Systems Engineer

Interviews for this position are scheduled to take place May 30-31, 2026. Please note that availability during these dates is required for consideration. Alternative interview dates cannot be accommodated due to scheduling constraints. Candidates who advance in the selection process may be invited to participate in an in-person interview if they reside within a 50-mile radius of St. Louis, MO otherwise a virtual interview will be conducted.
Cover Letter
Applicants are not required to submit a cover letter for employment consideration with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. However, a cover letter is recommended. Applicants will have the option to attach a cover letter in the Qualifications - Attachments step of the online application.
Pay Band, Salary Range - Ext
2026 St. Louis Salary:
Band 3 $76,573 - $141,880
Permanent Change in Station
PERMANENT CHANGE IN STATION: PCS expenses are not authorized.
NGA Marketing Message
The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) is the world leader in Geospatial Intelligence. We analyze imagery and data from many sources and incorporate it into visual displays of essential information for use in national defense, homeland security and safety of navigation. The extraordinary talents and skills of our teams of analysts and other professionals are vital to our success as the worldwide provider of GEOINT.
Know the World, Show the Way...from Seabed to Space!
Assignment Description
ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTION: Systems Engineers apply a structured approach to design, develop, implement, maintain, and optimize systems, infrastructures and processes across the lifecycle. They capture requirements and translate them into capabilities across the GEOINT enterprise. They test, verify, and validate systems and services to meet mission needs. Systems Engineers partner with multi-disciplinary stakeholders to document, communicate, and deliver robust and compliant solutions. They also coordinate the integration of systems and services into the enterprise architecture while overseeing deployment and sustainment.
Promotion Opportunity
PROMOTION OPPORTUNITY: Promotion opportunities allow applicants at all band levels to be considered. Qualifications for NGA positions do not include specific time-in-band requirements. NGA will emphasize quality of experience, rather than duration, and assess how the quality of the experience demonstrates possession of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies necessary for successful job performance in the NGA occupational structure.
Additional Information
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Systems Engineers apply a structured approach to the design and implementation of system and service applications. They capture and translate mission and customer requirements into capabilities using the System Development Lifecycle (SDLC). Systems Engineers analyze and allocate requirements to systems architecture components and oversee the design development, testing, and validation of systems and services. They also coordinate the integration of systems and services into enterprise architecture and oversee deployment.
Qualifications Mandatory
MANDATORY QUALIFICATION CRITERIA: For this particular job, applicants must meet all competencies reflected under the Mandatory Qualification Criteria to include education (if required). Online resumes must demonstrate qualification by providing specific examples and associated results, in response to the announcement’s mandatory criteria specified in this vacancy announcement:

Demonstrated experience with Engineering Change Proposals (ECP), Requests for Change (RFC), and/or other configuration controls in the system engineering process.
Demonstrated end-to-end understanding of the systems development lifecycle (SDLC) methodologies and processes for planning, designing, developing, testing, and/or deploying a system.
Demonstrated experience generating requirements for one or more of the following: architecture, design, test and evaluation (T&E) of systems, or systems components.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: A. Education: Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Engineering, Engineering Management, Information Science, Information Systems Management, Information Technology, Mathematics, Operations Research, Statistics, Technology Management, System Engineering, or a degree that provided a minimum of 24 semester hours in one or more of the fields identified above and required the development or adaptation of applications, systems, or networks. -OR- B. Combination of Education and Experience: A minimum of 24 semester (36 quarter) hours of coursework in any area listed in option A, plus experience in Information Technology, systems planning, research, development, engineering, or a related area that demonstrates the ability to successfully perform the duties associated with this work. As a rule, every 30 semester (45 quarter) hours of coursework is equivalent to one year of experience. Candidates should show that their combination of education and experience totals 4 years. -OR- C. Experience: A minimum of 4 years of experience in Information Technology, systems planning, research, development, engineering, or a related area that demonstrates the ability to successfully perform the duties associated with this work. -AND- LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS: DAWIA Certification may be required for this position; See Position License and Certification Requirements for additional details. New Acquisition Workforce members or members transferring to a different or higher skill level -AND- Relevant Competencies: IT-related experience demonstrating each of the four competencies: Attention to Detail, Customer Service, Oral Communication, and Problem Solving.
Qualifications Desirable
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATION CRITERIA: In addition to the mandatory qualifications, experience in the following is desired:

Experience with applying systems engineering principals for project/program methodologies such as Agile, SAFe, Waterfall, or Spiral development and developing system engineering artifacts.
Experience with engineering solutions in Service Centric Architecture, Cloud-based technologies, structured or unstructured Big Data, and/or Artificial Intelligence.
Experience with ITIL/IT Service Management platforms.
Special Info External
As a condition of employment at NGA, persons being considered for employment must meet NGA fitness for employment standards.

- U.S. Citizenship
- Security Clearance - Top Secret /Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI)
- Polygraph & Drug Test
- Direct Deposit
- Trial Period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. We may consider: performance conduct; needs and interests of the agency; and whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government and the efficiency of the Federal service
Applicant Evaluation Process
APPLICANT EVALUATION PROCESS:

1) All applicants will be evaluated using the Mandatory Qualification Criteria,
2) Qualified applicants will then be evaluated by an expert or panel of experts using a combination of qualification criteria to determine the best-qualified candidates,
3) Best-qualified applicants may then be further evaluated through an interview process.

Military retiree applicants, if selected, may be impacted by the 180-day appointment restrictions of DODI 1402.01. HD personnel will provide additional information if applicable.

Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the Assignment Description, Additional Information Provided By the Selecting Official, and the Qualification Requirements; and then construct their resumes to highlight their most relevant and significant experience and education for this job opportunity. This description should include examples that detail the level and complexity of the performed work. Applicants are encouraged to provide any education or degree information referenced in the announcement that is relevant. If education is listed as a mandatory requirement, only degrees obtained from an institution accredited by an accrediting organization recognized by the Secretary, US Department of Education will be accepted. You must use the NGA resume builder and limit your resume to 2 pages.

In accordance with section 9902(h) of title 5, United States Code, annuitants reemployed in the Department of Defense shall receive full annuity and salary upon appointment. They shall not be eligible for retirement contributions, participation in the Thrift Savings Plan, or a supplemental or re-determined annuity for the reemployment period. Discontinued service retirement annuitants (i.e., retired under section 8336(d)(1) or 8414(b)(1)(A) of title 5, United States Code) appointed to the Department of Defense may elect to be subject to retirement provisions of the new appointment as appropriate. (See DoD Instruction 1400.25, Volume 300). Reemployed annuitants must meet additional selection criteria as outlined in the DODI 1400.25, v300.

All candidates will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, disability, or sexual orientation.

NGA provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. Applications will only be accepted online. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please notify us at recruitment@nga.mil. The decision on granting reasonable accommodation will be on a case-by-case basis.
DCIPS Statement
NGA utilizes all processes and procedures of the Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS). Non-executive NGA employees are assigned to five distinct pay bands based on the type and scope of work performed. The employee's base salary is established within their assigned pay band based on their unique qualifications. A performance pay process is conducted each year to determine a potential base pay salary increase and/or bonus. An employee's annual performance evaluation is a key factor in the performance pay process.

This position is a DCIPS position in the Excepted Service under 10 U.S.C. 1601. DoD Components with DCIPS positions apply Veterans' Preference to preference 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 an external applicant claiming veterans' preference, as defined by Section 2108 of Title 5 U.S.C., you must self-identify your eligibility.
Benefits
Pay is only part of the compensation you will earn working for the Federal Government. We offer a broad array of benefits programs and family friendly flexibilities to meet the needs of you and your family.

For more information on the array of benefits programs, please visit https://www.nga.mil/careers/Benefits_&_Pay.html.
How To Apply
Application submission involves applying using NGA's online application process at NGA Careers Portal. Additional information concerning NGA's hiring process can be found by visiting NGA Hiring Process.

All announcements close at 11:59PM EDT on the closing date listed. Be sure to complete and submit your application by that time in order to be considered.

ONLY ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Both applicants for employment and current employees of NGA are entitled to request religious accommodations from generally applicable employment-related rules and requirements, so long as the accommodation requested would not result in an undue hardship to the conduct of NGA’s business.
What To Expect Next
After visiting the NGA Careers Portal and applying via NGA's online application process, applicants can follow their status via that same NGA online application functionality. Several other topics relating to what is involved in the hiring process and how long it takes can be found by visiting the NGA Hiring Process.
Special Requirements
You must be able to obtain and retain a Top Secret security clearance with access to SCI. In addition, you are subject to a Counterintelligence Polygraph examination in order to maintain access to Top Secret information. All employees are subject to a periodic examination on a random basis in order to determine continued eligibility. Refusal to take the examination may result in denial of access to Top Secret information, SAP, or unescorted access to SCIFs.

Employees with SCI access and who are under NGA cognizance are required to submit a Security Financial Disclosure Report, SF-714, on an annual basis in order to determine continued eligibility. Failure to comply may negatively impact continued access to Top Secret information, Information Systems, SAP, or unescorted access to SCIFs.