Duties
This Job Announcement will be used to build a pool of qualified applicants for a hiring event taking place on 28 February 2026 thru 1 March 2026.
The selectee will serve as an imagery analyst on joint NGA / USSPACECOM GEOINT Watch. They will analyze and interpret imagery to support command and national policy maker interests. In addition, they will conduct multi-INT research, populate and exploit intelligence databases, produce and disseminate moderately complex intelligence products, and defend their findings in a variety of forums. They maintain relationships with their IC counterparts, international partners, and customers. The nature of the mission requires analysts with strong writing, typing, critical thinking, interpersonal communications, and multitasking skills. Analysts will be on a rotational shift work schedule covering 24 hours by 7-day mission requirements. The NGA Analysis Directorate provides GEOINT products and services to mission partners to ensure effective round-the-clock GEOINT expertise and customized, professional products. The mission provides great opportunities for analysts to work with cutting-edge persistent surveillance technologies, broaden their network with other Intelligence Community analysts, and advance their GEOINT analysis tradecraft skills.
This position will move to NGA USSPACECOM in Huntsville, AL within the next five years in a staggered approach. Conversion to Permanent status is contingent on employee to move to NGA Huntsville and SME recommendation.
This Job Announcement will be used to build a pool of qualified applicants for a hiring event taking place on 28 February 2026 thru 1 March 2026.
This is a two (2) year TERM appointment within NGA that may be extended; not to exceed 8 years and is not guaranteed. Applicants will be rated and ranked by an agency Qualifications Review Board using only the information submitted for consideration. A Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS) term employee may be eligible for non-competitive conversion to a permanent DCIPS permanent appointment at the same pay band and similar or same work role for which initially hired. The term employee must have a "successful or better" overall rating on the most recent performance evaluation to be eligible for conversion.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- US Citizenship is required.
- Designated or Random Drug Testing required.
- Security Investigation
SPECIAL INFO:
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
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.
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.
Qualifications
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:
1. Knowledge of national and/or Commercial Imaging Systems; Image Tasking; Image Processing; Image Exploitation, sensor capabilities; analytic assessments; or imagery analysis and writing imagery reports.
2. Demonstrated experience working collaborating with others, especially in high operations tempo environments
3. Experience with imagery analysis or all-source intelligence to address matters of national concern.
EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: A. Education: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Engineering, Foreign Area Studies, Geography, History, International Affairs, International Studies, Military Science, Physical Science, Political Science, Remote Sensing, or a related field. -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 working in an Intelligence discipline analyzing and interpreting imagery and maintaining and building tasking strategies, 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 working in an Intelligence discipline analyzing and interpreting imagery and maintaining and building tasking strategies, or a related area that demonstrates the ability to successfully perform the duties associated with this work.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENT: Distinguish principal colors and shades/hues of principal colors; Near visual acuity of 20/20 or better with or without corrective lenses; Stereopsis ability; Hand steadiness
ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENT: Prolonged exposure to video display units
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATION CRITERIA: In addition to the mandatory qualifications, experience in the following is desired:
1. Experience in a related work role for the federal government, specifically the military, Combat Commands and/or Intelligence Community.
2. Experience in 24x7 operations
3. Experience using analytical tools and technology for data conditioning, standardization, and analysis to produce findings.
Additional information
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.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
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.
APPLICANT EVALUATION PROCESS: Applicants will be evaluated for this job opportunity in three stages:
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.
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.