.g., other Engineering or Math) with at least one programming and at least four upper-level math classes (Calculus and above).
Relevant experience must be in a computer science area (i.e., theoretical or applied), designing/developing/using/evaluating mathematic models, methods, and/or techniques (e.g., algorithm development) to study issues and solve problems, engineering (electrical or computer), cryptanalysis, computer network operations and/or high performance computing.
ENTRY/DEVELOPMENTAL
Entry is with a Bachelor's degree and no experience. An Associate's degree plus 2 years of relevant experience may be considered for individuals with in-depth experience that is clearly related to the position.
Education
The qualifications listed are the minimum acceptable to be considered for the position.
Degree must be in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Software Engineering, Mathematics (including Applied Math); or a related field (e.g., other Engineering or Math) with at least one programming and at least four upper-level math classes (Calculus and above).
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: $87,362 - $123,388 (Entry/Developmental)
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).
DCIPS Trial Period:
If selected for this position, you will be required to serve a two-year DCIPS trial period, unless you are a veterans' preference-eligible employee, in which case you are required to serve a one-year trial period. This trial period runs concurrently with your commitment to the position, if applicable. Before finalizing your appointment at the conclusion of your trial period, NSA will determine whether your continued employment advances the public interest. This decision will be based on factors such as your performance and conduct; the Agency's needs and interests; whether your continued employment would advance the Agency's organizational goals; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
If you do not receive certification for continued employment, you should receive written notice prior to the end of your trial period that your employment will be terminated and the effective date of such termination.
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.
The ideal candidate is someone who thrives on solving hard problems, has excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and is able to:
- work independently as well as in a team environment to build solutions
- handle multiple assignments
- synthesize information to solve complex problems
- apply knowledge of data structures and algorithms to software engineering problems
- develop, diagnose, and operate complex computer systems
- identify customer needs and validate product design
Additionally, the ideal candidate is someone with knowledge and experience in one or more of the following:
- programming and scripting experience (e.g., C, C++, Java, Assembly, Python, Perl, Ruby, Bash, Node.js, Spark, Puppet, SALT, KAFKA, HADOOP, VHDL, Verilog)
- building user facing services, middleware, and backend systems
- full-stack development
- protocol analysis (e.g. Wireshark, tcpdump)
- data spaces, data modeling, data analysis, storage design, and administration
- simulation/model development & prototyping
- information retrieval, machine learning, artificial intelligence, statistics and analytics
- hardware and software vulnerability analysis
- software reverse engineering/interactive debugging tools (e.g., Ghidra, IDA Pro, Ollydbg, gdb)
- hardware reverse engineering tools (e.g., JTAG, Oscilloscopes)
- software development life-cycle (design, develop, implementation, debug, testing)
- kernel and device driver development
- network/socket programming
- embedded systems development
- operating systems
- computational science
- algorithm analysis and design
- reverse engineering
- cryptanalysis
- high performance computing
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.
