Career Fields

Thank you for your interest in a career with NRO!

Join NRO for a rewarding career and become part of the exciting mission of ensuring our nation's security. Start exploring NRO career opportunities by familiarizing yourself with NRO's career fields described below.

Click here to see NRO's job listings and start the path toward a rewarding career in national security.


Acquisition

Manages cost, schedule, and performance of major contracts to develop, deliver, and sustain overhead reconnaissance systems, including spacecraft hardware, ground and communication components, and mission software applications.

Provides authoritative recommendations, briefings, and other formal and informal feedback and status to management on all aspects of program status, contractor technical performance, and for all significant decision points.

Plans, organizes, and coordinates activities with functional specialists, including contracting, engineering, manufacturing program control, configuration/data management, test, and logistics and operations support.

​​Example jobs in this career field include:

  • Program Management
  • Project Management

 

Contracts

Ensures that contractual baselines meet with Federal and NRO laws, regulations, policies, and standards. In coordination with Acquisition Program Management, develops and implements contractual direction on all contracts within the NRO.

Provides expertise and oversight of full lifecycle contracting. This role includes providing professional acquisition support and serving as a business advisor to the technical, financial, legal, and security team members at the NRO.

​​Example jobs in this career field include:

  • Contract Management
  • Contract Administration

 

Financial Management

Supports the NRO in formulation and execution of the NRO budget. Works with program management to ensure program closure.

Advises on NRO programs or major systems acquisitions (MSAs) as well as planning or performing analytical work relating to various phases of the budgetary process. These responsibilities include analyzing program and/or acquisition data through qualitative and quantitative techniques, identifying and evaluating options to solve program budget issues, certifying funding availability, providing regulatory and procedural guidance, and providing overall financial management support to the NRO’s directorates and offices.

Example jobs in this career field include:

  • Budget Formulation
  • Budget Execution
  • Accounting
  • Fiscal Law & Policy
  • Financial Systems
  • Audit Compliance

 

Engineering/Technical

Provides technical expertise in support of acquisition, operations, customer support, launch, and other NRO missions.

Provides expertise on a wide range of technical fields and disciplines, such as program management, research, design, development, integration and test, launch, operations, sustainment, and disposal of innovative overhead intelligence systems for national security. Some of the unique aspects of engineering and operating NRO satellite reconnaissance systems and infrastructure include: working with a large, diverse group of systems developers; leading within a large population of support contractors; and delivery and support to numerous worldwide operating locations.

Example jobs in this career field include:

  • Physical Science
  • Information Technology
  • Engineering
  • Mathematics
  • Program Analysis

 

Security

Develops security threat protection planning and execution for operations across NRO programs and facilities. Provide personnel security services to support all NRO workforce.

Manages and performs the security of the NRO’s programs, data, facilities, and people around the world.

Example jobs in this career field include:

  • Program Security
  • Counterintelligence
  • Polygraph
  • Cyber

 

Mission Support

Encompasses various core functions that enable the successful execution of the NRO mission. Personnel in these functions are experts in their unique disciplines.

Provides expertise in unique disciplines supporting a wide range of functions, such as administrative, equal employment, human resources, logistics, and non-acquisition program management.

Example jobs in this career field include:

  • Equal Employment Opportunity
  • Logistics
  • Facilities Operations
  • Human Resources
  • Office Administration

Requirements for working at the NRO

Those applying to any NRO 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 available for a virtual and/or in-person interview and other applicable processing
  • Register with the Selective Service System if male, over 18 years of age, and born after Dec. 31, 1959
National Reconnaissance Office - Above and Beyond