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Cryptologic Engagement Officer

US National Security Agency/Central Security...
Fort Meade, MD Full Time
POSTED ON 5/12/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 7/12/2026

Summary

Cryptologic Engagement Officers engage with internal and external stakeholders to deliver products; protect assets - for example: make procurements; influence policy; protect, develop and acquire human resources; develop partnerships; and share and receive knowledge.

Learn more about this agency


This job is open to

The public

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Federal employees - Excepted service

Current federal employees whose agencies have their own hiring rules, pay scales and evaluation criteria.

Veterans

Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces or a spouse, widow, widower or parent of a veteran, who may be eligible for derived preference

Individuals with disabilities

Individuals who are eligible under Schedule A.

Duties

Cryptologic Engagement Officers' responsibilities include:

  • Developing, nurturing, and/or negotiating relationships with the Department of War (DoW), Intelligence Community (IC), Industry and foreign partners.
  • Operating in a collaborative and responsive environment, maximizing dynamic partner capabilities.
  • Assessing stakeholder needs and identifying capabilities to address those needs.
  • Providing timely and effective support and information sharing within appropriate legal authorities.
  • Identifying the internal and external politics that impact the work of the organization and responding accordingly.


Requirements

Conditions of employment

  • 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.

Qualifications

The qualifications listed are the minimum acceptable to be considered for the position.

A degree in any field is acceptable. Military training must be at least 18 semester hours of coursework on serving as a liaison or in NSA mission areas.

Relevant experience must include one or more of the following: an area directly related to NSA mission (for example, collection, intelligence, cryptology), NSA/IC/DoW mission support, NSA/IC/DoW inter-agency support, or NSA-relevant industry, academic, or governmental entities.

ENTRY/DEVELOPMENTAL
Entry is with a high school diploma or GED plus 5 years of relevant experience, or an Associate's degree plus 3 years of relevant experience, or military training plus 3 years of relevant experience, or a Bachelor's degree plus 2 years of relevant experience, or a Master's degree plus 1 year of relevant experience, or a Doctoral degree and no experience.

FULL PERFORMANCE
Entry is with a high school diploma or GED plus 7 years of relevant experience, or an Associate's degree plus 5 years of relevant experience, or military training plus 5 years of relevant experience, or a Bachelor's degree plus 3 years of relevant experience, or a Master's degree plus 1 years of relevant experience, or a Doctoral degree and no experience.

SENIOR
Entry is with a high school diploma or GED plus 10 years of relevant experience, or an Associate's degree plus 8 years of relevant experience, or military training plus 8 years of relevant experience, or a Bachelor's degree plus 6 years of relevant experience, or a Master's degree plus 4 years of relevant experience, or a Doctoral degree plus 2 years of relevant experience.

EXPERT
Entry is with a high school diploma or GED plus 13 years of relevant experience, or an Associate's degree plus 11 years of relevant experience, or military training plus 11 years of relevant experience, or a Bachelor's degree plus 9 years of relevant experience, or a Master's degree plus 7 years of relevant experience, or a Doctoral degree plus 5 years of relevant experience.

Education

The qualifications listed are the minimum acceptable to be considered for the position.

A degree in any field is acceptable. Military training must be at least 18 semester hours of coursework on serving as a liaison or in NSA mission areas.

Additional information

Pay: Salary offers are based on candidates' education level and years of experience relevant to the position and also take into account information provided by the hiring manager/organization regarding the work level for the position.

Salary Range: $70,623 - $197,200 (Entry/Developmental, Full Performance, Senior, Expert)
Salary range varies by location, work level, and relevant experience to the position.

Training will be provided based on the selectee's needs and experience.

Benefits: NSA offers a comprehensive benefits package.

Work Schedule: This is a full-time position, Monday - Friday, with basic 8hr/day work requirement between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. (flexible). Some positions may require shift work, weekends, and holidays.

TDY: For some Cryptologic Engagement Officers, occasional to frequent domestic or foreign travel could be required.

DCIPS Trial Period:
If selected for this position, you will be required to serve a two-year DCIPS trial period, unless you are a veterans' preference-eligible employee, in which case you are required to serve a one-year trial period. This trial period runs concurrently with your commitment to the position, if applicable. Before finalizing your appointment at the conclusion of your trial period, NSA will determine whether your continued employment advances the public interest. This decision will be based on factors such as your performance and conduct; the Agency's needs and interests; whether your continued employment would advance the Agency's organizational goals; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

If you do not receive certification for continued employment, you should receive written notice prior to the end of your trial period that your employment will be terminated and the effective date of such termination.


Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.


How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

The ideal candidate is someone with a desire for continual learning and who possesses strong communication (oral and written), problem-solving, analytic, interpersonal skills, and is:

  • Customer and results oriented.
  • Able to negotiate with and influence others.
  • Able to build relationships across the Agency and with external stakeholders, as appropriate.
  • Able to work effectively (independently and/or within teams) across functional areas in a collaborative environment.
  • Able to take action in highly complex situations.
  • Detail-oriented.
  • Able to manage multiple tasks with competing timelines and deliverables.
  • Able to identify, manage and resolve conflicts and disagreements in a constructive manner.
  • Accountable.
  • Adaptable.

Preferred qualifications for one of the Cryptologic Engagement Officer focus areas include the following:

  • 3 years of experience supporting Joint, Service and Inter-Agency planning processes (CONPLANs, OPLANs, Campaign Plans) and/or planning processes that support the Joint Exercise Life Cycle (JELC) in order to meet Command, Service, and Agency training objectives.
  • Broad knowledge and understanding of structure, functions, capabilities, and products related to assigned Combatant Commands (CCMD) or military units.
  • Experience supporting Joint, Service and Inter-Agency processes in order to understand and support the Joint Exercise Life Cycle (JELC) including exercise execution, to successfully meet the CCMD or military service training objectives.
  • Must have the ability to communicate effectively with individuals (military and civilian) of higher grade/rank. Experience in support to military operations and a general knowledge of support to CCMDs is helpful, but not mandatory. New employees will undergo a training program to set them up for success in the job.

Required Documents

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.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.


How to Apply

To apply, please visit: https://apply.intelligencecareers.gov/job-description/1257477


Agency contact information

NSA POC
Phone
1-844-424-4737
Email
intelcareers@nsa.gov
Address
NSA External Hiring
9800 Savage Road
Fort Meade, MD 20755
US

Next steps

To apply, please visit: https://apply.intelligencecareers.gov/job-description/1257477


Overview

Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
05/11/2026 to 05/13/2026
Salary
$70,623 - $197,200 per year
Pay scale & grade
GG 9 - 15
Location
Few vacancies in the following location:
Fort Meade, MD
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
Yes—You may qualify for reimbursement of relocation expenses in accordance with agency policy.
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
None
Job family (Series)
  • 0132 Intelligence
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Sensitive Compartmented Information
Drug test
Yes
Position sensitivity and risk
Critical-Sensitive (CS)/High Risk
Trust determination process
  • National security
Financial disclosure
Yes
Bargaining unit status
No
Announcement number
1257477
Control number
868800600

Salary : $70,623 - $197,200

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