Cooperative Education Program - Hawaii

About the role

NSA's Cooperative Education (Co-op) Program offers students exciting, impactful professional work opportunities (with pay and 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.

What you will do

• NSA's Cooperative Education (Co-op) Program at Oahu, HI offers students exciting, impactful and professional work opportunities (with pay and 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.
• This Co-op opportunity is open to students who are majoring in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Cyber Security (technical track) or pursuing a Chinese language focused major.
• Right from the start, you will be involved in real life projects and will have full use of NSA labs, equipment, and advanced technologies.
• These areas will offer you increasing challenges and satisfying learning experiences, since our mission demands that we work on the cutting edge of technology.
• The full listing of each Co-op description and details can be found by visiting: Intelligencecareers.gov/nsa/students-and-internships.
• (If unable to open this link, please copy and paste into your browser).
• Program Details: - Must be a U.S. Citizen - Must be pursuing one of the following majors: Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Cyber Security (technical track) or Chinese Language focused major - Must be a second semester college freshman or a college sophomore - Preferred cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher for all college work completed - 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

Education

- Must be pursuing one of the following majors: Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Cyber Security (technical track) or Chinese Language focused major

How you will be evaluated

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Documents you must provide

• 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.

What to expect next

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Additional information

Salaries are determined by the percentage of credits completed toward a degree. Each 20% block of credits completed with at least a 3.0 GPA will allow you to be promoted to the next grade. Grades range from GGD-03/05 to GGD-07/01 (which can be found at OPM.gov) annually.

Due to the rotational nature of the Co-op program, students are paid proportionate to the number of weeks worked in a year and are authorized Leave without Pay during scheduled school rotations. The salaries aforementioned include a locality based comparability payment. Students will receive annual leave, sick leave and paid federal holidays.

SPECIAL INCENTIVES/BENEFITS: Hawaii enjoys several tangible and intangible quality of life benefits. All assignees currently receive a Cost of Living Allowance (COLA), taxed by the State of Hawaii and exempt from Federal taxation. For calendar year 2026 this percentage is 8.64% and is subject to change an annual basis.