NSA Summer 2027 Internship Program - Research Experience Student Program - Entry

National Security Agency; Fort Meade (MD); On-site; USD 100,000 - 123,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Housing accommodations

Travel entitlements

Paid federal holidays

12-week internship

Mentor support

Job summary

NSA Summer Internship Programs at Fort Meade, MD offer a 12-week, paid internship designed for STEM students to work directly with NSA researchers on real-world, mission-critical problems in cybersecurity, signals intelligence, and data science. The program emphasizes hands-on research in a state-of-the-art environment.

Open to undergraduates through PhD candidates, participants gain mentorship, professional growth, and potential pathways to full-time roles, with opportunities for housing or

Qualifications

• U.S. citizen status required for program access.
• Enrolled in a degree-seeking program (undergrad/grad/doctorate) during application.
• Preferred GPA 3.0 or higher.
• Eligible for TS/SCI clearance after background processing.

Responsibilities

• Participate in a 12-week RESP internship under NSA researchers.
• Contribute to projects in cybersecurity, SIGINT, and data science.
• Collaborate with mentors and document findings for publication-ready results.

Skills

U.S. Citizenship

Security clearance eligibility

High GPA (3.0+)

STEM student

Tools

Data Science

Cybersecurity

Signals Intelligence

Job description

NSA has received approval from the Department of War to hire for specific critical positions during the hiring freeze, per DoW memorandum 'Immediate Civilian Hiring Freeze for Alignment with National Defense Priorities' dated 28 February.

Job Description

NSA Summer 2027 Internship Program - Research Experience Student Program - Entry - Maryland

Fort George G. Meade Complex, MD

Pay Plan: GG , Grade: 04/1 to 09/10

Open: 2026-08-15, Close: 2026-09-05

Job Posting: 1261591

Responsibilities

The NSA Summer Internship Programs at our Fort Meade, MD location offers students exciting, 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: 1) Collecting, analyzing, and producing foreign signals intelligence; and 2) Providing cybersecurity solutions and guidance to protect critical national infrastructure. These summer internship opportunities are open to students who are pursuing education in a variety of degree programs.

Research Experience Student Program: Calling All Innovators! Are you a college student majoring in STEM fields, including data science? Ready to make a real impact this summer? Look no further than the Research Experience Student Program (RESP) at R4! What is RESP? RESP is a 12-week summer program designed to give students like you the opportunity to work directly with NSA researchers on real‑world, mission‑critical problems. You'll be immersed in a state‑of‑the‑art laboratory environment, gaining hands‑on research experience in areas such as cybersecurity, signals intelligence, cyber operations, and data science. Why Choose RESP? Real‑World Impact: Work on projects that matter, contributing to the NSA's mission. Expert Collaboration: Collaborate with recognized intelligence experts who are tackling the emerging technological challenges of NSA. State‑of‑the‑Art Facilities: Access to cutting‑edge technology and resources. Career Growth: Successful students may have the opportunity to continue the experience through successive summers, gaining further exposure to a variety of projects and organizations. Who Should Apply? College students majoring in STEM fields, including but not limited to: Cybersecurity, Computer Network Operations (CNO), Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, Physics, Information Technology. Our Goal: To show you that NSA is a fantastic place to work because of its mission, challenging problems, and exceptional people. We hope to attract new talent to NSA for full‑time positions. Don't miss this unique chance to be part of something extraordinary. Apply to RESP today and take the first step towards a future in cutting‑edge research and innovation!

Job Summary

Join students from across the country and lend your knowledge to national security 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 freshman up to Ph.D. students depending on internship requirements. These 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.

Qualifications

To be accepted into the NSA Summer Internship - Research Experience Summer Program candidates- 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 the months of October 2026 and April 2027***PLEASE NOTE: You may be required to complete an Unproctored Internet Testing (UIT) requirement measuring cognitive ability, motivation, and English proficiency.

Benefits

• 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 in excess of 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 participating in the program are highly encouraged to bring a vehicle. Carpooling with other students MAY be available, but is NOT guaranteed.
• Participation in agency‑wide extracurricular programs.

Equal Opportunity & Eligibility

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.

NSA is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants with disabilities during the application and hiring process.

DCIPS Disclaimer

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.