Skip to main content
Go to CIA.gov
Browse CIA Jobs

IT Engineer

IT Engineers design and deploy the secure, global communications infrastructures that allows CIA officers to collaborate with each other and Intelligence Community and federal government partners.
  • Full time
  • Starting salary: $69,287 - $172,075
  • B.A.
  • Higher starting salary possible depending on experience level.
Express Interest

Agency-wide Requirements

All applicants must be:

  • U.S. citizens (dual U.S. citizens also eligible)
  • At least 18 years of age
  • Willing to move to the Washington, DC area
  • Able to complete security and medical evaluations
  • Registered for the Selective Service

About the Job

As an IT  Engineer for CIA, you will specialize in the engineering, development, integration, and product evaluation services for the Agency's worldwide enterprise IT platform. IT Engineers work in a collaborative environment, providing critical support to the overall Agency mission and are responsible for designing and deploying a secure, global communications infrastructure that allows CIA officers to communicate and collaborate with each other and partners throughout the Intelligence Community (IC) and federal government. This includes participating in the design of enterprise desktop computing solutions and engineering collaborative solutions (email, team collaboration, web and video conferencing) for the Agency and IC, in addition to introducing state-of-the-art technologies into the corporate baseline.

CIA's network and application platforms leverage the best of industry and internally developed solutions to create an engineering environment that is both technically challenging and innovative. Opportunities to develop the latest network solutions from tactical platforms to high-speed optical networking are available.

Who You’ll Work With

At the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), we recognize our Nation’s strength comes from the diversity of its people. People from a broad range of backgrounds and viewpoints work at CIA, and our diverse teams are the reason we can keep our country safe.

Read more about diversity and inclusion

What You’ll Get

Our benefits support every aspect of a working professional’s life, including health and wellness, time off, family, finances, and continuing education. Our programs include highly sought-after government health benefits, flexible schedules, sick leave, and childcare. In some cases, we also offer sign-on incentives and cover moving expenses if you relocate.

As a CIA employee, you’ll also get the satisfaction of knowing your work is part of something bigger than yourself. Our work is driven by one mission: to keep our Nation safe. Every day is an opportunity to enhance U.S. national security.

Learn more about working at CIA

Minimum Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in one of the following fields or related studies:
    • Electronic Engineering
    • Electrical Engineering
    • Computer Engineering
    • Computer Science
    • Systems Engineering
    • Information Technology
    • Information Science
    • Information Systems
    • Telecommunications
    • Cybersecurity
    • Information Security
  • Equivalent relevant experience accepted in lieu of degree
  • At least a 2.5 GPA on a 4-point scale
  • Experience in systems engineering, computer engineering, or network engineering with an emphasis hardware and software analysis, platform and/or network development, system integration, and/or system maintenance
  • Knowledge of a range of communications technologies, network systems and certifications.  Examples include, but are not limited to:
    • Microsoft Exchange and Outlook
    • Operating systems (Microsoft, Unix, Linux)
    • Collaborative tools (email, instant messaging, web and video conferencing)
    • Hardware and software testing and evaluation
    • Automated test tools
    • Wide Area Network (WAN) technologies (DWDM, SONET, ATM, MSPP, etc.)
    • Local Area Network (LAN) technologies (MCSA, MCSE, MCSD, MCP, RHCE, RHDS, RHCA, LPIC-2, LPIC-3 VCP, VCAP, SNIA, etc.)
    • Video
    • Satellite
    • Network security
    • Cloud (e.g., AWS, Azure, etc.)
    • Virtualization technologies
    • Automation or AI integration
    • Server/Desktop Engineering
    • Software Development
    • Systems Integration
    • Cybersecurity and encryption technologies
  • Current possession of a range of technical certifications, such as:
    • Higher level network-related certifications (e.g., CCNP, CCIE, JNCP, JNCIE, etc.)
    • Higher level platform-related certifications (e.g., MCSA, MCSE, MCSD, MCP, RHCE, RHDS, RHCA, LPIC-2, LPIC-3 VCP, VCAP, SNIA)
    • Higher level systems-related certifications (e.g., ESEP, CSEP)
  • Ability to meet the minimum requirements for joining CIA, including U.S. citizenship and a background investigation

Desired Qualifications

Desire to work in a multi-disciplined, diverse, and technically challenging environment