Joining the Secret Service, Office of Field Operations, Criminal Investigative Division, and various field offices across the United States will allow you to continue your education while gaining practical job experience using applications and processes. Becoming oriented with automation and analysis of existing and evolving computer technology and cybersecurity to meet mission requirements and satisfy stakeholder needs.
For definitions of terms found in this announcement, please click here.
Summary
Joining the Secret Service, Office of Field Operations, Criminal Investigative Division, and various field offices across the United States will allow you to continue your education while gaining practical job experience using applications and processes. Becoming oriented with automation and analysis of existing and evolving computer technology and cybersecurity to meet mission requirements and satisfy stakeholder needs.
For definitions of terms found in this announcement, please click here.
All U.S. Citizens that meet eligibility as a Pathways Intern. Must be accepted for enrollment or currently enrolled in an accredited educational institution or certification program. Enrollment is on at least a half-time basis at a qualifying educational institution in a certificate, degree, or diploma program with a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 undergraduate; or 3.0 graduate at time of application and throughout the appointment.
The selectee will serve as a Student Trainee (Cybersecurity) in the Office of Field Operations, United States Secret Service. Typical work assignments include:
Receiving classroom and on-the-job training in carefully selected assignments to develop the knowledge and skills of a Student Trainee (Cybersecurity).
Completing training assignments that embrace the principles, concepts, regulations, and work processes fundamental to system security engineering.
Performing developmental tasks assigned by the supervisor in the application of principles, procedures, and work techniques in actual operating situations such as computer systems, architecture analysis, and design; and assisting with reviewing and commenting on technical papers and contract submittals.
Assisting higher graded technical personnel in identifying requirements for network connectivity; becoming familiar with cybersecurity orientation and with functions of customers; assisting with reviewing systems analysis to include feasibility studies for hardware and software specifications; and documenting recurring processes.
Apply for this exciting opportunity to impact mission critical support for investigative operations and the associated research and administrative functions of the Secret Service. This Student Trainee (Cybersecurity) position starts at a base salary of $27,434.00 GS-3 Step 1 or $30,795 GS-4 Step 1 with promotion potential to $44,786 GS-5 Step 10. The locality adjustment will be added to the base salary of the selected location.
Applicants will only be considered for 1 location(s) based on the duty station selected at the time of application.
Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service
If selected for this position, you will be required to:
Obtain and maintain a top secret Tier 5 clearance secret. For more information visit OPM Mythbuster Page.
Submit a credit check after a conditional offer of employment has been accepted.
Submit to a drug test prior to your appointment and random drug testing while you occupy the position.
Be at least 16 years or older at the time of appointment.
Remain enrolled at a qualifying educational institution on at least a half-time basis. The definition of half-time is the definition provided by the school in which the student is enrolled. Interns employed in the Internship Program who need to complete the equivalent of less than half a course load in the enrollment period immediately prior to graduating are still considered students for program purposes.
Maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 (for undergraduate students); or 3.0 (for graduate students) at time of application and throughout internship appointment. (No rounding).
Complete a Pathways Participant Agreement upon entrance on duty.
Sign an Individual Development Plan upon entrance on duty.
Submit updated Unofficial Transcripts and enrollment verification after grades have been issued for an academic period, such as semester or quarter, as defined by the educational institution.
Coordinate work schedule with supervisor based on academic schedule and the needs of the agency.
Qualifications
To be eligible for the Pathways Internship Program applicants must meet below eligibility:
Must have accepted enrollment OR be enrolled and seeking a degree (diploma, certificate, etc.) on a full- or half-time basis (as defined by the institution which they attend) in one of the accredited educational institutions:
public or private high school;
state-approved home school;
technical or vocational school;
2-year or 4-year college or university;
graduate or professional school; or
postsecondary home school curriculum
In addition to meeting the above eligibility you must also meet the following minimum qualification for the respective grade(s) in which you are applying:
GS-03: You qualify for the GS-03 level (starting salary $27,434.00) if you possess the following:
Completion of 1 full academic year of post-high school study.
GS-04: You qualify for the GS-04 level (starting salary $30,795) if you possess the following:
Completion of 2 full academic years of post-high school study or an associate's degree.
Note: The degree does not have to be related to the position/series; however, to be eligible the candidate must meet the agency developed and OPM qualification standards for the position.
The qualification requirements listed above must be met by the closing date of this announcement.
Students must maintain student eligibility and enrollment throughout the duration of the appointment (Applicants must be actively enrolled at an accredited institution). Applicants that have graduated or will graduate prior to the completion of the program are ineligible to participate without proof of future enrollment in an accredited university.
Program Completion and Conversion Eligibility: Program participants may be converted, without a break in service, to a term, career or career conditional appointment upon completion of program requirements. To be eligible for conversion, Student Trainee must:
Successfully complete academic course of study.
Complete a minimum of 480 hours of work experience under the Internship Program; (USSS may waive up to 320 hours of the 480-hour requirement for non-competitive conversion when an Intern has completed 320 hours of career-related experience AND has demonstrated high potential by outstanding academic achievement and exceptional job performance) while enrolled as a full-time or half-time degree or certificate-seeking student.
Meet OPM qualification standards for the position to be converted.
Maintain acceptable performance under the agency's approved performance management system.
Receive favorable recommendation for conversion from Supervisor.
It is important to remember that eligibility for conversion does not guarantee that the agency will decide to opt for conversion.
Education
This position has an education requirement you MUST submit a copy of your transcripts or equivalent. An official transcript will be required if you are selected. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted that includes the following: name, name of the educational institution, declared degree program, anticipated date of degree conferral, course title(s), credits completed, grade received, and date of completion and Grade Point Average (GPA).
Additional information
DHS uses E-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.
If you receive a conditional offer of employment for this position, you will be required to complete an Optional Form 306, Declaration for Federal Employment, and to sign and certify the accuracy of all information in your application, prior to entry on duty. False statements on any part of the application may result in withdrawal of offer of employment, dismissal after beginning work, fine, or imprisonment.
The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act prohibits the Department of Homeland Security and its Components from requesting an applicant's criminal history record before that individual receives a conditional offer of employment. In accordance with 5 U.S. Code § 9202(c) and 5 C.F.R § 920.201 certain positions are exempt from the provisions of the Fair Chance to Compete Act. Applicants who believe they have been subjected to a violation of the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, may submit a written complaint to HRSupport@usss.dhs.gov.
More than one selection may be made from this announcement if additional identical vacancies in the same title, series, grade and unit occur. Applying to this announcement certifies that you give permission for DHS to share your application with others in DHS for similar positions.
The Secret Service prohibits employees from having visible body markings (including but not limited to tattoos, body art, and branding) on the head, face, neck, hand and fingers (any area below the wrist bone) (exception: a single conservative and unobtrusive tattoo in the form of a ring is authorized on one finger).
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.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents) and the responses you provide on the application questionnaire. All answers provided in the online process must be substantiated by your resume. Upon review, your resume and/or supporting documents need to support your answer choices and the minimum qualification requirements, in order to be considered. If we cannot determine how your application meets the minimum requirements above, you will be removed from consideration.
Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are considered in the following order: (1) preference eligible veterans having a compensable service-connected disability of 10% or more; followed by (2) other 10-point preference eligible veterans; (3) 5-point preference eligible veterans; and (4) non-preference eligible (i.e., non-veterans).
An interview may be required for this position. If an interview is required, failure to complete the interview may result in removal from further consideration.
Any offers of employment made pursuant to this announcement will be consistent with all applicable authorities, including Presidential Memoranda, Executive Orders, interpretive U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) guidance, and Office of Management and Budget plans and policies concerning hiring. These authorities are subject to change.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
In addition to addressing the vacancy specific questions, you must also submit the following documentation:
Resume - In order to receive credit for experience contained in an uploaded resume, your employment history should show work experience in month/year format (MM/YYYY), reflecting starting date and ending date, and include the number of hours worked per week
Transcripts - Unofficial copies are sufficient with the application; however, if selected, official transcripts will be required. Transcripts MUST include the following information:
Student's Name
Name of the academic institution
Specific Degree Program
Current and Cumulative GPA/academic standing
Past and current coursework
Evidence of meeting the "qualifications" as listed in the announcement
Proof of Enrollment: This documentation may include your class schedule for current/future semester/quarter, letter of enrollment, pre-registration schedule/transcript(s) or receipt for tuition. Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal qualification requirements if you can show that your foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States. For example, specific courses accepted for college-level credit by an accredited U.S. college or university, or foreign education evaluated by an organization recognized for accreditation by the Department of Education as education equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. college or university. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence with your application. See Recognition of Foreign Qualifications for more information. Those with Foreign education, click here.
If you fail to submit your transcript{s}/proof of enrollment prior to the closing date of the announcement, you will be deemed "INELIGIBLE"
Are you a Veteran? Submit a copy of your DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (Member Copy 4). If a DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (Member Copy 4) is not available, other documentation listing the beginning and ending dates of active service and the type of discharge must be submitted to verify eligibility.
10-Point Veterans' Preference: If claiming 10-point Veterans' Preference, you will need to submit a SF-15 and provide an official document from the Department of Veterans Affairs or from a branch of the Armed Forces certifying your overall compensable service-connected disability rating (NOTE: Your overall percentage must be clearly shown), and/or any other associated documentation based on your preference.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include submission of the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 08/22/2025 to receive consideration. The application process is as follows:
To begin your online application, click the Apply Online button and follow the prompts to register or sign into USAJOBS,
Complete the online questionnaire and submit the required documents. See Required Documents section for more detail.
You must complete the application process and submit any required documents no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on 08/22/2025.
To verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login).All of your applications will appear on the Welcome page. The application record in your USAJOBS account provides the Announcement Status and a "You applied on" date. This information does not confirm the agency application status. Use the "Track this Application" link for additional information regarding the agency application status, the documentation you submitted, and any correspondence sent related to this application. The Announcement Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Announcement Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
It is your responsibility to verify that any information entered or uploaded is received and is accurate. Human Resources will not modify or change any part of your application. Determining your eligibility and qualifications is dependent on the supporting documentation and information provided, which may impact your referral for further consideration. If a document is not legible, you will not be able to view it in your application.
We strongly encourage you to apply online. If you cannot apply online, you may contact the APT TALENT MANAGEMENT DIVISON at Pathways@usss.dhs.gov OR by calling (202) 406-6420 between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:30 pm EST (excluding Federal holidays) prior to the closing date of this announcement to receive assistance.
The Secret Service provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities, on a case-by-case basis. Please contact us if you require this for any part of the application and hiring process.
United States Secret Service
Please read entire announcement
Please apply online
Washington, DC 20223
US
Next steps
Once your complete application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and determine your eligibility. Best-qualified applicants will be referred for further consideration and possible interview. We expect to make a selection within 45 days of the closing date of this announcement. If you are selected, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation. We will notify you by email after each of these steps has been completed. Your status will also be updated on USAJOBS throughout the process. For more information on applying for Federal employment, please click here.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
In addition to addressing the vacancy specific questions, you must also submit the following documentation:
Resume - In order to receive credit for experience contained in an uploaded resume, your employment history should show work experience in month/year format (MM/YYYY), reflecting starting date and ending date, and include the number of hours worked per week
Transcripts - Unofficial copies are sufficient with the application; however, if selected, official transcripts will be required. Transcripts MUST include the following information:
Student's Name
Name of the academic institution
Specific Degree Program
Current and Cumulative GPA/academic standing
Past and current coursework
Evidence of meeting the "qualifications" as listed in the announcement
Proof of Enrollment: This documentation may include your class schedule for current/future semester/quarter, letter of enrollment, pre-registration schedule/transcript(s) or receipt for tuition. Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet Federal qualification requirements if you can show that your foreign education is comparable to education received in accredited educational institutions in the United States. For example, specific courses accepted for college-level credit by an accredited U.S. college or university, or foreign education evaluated by an organization recognized for accreditation by the Department of Education as education equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. college or university. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence with your application. See Recognition of Foreign Qualifications for more information. Those with Foreign education, click here.
If you fail to submit your transcript{s}/proof of enrollment prior to the closing date of the announcement, you will be deemed "INELIGIBLE"
Are you a Veteran? Submit a copy of your DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (Member Copy 4). If a DD-214, Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (Member Copy 4) is not available, other documentation listing the beginning and ending dates of active service and the type of discharge must be submitted to verify eligibility.
10-Point Veterans' Preference: If claiming 10-point Veterans' Preference, you will need to submit a SF-15 and provide an official document from the Department of Veterans Affairs or from a branch of the Armed Forces certifying your overall compensable service-connected disability rating (NOTE: Your overall percentage must be clearly shown), and/or any other associated documentation based on your preference.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include submission of the documentation specified in the Required Documents section above. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 08/22/2025 to receive consideration. The application process is as follows:
To begin your online application, click the Apply Online button and follow the prompts to register or sign into USAJOBS,
Complete the online questionnaire and submit the required documents. See Required Documents section for more detail.
You must complete the application process and submit any required documents no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on 08/22/2025.
To verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login).All of your applications will appear on the Welcome page. The application record in your USAJOBS account provides the Announcement Status and a "You applied on" date. This information does not confirm the agency application status. Use the "Track this Application" link for additional information regarding the agency application status, the documentation you submitted, and any correspondence sent related to this application. The Announcement Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Announcement Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.
It is your responsibility to verify that any information entered or uploaded is received and is accurate. Human Resources will not modify or change any part of your application. Determining your eligibility and qualifications is dependent on the supporting documentation and information provided, which may impact your referral for further consideration. If a document is not legible, you will not be able to view it in your application.
We strongly encourage you to apply online. If you cannot apply online, you may contact the APT TALENT MANAGEMENT DIVISON at Pathways@usss.dhs.gov OR by calling (202) 406-6420 between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:30 pm EST (excluding Federal holidays) prior to the closing date of this announcement to receive assistance.
The Secret Service provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities, on a case-by-case basis. Please contact us if you require this for any part of the application and hiring process.
United States Secret Service
Please read entire announcement
Please apply online
Washington, DC 20223
US
Next steps
Once your complete application is received, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and determine your eligibility. Best-qualified applicants will be referred for further consideration and possible interview. We expect to make a selection within 45 days of the closing date of this announcement. If you are selected, we will conduct a suitability/security background investigation. We will notify you by email after each of these steps has been completed. Your status will also be updated on USAJOBS throughout the process. For more information on applying for Federal employment, please click here.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
