NSA Summer 2027 Internship Program - Summer Program for Operations Research Technology - Entry

National Security Agency; Fort Meade (MD); On-site; USD 25,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Housing accommodations

Travel entitlements

Paid federal holidays

12-week paid internship

Job summary

NSA in Fort Meade, MD offers the Summer Program for Operations Research Technology (SPORT) internship. These 12-week, paid programs run mid-May to mid-August and are open to undergraduates through Ph.D. students, depending on requirements.

The intern will apply graduate-student skills to Agency problems, lead project development, and present findings to customers and senior leadership. U.S. citizenship and security eligibility are required.

Qualifications

• Must be enrolled in a degree-seeking program (undergraduate, graduate, doctorate) at time of application
• Preferred GPA 3.0 or higher
• Must be eligible for TS/SCI security clearance after background investigation and polygraph
• Must be available for interviews in Oct 2026 to Apr 2027
• Majors include Operations Research, Applied Mathematics, Data Science, AI/ML, Systems/Industrial/Computer Science

Responsibilities

• Lead the technical development of your project and interface with your Agency customer
• Work alongside full-time Operations Research analysts and attend weekly OR seminars
• Present findings directly to your project customer, fellow interns, and Senior Leadership

Education

MS/PhD in Operations Research or related field

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 - Summer Program for Operations Research Technology - 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: 1261521

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. As a Summer Program for Operations Research Technology (SPORT) intern you will apply the technical skills you've learned in graduate school to challenging Agency operational problems. You will be responsible for both leading the technical development of your project and interfacing with your Agency customer. Throughout the summer, you will be working alongside full-time Operations Research analysts and attending weekly seminars on operations research best methods and practices. At the conclusion of the program, you will present your findings directly to your project customer, fellow interns, and Senior Leadership.

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 - Summer Program for Operations Research Technology, 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
• Must be enrolled in and have completed at least one semester of an M.S. or Ph.D. program in a field of study closely related to one or more of the following disciplines:
  • Operations Research
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Modeling and Simulation
  • Data Science and Big Data Analytics
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Systems Engineering
  • Computer Network Engineering
  • Computer Science
  • Management Science
  • Probability and Statistics
  • Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning
• Undergraduate students will not be accepted (Exception: Combined BS/MS is acceptable)****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.

• 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.

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. 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.