WE ARE THE NRO

For more than 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, 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 The 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

Are you a financial mastermind? Does analyzing, formulating, and defending multi-year budgets for reconnaissance satellite systems to ensure the safety and security of the United States interest you? Does a career with an “out of this world” mission sound fascinating?

If so, the NRO is looking for you!

The NRO Cadre is looking for aspiring professionals for our Developmental Program supporting our Financial Management Career Field. As an entry level Budget Analyst (GG 7-9), occupational series 0560, you will build knowledge and skills necessary to support the full performance level duties listed below. For more information on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) occupational series, click here.

This is a full-time position. Your resume may be considered for other positions which your skills and experience may be a good match.

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 per 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 does not qualify for the appointment of a reemployed federal annuitant IAW DoWI 1400.25 Volume 300.

What You Will Be Doing

Developmental employees (GG 7-9) will receive the following opportunities:

• Guidance and a formal development plan to enable the individual to progressively perform increasingly technically complex assignments and tasks with more responsibility and less guidance.
• On-the-job training in providing financial analysis for NRO decision-makers.
• Formal training on how to originate new, and improve existing, applications and strategies for finance concepts theories, and principles that affect the planning, completions and direction of financial and budget projects.
• Instructional guidance on making decisions to resolve specific issues and problems while considering different, incomplete, and often conflicting information and alternatives.
• On-the-job training of federal budgeting necessary to support the development, delivery, support to and sustainment of overhead reconnaissance systems.
• Diverse training in various mission areas including acquisitions and enterprise support activities.
• Pursuing full performance target level of GG-12 duties.

At the entry level (GG 7-9), a Budget Analyst’s duties include:

• Perform day-to-day control and management involving the formulation, execution, and/or analysis of the organization's budget and funding requirements.
• Serve as the functional point of contact for day-to-day budget/financial issues.
• Performing budget formulation work involving review and preparation of budget estimates and financial plans. Performing budget execution and administrative work involving the monitoring of obligations incurred and the actual expenditures of funds.
• Provide advice, assistance, and guidance on budgeting and related information and conduct analysis, review, and special studies of budget and/or related information.
• Leverage financial tools and systems to plan, organize, and direct budget activities ensuring organization compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.

What You Need

Highly desired: Bachelor's/Master's Degree in a related occupation (Business) qualifies you for this level. If qualifying based on education, you will be requested to submit copies of your transcripts later. If qualifying on experience, applicants must have directly applicable experience that demonstrates the possession of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies necessary for immediate success in the position. Qualifying experience may have been acquired in any public or private sector job or through coursework, but will clearly be reflected in your resume.

Examples of qualifying experience include:

• Knowledge of standardized budget rules, procedures, and/or operations;
• Ability to identify and articulate potential trends, and develop courses of action to maintain a positive budget program;
• Ability to resolve problems by enabling performance of a full range of standard accounting/financial assignments, procedures, and limited projects;
• Ability to provide recommendations for solutions.

Other Information

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.

DoW FM Certification: This position requires DoW Financial Management Level I certification. The employee will be allotted 24 months in which to achieve the Financial Management certification requirement in accordance with DoW Directive 5118.03 and section 1599d of Title 10, USC. Once certified, the position has a continuing requirement for professional education and training in order to maintain and improve their Financial Management proficiency and skills.

Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) coded position: 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 Warfighting 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.

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, 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.

Location

Chantilly, VA 20151

Telework is not available and you must be able to work at the specified location(s).

Salary

2026 salary range for the Washington, DC Area:

• GG-07: $57,736 – $75,059. A Bachelor's in a related occupation is qualifying for this level.
• GG-09: $70,623 - $91,815. A Master's degree in a related occupation is qualifying for this level.

This position is an Entry 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 7-9 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 (including pregnancy and gender identity), 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.

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