

Throughout history, women have pioneered the intelligence field. At NSA, we believe that you should love what you do and have time to do what you love.
Our work is challenging and rewarding. To support our workforce professionally, we provide tailored training, mentorship, career development, cross-training opportunities and more.
We also prioritize a healthy work-life balance because our mission runs best when our people are at their best. Ample vacation and sick leave combined with flexible scheduling and wellness initiatives for every season of life are a top priority here.
At NSA, personal and professional satisfaction are not mutually exclusive.
Visit NSA’s Recruitment Schedule page at https://www.intelligencecareers.gov/NSA/events-and-recruiting today to take advantage of upcoming interactive events. Chat with NSA recruiters and subject matter experts to learn about available career opportunities. There is a place for you at NSA!
Geela R. found success at NSA through incredible opportunities and skill development. A key example is the Stokes Educational Scholarship Program, which served as a critical gateway to their career at the NSA as a software engineer. Stokes helps young professionals build technical skills and foster supportive communities. “Of the skills I gained, networking has been an important ability,” Geela says. It has helped them identify exciting challenges across the federal community and connect with mentors who have guided their professional development.
The best advice Geela has received relates to overcoming imposter syndrome, which they experienced when joining the field while starting their undergraduate degree. Initially, they struggled with confidence and questioned their ability to contribute meaningfully to their first team. However, they learned to trust in the knowledge and experience they brought, to speak up when they had questions or ideas, and to advocate for themselves. “Ultimately, the best piece of advice I have ever received was to focus on my individual growth and success rather than comparing my accomplishments to others,” Geela says.
While researching prospective employers shortly before completing her degree in finance, Marissa P. discovered NSA’s core values and knew she wanted to join the agency to make a difference. Moving to Maryland from New York and leaving behind her family and friends was initially challenging. However, she says, “I have met so many amazing people at this agency, ones that I have built ever-lasting friendships with and that’s something to never take for granted.”
To this day, one of the things that has surprised Marissa the most is that, despite the agency’s thousands of people working in various organizations, she continues to encounter many of the same people throughout her career, even those she never expected to see again. “Every new endeavor I have pursued here, I am always pleasantly surprised at how many familiar names I see,” she says.
Marissa’s advice for those joining the agency is to take advantage of everything NSA has to offer. “Just because you have a career in one area, does not mean you can’t dip your toes in something new. NSA encourages diversity tours, so take advantage of trying something new if you think it will benefit your career in the long run,” she says.
After earning a degree in business management with a concentration in human resources, Jasmine T. began her career at the NSA as a corporate action officer. In that role, she quickly learned the importance of having a deep understanding of the organization and being able to respond efficiently to fast-paced, high-stakes situations. Over the years, she transitioned into human resources as a program manager and now serves as a project director in cybersecurity. One of the aspects she values most about the NSA is the agency’s emphasis on career diversity, allowing her to explore various roles and build a broad professional portfolio.
Mentorship has played a pivotal role in Jasmine’s career progression. “My mentors help me with everything from promotion package reviews to cycling class recommendations,” she says. Additionally, she highlights NSA’s After-Hours College tuition assistance Program as her favorite benefit, which allowed her to pursue a master’s degree in business administration –an opportunity she deeply appreciates for the support it provides employees in their continued education.
With over two decades at NSA, Christen S. says, “time has flown by.” She spent her first three years in a development program, rotating through different offices, and receiving on-the-job training and exposure to various NSA missions. During that time, she also received formal classroom training on specific topics, learning alongside a cohort of peers, several of whom became treasured friends over the years.
After Christen completed the program, she decided to take on new roles every few years to tackle different types of technical cyber challenges. She says she even got to “spend four years working overseas, which was an awesome experience both professionally and for my family. It truly goes by quickly when you enjoy what you do, working with awesome teammates and with a sense of purpose.”
Christen currently leads NSA's efforts to discover and exploit vulnerabilities in software and hardware in support of both cybersecurity and foreign intelligence missions. “The work we do is awe-inspiring; some have referred to our team as technical ‘wizards’. It’s an incredible job with meaningful work and outcomes every day,” she says.
When Tori C. was ready for a new career challenge, she leveraged her industry experience and was hired as a recruiter for NSA. In this role, she learned a great deal about the agency, which led to her becoming a human resources generalist. In that capacity, she guided employees through their entire career lifecycle at the NSA, answering questions about benefits, policies and career development. This exposure to various organizations within the agency sparked her desire to engage more directly with NSA’s mission. “I knew who we supported in a general sense, but I wanted to have a personalized feeling for it,” she says.
Tori’s shift from HR to cybersecurity was further validated when her supervisor at the time recognized that Tori had reached a pivotal point in her career. One of Tori’s most formative experiences was a deployment where she maintained a human resource capacity but had a unique "bird’s-eye view" of how NSA’s products directly impacted military operations.
Tori now serves as a division chief for the Architecture and Engineering Department.
Geela R. found success at NSA through incredible opportunities and skill development. A key example is the Stokes Educational Scholarship Program, which served as a critical gateway to their career at the NSA as a software engineer. Stokes helps young professionals build technical skills and foster supportive communities. “Of the skills I gained, networking has been an important ability,” Geela says. It has helped them identify exciting challenges across the federal community and connect with mentors who have guided their professional development.
The best advice Geela has received relates to overcoming imposter syndrome, which they experienced when joining the field while starting their undergraduate degree. Initially, they struggled with confidence and questioned their ability to contribute meaningfully to their first team. However, they learned to trust in the knowledge and experience they brought, to speak up when they had questions or ideas, and to advocate for themselves. “Ultimately, the best piece of advice I have ever received was to focus on my individual growth and success rather than comparing my accomplishments to others,” Geela says.
While researching prospective employers shortly before completing her degree in finance, Marissa P. discovered NSA’s core values and knew she wanted to join the agency to make a difference. Moving to Maryland from New York and leaving behind her family and friends was initially challenging. However, she says, “I have met so many amazing people at this agency, ones that I have built ever-lasting friendships with and that’s something to never take for granted.”
To this day, one of the things that has surprised Marissa the most is that, despite the agency’s thousands of people working in various organizations, she continues to encounter many of the same people throughout her career, even those she never expected to see again. “Every new endeavor I have pursued here, I am always pleasantly surprised at how many familiar names I see,” she says.
Marissa’s advice for those joining the agency is to take advantage of everything NSA has to offer. “Just because you have a career in one area, does not mean you can’t dip your toes in something new. NSA encourages diversity tours, so take advantage of trying something new if you think it will benefit your career in the long run,” she says.
After earning a degree in business management with a concentration in human resources, Jasmine T. began her career at the NSA as a corporate action officer. In that role, she quickly learned the importance of having a deep understanding of the organization and being able to respond efficiently to fast-paced, high-stakes situations. Over the years, she transitioned into human resources as a program manager and now serves as a project director in cybersecurity. One of the aspects she values most about the NSA is the agency’s emphasis on career diversity, allowing her to explore various roles and build a broad professional portfolio.
Mentorship has played a pivotal role in Jasmine’s career progression. “My mentors help me with everything from promotion package reviews to cycling class recommendations,” she says. Additionally, she highlights NSA’s After-Hours College tuition assistance Program as her favorite benefit, which allowed her to pursue a master’s degree in business administration –an opportunity she deeply appreciates for the support it provides employees in their continued education.
With over two decades at NSA, Christen S. says, “time has flown by.” She spent her first three years in a development program, rotating through different offices, and receiving on-the-job training and exposure to various NSA missions. During that time, she also received formal classroom training on specific topics, learning alongside a cohort of peers, several of whom became treasured friends over the years.
After Christen completed the program, she decided to take on new roles every few years to tackle different types of technical cyber challenges. She says she even got to “spend four years working overseas, which was an awesome experience both professionally and for my family. It truly goes by quickly when you enjoy what you do, working with awesome teammates and with a sense of purpose.”
Christen currently leads NSA's efforts to discover and exploit vulnerabilities in software and hardware in support of both cybersecurity and foreign intelligence missions. “The work we do is awe-inspiring; some have referred to our team as technical ‘wizards’. It’s an incredible job with meaningful work and outcomes every day,” she says.
When Tori C. was ready for a new career challenge, she leveraged her industry experience and was hired as a recruiter for NSA. In this role, she learned a great deal about the agency, which led to her becoming a human resources generalist. In that capacity, she guided employees through their entire career lifecycle at the NSA, answering questions about benefits, policies and career development. This exposure to various organizations within the agency sparked her desire to engage more directly with NSA’s mission. “I knew who we supported in a general sense, but I wanted to have a personalized feeling for it,” she says.
Tori’s shift from HR to cybersecurity was further validated when her supervisor at the time recognized that Tori had reached a pivotal point in her career. One of Tori’s most formative experiences was a deployment where she maintained a human resource capacity but had a unique "bird’s-eye view" of how NSA’s products directly impacted military operations.
Tori now serves as a division chief for the Architecture and Engineering Department.
Geela R. found success at NSA through incredible opportunities and skill development. A key example is the Stokes Educational Scholarship Program, which served as a critical gateway to their career at the NSA as a software engineer. Stokes helps young professionals build technical skills and foster supportive communities. “Of the skills I gained, networking has been an important ability,” Geela says. It has helped them identify exciting challenges across the federal community and connect with mentors who have guided their professional development.
The best advice Geela has received relates to overcoming imposter syndrome, which they experienced when joining the field while starting their undergraduate degree. Initially, they struggled with confidence and questioned their ability to contribute meaningfully to their first team. However, they learned to trust in the knowledge and experience they brought, to speak up when they had questions or ideas, and to advocate for themselves. “Ultimately, the best piece of advice I have ever received was to focus on my individual growth and success rather than comparing my accomplishments to others,” Geela says.
NSA is at the forefront of U.S. government cryptology, integrating signals intelligence (SIGINT) and cybersecurity to enhance national and allied advantages. Our mission encompasses computer network operations aimed at securing critical insights and services, ensuring decisive advantages for the nation and our allies.
NSA's cybersecurity initiatives are pivotal in safeguarding U.S. national security systems, particularly within the Defense Industrial Base and enhancing the security of U.S. weaponry. We are committed to advancing cybersecurity through education, research, and career development.
Through foreign signals intelligence (SIGINT), NSA delivers crucial intelligence to U.S. policymakers and military forces. This intelligence, derived from electronic signals and systems used by foreign entities, provides essential insights into the capabilities, actions, and intentions of adversaries worldwide. It supports our efforts to defend the nation, save lives, and advance U.S. objectives and alliances globally.