NSA Summer 2027 Internship Program -Summer Intern Program for Science and Technology - Entry - Maryland
About the Role
The NSA Summer Internship Program at Fort Meade, MD offers students impactful professional work opportunities (with pay and limited benefits) to grow their knowledge of the Intelligence Community and federal government while advancing NSA's two primary missions: collecting, analyzing, and producing foreign signals intelligence; and providing cybersecurity solutions and guidance to protect critical national infrastructure. These internships are open to students pursuing a variety of degree programs.
Summer Intern Program for Science and Technology (SIP/ST)
This is a full-time 12-week summer internship program open to college sophomores and juniors concentrating in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, network engineering, software engineering, or telecommunications. Participants work with leading computer scientists and engineers on the nation's toughest cyber problems while enhancing their skills in assignments related to their major. Students work closely with a project mentor on a specific, mission-focused problem in an exciting high-tech environment. Program may be subject to change.
Program Overview
Join students from across the country in one of NSA's over 30 summer internship programs. These 12-week paid programs run from mid-May to mid-August and are open to undergraduate freshmen up to Ph.D. students depending on internship requirements. Internships are open to a wide variety of majors and give students the opportunity to work directly with mission-critical problems and experience the excitement of working in NSA spaces.
Requirements
- Must be a U.S. Citizen
- Must be enrolled in a degree-seeking program (undergraduate, graduate, doctorate) at time of application
- Specific education requirements vary by program
- Preferred cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
- 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 October 2026 and April 2027
- Must be a college sophomore or junior with at least one year remaining, majoring in one of the following degrees:
- Computer Science
- Cyber Security
- Data Science
- Engineering (Computer/Electrical/Network/Software)
- Telecommunications
- Please note: Other majors may be considered, however the majors listed above are highly recommended.
- Please note: You may be required to complete an Unproctored Internet Testing (UIT) requirement measuring cognitive ability, motivation, and English proficiency.
Pay, Benefits, & Schedule
- Students are paid a competitive salary commensurate with their education level.
- All internships are 10–12 weeks during the summer.
- Receive annual leave, sick leave, and paid federal holidays.
- Students who attend school more than 75 miles from Fort Meade, MD are eligible for housing accommodations and travel entitlements of a round-trip airfare ticket to and from school, or mileage reimbursement up to the cost of a government-issued airline ticket.
- Daily transportation to and from work is NOT provided. Students are highly encouraged to bring a vehicle. Carpooling with other students MAY be available, but is NOT guaranteed.
- Participation in agency-wide extracurricular programs.
How to Apply
To apply, click the 'Apply' button located at the top right of the 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: To be considered, you must submit a COMPLETE application package by 5 September at 11:59pm EST. Your application package MUST include:
- Official transcript (unofficial accepted if legible) – file name = LAST_FIRST_TRANSCRIPT
- PDF copy of your current resume – file name = LAST_FIRST_RESUME
Optional: Cover Letter listing your interest in NSA's Summer Internships – file name = LAST_FIRST_COVER
IMPORTANT: Your application is not considered complete until the 2 items listed above have been emailed to SummerInterns@uwe.nsa.gov in addition to your online application. Any incomplete package will NOT be considered.
REMINDER: You could be contacted and/or considered for more than one specific internship. If you apply to multiple internship programs, you only need to submit the required documents to SummerInterns@uwe.nsa.gov one time.
DEADLINE: Applications are accepted 15 August – 5 September 11:59pm EST; however, selections are made on a rolling basis and applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible to allow sufficient time for review and security clearance processing.
CONTACT INFORMATION: If you have questions, contact SummerInterns@uwe.nsa.gov or call 410-854-4726.
Application Narrative Questions
The following four narrative questions provide an opportunity to highlight your dedication to public service for the hiring manager and agency leadership. While your responses are not required and will not be scored, you are encouraged to thoughtfully address each question with a response of 200 words or less. You will be asked to certify that you are using your own words and did not use a consultant or artificial intelligence (AI) such as a large language model (LLM). (Please attach in application.)
- How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal government? Provide a concrete example from professional, academic, or personal experience.
- In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve government efficiency and effectiveness? Provide specific examples where you improved processes, reduced costs, or improved outcomes.
- How would you help advance the President's Executive Orders and policy priorities in this role? Identify one or two relevant Executive Orders or policy initiatives that are significant to you, and explain how you would help implement them if hired.
- How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic, or personal achievements? Provide one or two specific examples, and explain how those qualities would enable you to serve effectively in this position.