Do you have a passion for strengthening national security? Are you looking for an opportunity to make a difference? Work with the experts in National Reconnaissance Office student programs!
The NRO is a member of the Intelligence Community and is the Department of Defense agency responsible for developing, acquiring, launching, and operating the nation’s most sophisticated and capable intelligence satellites. For more than 60 years, NRO has been protecting the United States, its citizens and its allies with space-based intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. Today, NRO’s paid student internship program is developing the next generation of space leaders. NRO offers high-achieving undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to gain real-world experience in positions related to their field of study. They work alongside professionals to support meaningful projects that directly contribute to the NRO mission.
The NRO currently offers the following student programs:
- NRO Cadre Undergraduate and Graduate Student Internship Program
- SMART Scholarship Program
- Military Programs and ROTC NRO Summer Internship Program
For more information, review our student internship program overviews, application instructions, and basic eligibility requirements below.
Summer 2024 NRO Internship Program is currently accepting applications.
Application Instructions:
1. Visit www.nro.gov, select the "Careers and Internships" drop down, and select "NRO Apply Now" to visit the "Apply Now" page.
2. Scroll down to access the "Current Open NRO Positions" field and search for or type "Summer 2024 Cadre Student Internship Program" job announcement and select Search.
3. Scroll to the bottom and select the "Apply Now" button.
4. Complete all required application fields and select the "submit application" button to apply.
Student Programs Overview
NRO Cadre Undergraduate and Graduate Student Internship Program
The NRO Cadre Undergraduate and Graduate Student Internship Program provides extraordinary training, mentoring, and career development opportunities for high-achieving undergraduate and graduate students to support the NRO's national space mission. Interns gain real-world experience in a variety of functional areas while working alongside professionals at NRO Headquarters in Chantilly, VA or ground stations located at Fort Belvoir, VA, White Sands Missile Range, NM, and Buckley Air Force Base, CO. It is a paid, 10-week program from June to August. In addition, there may be opportunities to work during the school year, e.g. winter and spring break, and during subsequent summers based on mission requirements, continued eligibility, and the student's availability. This internship provides the opportunity for students to transition to the NRO Developmental Career Path Program upon graduation.
Applicants Must:
- Be enrolled in a full-time degree program at an accredited college or university
- Undergraduates must have a minimum of 24 credit hours prior to the start of the internship
- Be able to obtain a TS/SCI security clearance, complete with background investigation, drug test, and polygraph
Application Process:
The NRO Internship Program is competitive; if you are not offered a position for a given year, we recommend you re-apply in subsequent years. If you are selected for consideration, NRO recruiters will contact you via phone or email. Please note, emails from NRO recruiters will have a “.mil” extension. To ensure receipt of these emails, please check your email spam filter settings or spam folder. Qualified individuals will receive an invitation to complete a virtual interview via HireVue, a digital interviewing platform. Selected applicants will receive a Tentative Job Offer.
SMART Scholarship Program
The Ronald V. Dellums Memorial Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation, or SMART) scholarship is for undergraduate and graduate students in one of 24 academic disciplines. Eligible disciplines include aerospace/aeronautical engineering, biomedical engineering, biosciences, chemical engineering, chemistry, civil engineering, cognitive/neural/behavioral sciences, computer science and engineering, cybersecurity, data sciences and analytics, electrical engineering, environmental sciences, geosciences, industrial and systems engineering, information sciences, material science and engineering, mechanical engineering, naval architecture and ocean engineering, nuclear engineering, oceanography, operations research, physics, and software engineering.
The SMART Scholarship Program is an all-encompassing option that provides full tuition, an annual stipend, book and health allowance, experienced mentorship, summer internship opportunities, and guaranteed employment at a Department of Defense sponsoring facility, such as NRO.
Applicants Must:
- Be a U.S. Citizen
- Be 18 years old or older by the completion of the student's first semester
- Be pursuing a degree at an accredited university in one of the 24 disciplines with at least one year remaining prior to graduation
- Have and maintain at least a 3.0 GPA
- Be able to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance
Military Service and ROTC Summer Internship Program
Established in 2003, the Military Service Academies and ROTC NRO Summer Internship Program is a six-week program designed to train and educate United States Service Academy cadets and midshipman (sophomores and juniors) and Reserve Officers Training Corps students (sophomores, juniors, and seniors) who are pursuing technical degrees related the NRO’s mission, vision, and goals. This program provides cadets and midshipmen with exposure to the NRO’s operations and mission, real-world technical research, and the Intelligence Community.
Application Process:
Applications and flyers are emailed to the U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Military Academy, and Air Force and Navy ROTC points of contact informing them that the NRO will be accepting applications. Service Academy students must provide their application through their department head. ROTC students should submit applications to InternPrograms@nro.mil. Applications will be accepted in the spring/summer for the following summer. The NRO Student Internship Program Office will confirm receipt with either the Service Academy POC or the student after the application has been received.
General Requirements
Those applying to any NRO student opportunity must:
- Be a U.S. citizen
- Be suitable for Federal employment, determined by a background investigation
- Be able to obtain and hold a TS/SCI security clearance, including polygraph
- Have favorable results on a pre-employment drug test
- Be enrolled full-time in an undergraduate or graduate degree program at an accredited university (undergraduates must have completed a minimum of 24 credit hours)
- Provide an official transcript from the academic institution reflecting a minimum GPA meeting the requirements of each respective Intern program
- Be available for an interview and other applicable processing between July and November
- Be available and geographically located near NRO Headquarters in Chantilly, VA or ground stations, for the 10-week summer program
- Register with the Selective Service System, if the student is male, over 18 years of age, and born after December 31, 1959
Policy on Drug Use
To be considered for NRO employment, applicants generally must not have used illegal drugs or misused prescription drugs within the last 12 months. Although the legalization of marijuana has occurred under certain state laws, the NRO follows federal statute and prohibits the use of illegal drugs, including marijuana.
Benefits Information
The NRO Student Internship Program offers various benefits to students including:
- Paid internships
- Paid time off (eligibility based on appointment term)
- Education and training
- Health and fitness facility
- Health services
- Credit union