WE ARE THE NRO
For sixty years, the NRO has developed, acquired, launched and operated the satellites that are the foundation for America's advantage and strength in space. Using a diversified architecture of spacecraft, the NRO collects and delivers the best space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance content on the planet.
Learn more at nro.gov .
Basic Eligibility for a position with NRO:
You must be a U.S. Citizen
You must be able to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI security clearance
You will be subject to pre-employment and periodic drug testing
You will be subject to pre-employment and periodic polygraph examinations
Where You Will Work
The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), Communications Systems Directorate (COMM), Enterprise Management Office (EMO), seeks a motivated IT professional with interest in a highly-visible, fast-paced environment to serve as the COMM Directorate's operational focal point and oversee COMM operations on behalf of the Director of COMM in support of NRO missions.
If selected for the position, you will serve as the COMM Mission Director with authorities to direct all COMM resources within the COMM IT portfolio across the enterprise in support of NRO operations. Acting as the senior government representative for COMM operations within the NRO Operations Center (NOC), you will be charged with the responsibility of actively coordinating with Site Mission Directors, Site Senior COMM Leads, and COMM Group & Office Operations representatives to maintain situational awareness for a wide audience of NRO, COMM and Directorate leaders, driving incident response collaboration, and coordination of COMM maintenance activities. In turn, your role will also be expected to support real-time NRO missions through 24x7 mission assurance of COMM capabilities ensuring availability of COMM systems, services, and capabilities, and conducting maintenance de-confliction and approval. Also, importantly, the position will also require you to coordinate with IC partners and external USG agencies and departments to drive resolution of incidents and assure operational support for USG-level operations. Serving as the operational lead for COMM within the NOC, you will be seen as the delegate of the Director of COMM to be the focal point and voice of COMM for NRO senior leaders.
COMM Mission Director candidates will enter an immersive training program to gain a deep understanding of the NRO Information Enterprise architecture (~2 months) and its impact on NRO missions. Upon certification, COMM MDs serve the NRO in a mission-critical role on scheduled rotational shifts, including holiday, weekend, night duty, as well as regularly scheduled opportunities for professional development activities.
The NRO Cadre is collecting resumes for consideration against current and future opportunities for full performance level (GG12 - GG13) IT Specialists, occupational series 2210. For more information on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) occupational series, click here .
Your resume may be considered for other positions which your skills and experience may be a good match.
This is a full-time position that is open from May 19, 2026 to June 2, 2026. Resumes must be submitted by 11:59 PM EST on Jun 2, 2026.
Who May Apply
This position is open to the public.
Federal government employees MUST currently be at the grade level or higher as indicated in this announcement. This is NOT a promotion opportunity for current Federal government employees. If selected for the position, Federal government employees will transition laterally at their current grade level and step.
Federal applicants who exceed the advertised grade may voluntarily request acceptance at the lower grade IAW DoWI 1400.25 Volume 2006.
The NRO is only accepting external applicants for this job announcement. Current NRO Cadre employees should apply internally.
This position may not qualify for the appointment of a Reemployed Federal Annuitant IAW DoWI 1400.25 Volume 300.
What You Will Be Doing
The COMM Mission Director (MD) is responsible for overseeing and directing all real-time operations across the NRO enterprise on behalf of the Director of the COMM Directorate. The COMM MD acts as the senior communications government representative charged with the responsibility of actively coordinating with Mission Ground Site Mission Directors (MGS MD) to provide 24x7x365 support to NRO satellite missions. This leadership position oversees more than 300+ contractor personnel to conduct maintenance and de-conflictions and approvals, and assure the availability of communications systems, services, and capabilities for DoW and IC customers across the globe.
IT Specialists should have experience in applying IT principles, concepts, methods, and standards to accomplish assignments such as:
Orchestrates 24x7x365 incident management tracking, monitoring, coordination, and reporting for all infrastructure and services under the COMM IT Ecosystem
Directs and facilitates the investigation and repair of information exchange issues between the COMM IT Service Ecosystem and those systems of other organizations who support or are supported by NRO missions
Coordinates maintenance activity de-confliction and approval with Site MDs
Provides daily briefings to executives regarding the status of NRO's information environments and networks
Utilize and update the mission logs, or equivalent, and other associated communications and collaboration resources to ensure continuity of operations and provide situational awareness to leadership
Provide assistance in maintaining SOPs, checklists, and other associated documentation
Serve as a key focal point for all COMM IT Ecosystem queries
Position requires weekend, night, and holiday shift work on a scheduled rotating basis throughout the year
What You Need
Highly desired: Bachelor's degree in related function (software engineer, information technology, cybersecurity, systems and network engineers, etc.)
Knowledge of and proficiency in the use of desktop applications (e.g. Microsoft Office) and systems as required to execute operational processes and procedures
Experience with the interrelationships of multiple IT specialties
Understanding of an organization's IT architecture
Knowledge of new IT developments and applications
Relating emerging technologies and their applications to improve business processes
Strong knowledge of IT security concepts, standards, and methods
Demonstrate aptitude to learn knowledge of agency mission, objectives, terminology, and management practices to recognize probable areas of interaction and overlap between proposed applications and existing systems
Experience with project management principles, methods, and practices, including developing plans and schedules, estimating resource requirements, defining milestones and deliverables, monitoring activities, and evaluating and reporting on accomplishments
Qualifying experience may have been acquired in any public or private sector job, but will clearly demonstrate past experience in the application of the particular competencies/knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully perform and is typically in or directly related to the duties of the position as described above. Experience must be reflected in your resume.
Applicants submitting a resume that exceeds the two-page limit per OPM Memorandum, "Merit Hiring Plan", dated May 29, 2025, https://www.opm.gov/chcoc/latest-memos/merit-hiring-plan.pdf will not be eligible for consideration. For more information regarding resume writing, see "Guidance for Applicants on 2-Page Resume" and visit the Resume Help Center .
Other Information
You may be required to obtain a CISM or CISSP certification within 6 months of being appointed to the position IAW Cyber Workforce Requirements outlined in DoWI 8500.01.
Financial Management Certification: May be required to obtain the appropriate Financial Management certification level for the position within two years of assignment.
Overtime Statement: May be required to work other than normal duty hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and/or holidays.
Travel Statement: May be required to travel in military or commercial aircraft to perform temporary duty assignments.
Financial Disclosure: May be required to file an OGE Form 450, Confidential Financial Disclosure Report, upon appointment and will be required to file annually.
Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) coded positions: If selected for a DAWIA coded position, the incumbent must meet appropriate certification requirements IAW the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) no later than 24 months after accepting this position. Individual shall maintain, at a minimum 80 continuous Learning Points every 24 months via the services acquisition management system. DAWIA requirements may be located at the Defense Acquisition University website .
Geographic Mobility Agreement: May be subject to directed reassignment as required to address mission effectiveness, and/or career development.
Information Assurance (IA): Must achieve the appropriate IA certification within six months of assignment.
Emergency Essential: Certain positions are deemed emergency essential and incumbents must be willing to meet all position requirements.
Location
Springfield, VA
Salary
This position meets the qualifications for Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS) Targeted Local Market Supplement (TLMS) STEM pay for NRO Cadre employees and candidates as authorized by the office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security's (OUSD(I&S)). Cadre employees and candidates are eligible to receive STEM pay if they are currently serving in a STEM designated position. Should a Cadre employee or candidate earning STEM pay change positions within the organization, they must be assigned to another STEM qualifying position in order to continue to remain eligible for STEM pay. Otherwise, Cadre employees and Candidates Generally would be transitioned to the DCIPS GG Pay Scale.
For more information on STEM pay, visit https://dcips.defense.gov/Human-Resources/Compensation/
2026 Salary ranges:
STEM Pay:
GG-12: $117,753 - $153,082
GG-13: $132,751 - $172,578
**This position is a full performance level DCIPS position. The NRO is accepting applications from U.S. Citizens and current Federal Government employees for this position. To qualify for the position, Federal government employees MUST currently be at the GG-12 or GG-13 grade level and may ONLY apply for a lateral reassignment at their current grade level and step. Federal applicants who exceed the advertised grade may voluntarily request acceptance at the lower grade per IAW DoWI 1400.25 Volume 2006.
Hiring Incentives
The NRO may offer hiring incentives and other entitlements at management's discretion.
Trial Period
All new DCIPS employees will be required to serve a 2-year trial period.
Veterans' Preference
DoW 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 DoW Instruction 1400.25, Vol 2005, DCIPS Employment and Placement. If you are a veteran claiming veterans' preference, as defined by section 2108 of Title 5 USC, you must submit documents verifying your eligibility upon request.
Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor.
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) for federal employees & job applicants
Reasonable Accommodation Policy
Federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process should follow the instructions in the job opportunity announcement. For any part of the remaining hiring process, applicants should contact the hiring agency directly. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.
A reasonable accommodation is any change to a job, the work environment, or the way things are usually done that enables an individual with a disability to apply for a job, perform job duties or receive equal access to job benefits.
Under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, federal agencies must provide reasonable accommodations when:
An applicant with a disability needs an accommodation to have an equal opportunity to apply for a job.
An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to perform the essential job duties or to gain access to the workplace.
An employee with a disability needs an accommodation to receive equal access to benefits, such as details, training, and office-sponsored events.
You can request a reasonable accommodation at any time during the application or hiring process or while on the job. Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis. Please send your request to Hiring@nro.mil .
Privacy Act Notice
Privacy Act Notice (PL 93-579): We use this information to determine qualifications for employment. This is authorized under Title 5 U.S.C. 3302 and 3361.
Read more about the Privacy Act of 1974.
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