Fresh Listing

Posted: February 4, 2026 (7 days ago)

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Cooperative Education Program - Language (Maryland)

National Security Agency/Central Security Service

Department of Defense

Fresh

Salary

$42,063 - $57,736

per year

Closes

March 31, 2026More DOD jobs →

Job Description

Summary

This is a paid co-op program at the NSA for college students majoring in Chinese language, where you'll alternate between school and hands-on work in intelligence and cybersecurity to help protect national security.

You'll get real project experience using advanced tech, plus benefits like housing support and tuition help for language classes. It's ideal for motivated sophomores who are U.S.

citizens interested in government work and fluent in or studying Chinese.

Key Requirements

  • U.S. Citizenship
  • Pursuing a Chinese language-focused major
  • Second semester college freshman or college sophomore
  • Preferred cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • Eligible for TS/SCI security clearance, including background investigation, full-scope polygraph, and psychological evaluation
  • Available for interviews and processing in the U.S. from March to December 2026

Full Job Description

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.

Only applicants that meet the following qualifications will be considered: - Must be a U.S.

Citizen - Must be pursuing a 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 - 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 March 2026 and December 2026. Major Duties:

NSA's Cooperative Education (Co-op) Program at Fort Meade, MD 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.

These Co-op opportunities are open to students who are 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: - 52 weeks of alternating semesters of school and work at NSA - During work tours, students work a 40-hour week - Subsidized student housing and travel entitlements during work tours if over 75 miles from Fort Meade, MD - Tuition reimbursement for one language-related course per semester (up to $2,500) - Although not guaranteed, potential for full time employment following successful completion of the program

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Posted on USAJOBS: 2/4/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 2/5/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: 1253572