We Are The NRO

For over sixty years, the NRO has developed, acquired, launched and operated the satellites that are the foundation for America’s advantage and strength in space. Using a diversified architecture of spacecraft, NRO collects and delivers the best space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance content on the planet.

Learn more at nro.gov.

Basic Eligibility For A Position With The NRO

• U.S. Citizenship is required
• You must be able to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance
• You will be subject to pre-employment and periodic drug testing
• You will be subject to pre-employment and periodic polygraph examinations

Where You Will Work

Do you enjoy designing, creating, and exploring possibilities? Are you a STEM major looking for an exciting challenge? Does designing complex and innovative overhead reconnaissance systems interest you? Does a career with an “out of this world” mission sound intriguing? If so, the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) is looking for you!

The NRO Cadre is collecting resumes for consideration against current and future opportunities for full performance level (GG 11-13) General Engineers and Technical Analyst, occupational series 801/1501/1301. For more information on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) occupational series, click here.

The current hiring focus is for individuals with the following degrees and experience:

• Aerospace or Astronautical Engineering
• Applied Mathematics
• Applied Physics
• Data or Computer Science (including AI/ML)
• Electrical Engineering
• Industrial or Systems Engineering (including operations research)
• Mechanical Engineering
• Software Engineering (including AGILE development)

The work involves planning, evaluating, and executing programs, which impact national security; and/or extending the existing parameters of technical and scientific knowledge and its application and practice. Oversight responsibilities of the position may require NRO Contracting Officer Technical Representative (COTR) qualification within NRO policy-defined timelines.

This is a full-time position. Your resume may be considered for other positions which your skills and experience may be a good match.

Who May Apply

• This position is open to the public.
• Federal government employees MUST currently be at the grade level or higher as indicated in this announcement. This is NOT a promotion opportunity for current Federal government employees. If selected for the position, Federal government employees will transition laterally at their current grade level and step.
• Federal applicants who exceed the advertised grade may voluntarily request acceptance at the lower grade IAW DoD 1400.25 Volume 2006.
• The NRO is only accepting external applicants for this job announcement. Current NRO Cadre employees should apply internally.
• This position does not qualify for the appointment of a Reemployed Federal Annuitant IAW DoDI 1400.25 Volume 300.

What You Will Be Doing

• Plan, develop, advise, and implement crucial projects and segments of NRO programs
• Prepare and evaluate plans and designs for engineering projects; researches technology trends and patterns; conducts technical analysis; evaluates the value and applicability of new technology; and provides engineering expertise and advice on program planning over a broad range of engineering, architecture or scientific programs
• Manage technical issues and risks to balance cost, schedule and technical performance
• Investigate or develop new design, testing, operational methods and criteria, procedures and/or instructions for engineering, architecture or scientific problems; proposes new technical policies and practices
• Provide recommendations on engineering, architecture or scientific problems, programs, and functions to a broad customer base
• Develop and modify analytic models and methods to meet the requirements of cost, performance, and effectiveness studies and variance analyses
• Gather historical cost, performance, and effectiveness data and establishes relationships between system characteristics and design criteria
• Synthesize science and technology capabilities to create new concepts and prototypes with little supervisory oversight
• Evaluate research and development test results with limited supervisory oversight
• Interact with NRO user community regarding system requirements and/or operational objectives
• Assess effectiveness of operationally fielded capabilities

What You Need

• The General Engineer/Technical Analyst position requires minimum education of a Bachelor’s degree. STEM degrees (e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, computer science, mathematics,) are preferred, however a Bachelor's degree, with a combination of technical coursework, licenses, training, and applicable work experience may be considered.
• Minimum of 3 years of relative experience outlined in this section
• Technical Analyst/Interdisciplinary Technical positions require a combination of education (certifications included) and experience. If qualifying on experience, applicants must have directly applicable experience that demonstrates the possession of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies necessary for immediate success in the position.

Qualifying experience may have been acquired in any public or private sector job, but will clearly demonstrate past experience in the application of the particular competencies/knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully perform and is typically in or directly related to the duties of the position as described above. Experience must be reflected in your resume.

Applicants submitting a resume that exceeds the two-page limit per OPM Memorandum, “Merit Hiring Plan,” dated May 29, 2025, https://www.opm.gov/chcoc/latest-memos/merit-hiring-plan.pdf will not be eligible for consideration. For more information regarding resume writing, see “Guidance for Applicants on 2-Page Resume” and visit the Resume Help Center.

Other Information

• Overtime Statement: MAY be required to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays.
• Travel Statement: MAY be required to travel in military or commercial aircraft to perform temporary duty assignments.
• Financial Disclosure: MAY be required to file an OGE Form 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, upon appointment and will be required to file annually.
• Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) coded positions: If selected for a DAWIA coded position, the incumbent must meet appropriate certification requirements IAW the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) no later than 36 – 60 months after accepting this position. Individual shall maintain, at a minimum 80 continuous Learning Points every 24 months via the services acquisition management system. DAWIA requirements may be located at the Defense Acquisition University website.
• DAWIA Functional Area/Tier Required:
• • GG-11–12: Engineering and Technical Management/Foundational
  • GG-13: Engineering and Technical Management/Practitioner
• Geographic Mobility Agreement: MAY be subject to directed reassignment as required to address mission effectiveness, and/or career development.
• Information Assurance (IA): Must achieve the appropriate IA certification within six months of assignment.
• Emergency Essential: Certain positions MAY be deemed emergency essential and incumbents must be willing to meet all position requirements.

Location

Various NRO Locations

Salary

This position meets the qualifications for Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS) Targeted Local Market Supplement (TLMS) STEM pay for NRO Cadre employees and candidates as authorized by the office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security’s (OUSD(I&S)). Cadre employees and candidates are eligible to receive STEM pay if they are currently serving in a STEM designated position. Should a Cadre employee or candidate earning STEM pay change positions within the organization, they must be assigned to another STEM qualifying position in order to continue to remain eligible for STEM pay. Otherwise, Cadre employees and Candidates Generally would be transitioned to the DCIPS GG Pay Scale.

For more information on STEM pay, visit https://dcips.defense.gov/Human-Resources/Compensation/

2026 STEM Salary Ranges:

• GG-11: $105,262 - $136,848
• GG-12: $117,753 - $153,082
• GG-13: $132,751 - $172,578

This position is a full performance level DCIPS position. The NRO is accepting applications from U.S. Citizens and current Federal Government employees for this position. To qualify for the position, Federal government employees MUST currently be at the GG 11-13 grade level and may ONLY apply for a lateral reassignment at their current grade level and step. Federal applicants who exceed the advertised grade may voluntarily request acceptance at the lower grade per IAW DoDI 1400.25 Volume 2006.

Hiring Incentives

The NRO may offer hiring incentives and other entitlements at management’s discretion.

Trial Period

All new DCIPS employees will be required to serve a 2-year trial period.

Veterans’ Preference

DoD Components with DCIPS positions apply Veterans’ Preference to preference eligible candidates as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 USC, in accordance with the procedures provided in DoD Instruction 1400.25, Vol 2005, DCIPS Employment and Placement. If you are a veteran claiming veterans’ preference, as defined by section 2108 of Title 5 USC, you must submit documents verifying your eligibility upon request.

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) for federal employees & job applicants

Reasonable Accommodation Policy

Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process should follow the instructions in the job opportunity announcement. For any part of the remaining hiring process, applicants should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

A reasonable accommodation is any change to a job, the work environment, or the way things are usually done that enables an individual with a disability to apply for a job, perform job duties or receive equal access to job benefits.

Under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodations when:

• An applicant with a disability needs an accommodation to have an equal opportunity to apply for a job.
• An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to perform the essential job duties or to gain access to the workplace.
• An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to receive equal access to benefits, such as details, training, and office-sponsored events.

You can request a reasonable accommodation at any time during the application or hiring process or while on the job. Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis. Please send your request to hiring@nro.mil.

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Privacy Act Notice (PL 93-579): We use this information to determine qualifications for employment. This is authorized under Title 5 U.S.C. 3302 and 3361.

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