Trainee Engineering Student Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Summary
This vacancy is for a Student Trainee (General Engineering) in the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) within the Department of Commerce. The NTIA is seeking innovative Pathways Interns to work full-time or part-time (up to 20 hours per week) while attending school. The Pathways Internship Program provides students, from high school to graduate level, with opportunities to work and explore Federal careers while still in school and getting paid for work performed.
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Duties
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The National Telecommunications and Information Administration is seeking bright, innovative, results-oriented individuals to join our Pathways Internship Program (IP). Internships can be seasonal (spring, summer, fall) or year-round. Interns may work full-time while on academic breaks or part-time (up to 20 hours per week) while attending school. The Internship Program under the Pathways Program is designed to provide students enrolled in a wide variety of educational institutions, from high school to graduate level, with opportunities to work in Federal agencies and explore Federal careers while still in school and getting paid for work performed. At the successful conclusion of this program, you may be eligible for non-competitive conversion to a Federal career or career-conditional position.
This developmental position serves as a critical technical resource for enabling national and international spectrum strategies, protecting mission-critical federal systems, and supporting global U.S. leadership in wireless technology innovation. This includes applying RF engineering principles to ensure spectrum-dependent systems are planned, coordinated, and operated efficiently, without harmful interference. These principles may include the analysis of communications, radar, and radionavigation systems; computational simulation and modeling of RF systems and electromagnetic compatibility and interference scenarios; and the development, testing, and evaluation of RF sensors, and radionavigation systems, and defense systems.
NOTE: This position is with either the Office of Spectrum Management or Institute for Telecommunication Sciences.
As a Student Trainee (General Engineer), you will perform the following duties:

• Providing engineering support services to higher graded engineers;
• Assisting in the testing, installation, modification or maintenance of electronics systems and components;
• Performing moderately complex engineering analyses and calculations to include assessing the signal propagation models, signal interference standards and converting to computational analysis.
• Planning work procedures and researching available references for moderately complex technical problem solving.
• Preparing moderately complex reports for technical review by the senior staff.

This Job Opportunity Announcement may be used to fill other Student Trainee (General Engineering) GS-0899-7, FPL GS-9 or (equivalent band) positions within the Department of Commerce in the same geographical location with the same qualifications and specialized experience.
Requirements
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Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position.
• You must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a degree-seeking student the duration of the appointment.
• You must successfully pass a background investigation. This may include a credit check, a review of financial issues, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs.
• A probationary period may be required.
• Selective Service: Males born after 12/31/59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see https://www.sss.gov/).
• 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.
• All Federal employees are required to have Federal salary payments made by direct deposit to a financial institution of their choosing.
• Drug Test: NO
• License required: NO
• Pre-employment physical required: NO
• Bargaining Unit Position: NO
• Confidential Financial Disclosure Report (OGE form 450): NO
• Permanent Change of Duty Station (PCS) Expense: WILL NOT be paid
• If selected, must sign Student Pathways Program Agreement and provide official transcript at the time of appointment and at the end of each academic term to ensure eligibility. Your college transcript is used to verify successful completion of degree, or college course work. Official transcripts will be required before you can report to duty.

Qualifications
Qualification requirements in the vacancy announcements are based on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Qualification Standards Handbook, which contains federal qualification standards. This handbook is available on the Office of Personnel Management's website located at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/
To qualify, the candidate must:

• Be at least 16 years of age at the time of appointment.
• Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a student on at least a half-time schedule at a qualifying educational institution in a certificate, degree, or diploma program. Qualifying Educational Institutions are any of the following: 1) A public high school whose curriculum has been approved by a State or local governing body; 2) A private school that provides secondary education as determined under State law; 3) A home school that is allowed to operate in a State; 4) Any of the following educational institutions or curricula that have been accredited by an accrediting body recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education: A technical or vocational school; a 2-year or 4-year college or university; a graduate or professional school (e.g. law school, medical school); or a post-secondary home school curriculum.
• Maintain a 2.9 Grade Point Average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale for all college classes and must maintain this GPA to remain eligible for the program.

To qualify at the GS-07 grade level you must possess one of the following::
EDUCATION: One full year of graduate-level education related to engineering
OR
2. Superior Academic Achievement as demonstrated by a bachelor's degree in a curriculum related to engineering from an accredited college or university with one of the following. NOTE It is your responsibility to ensure your application clearly states how you meet one of the provisions below:

• A grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher based on a 4.0 scale for all completed undergraduate courses, or those completed in the last 2 full years of undergraduate study;
• A GPA of 3.5 or higher based on a 4.0 scale for required courses completed in a major field of study, or those courses completed in a major field of study during the last two years of undergraduate study;
• Class standing of upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision of the college;
• Membership in a national Scholastic Honor Society certified by the Association of College honor Societies, excluding freshman honor societies.

OR
SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: One full year (52 weeks) of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-05 in the Federal service. Specialized experience MUST include all of the following:

• Collecting engineering testing data; AND
• Drafting reports; AND
• Developing basic functions in MATLAB or Python; AND
• Participating in research.

OR
COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
If you are currently enrolled in or accepted in a graduate-level program, please submit your undergraduate (or bachelor's) transcripts along with your graduate-level transcripts.
Education
There is a positive education requirement for this position. Transcripts are required.
See Qualifications Above.
NOTE:Special Instructions for Foreign Education: Qualifying education from colleges and universities in foreign countries must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. You MUST provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application. Failure to provide such documentation when requested will result in lost consideration.
Additional information
Interns may be converted to a permanent (or, in some limited circumstances, to a term position lasting 1-4 years) within 120 days of successful completion of the program. Program requirements for conversion include:

• Complete at least 480 hours of work experience acquired through the Internship Program.
• Complete their degree or certificate requirements.
• Meet the qualification standards for the position to which the Intern will be converted.
• Meet agency-specific requirements as specified in the Participant's Agreement.
• Perform their job successfully.

This appointment may continue until the selectee earns 640 work education hours AND education program requirements have been completed, at which time the individual may, at the agency's discretion, be converted to a term or permanent appointment. Pathways intern are not conferred any rights nor guarantee for conversion at the end of the appointment.
Additional Pathways Program Internship information can be found at www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-authorities/students-recent-graduates/#url=Program-Fact-Sheets.
Current or Former Political Appointees: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) must authorize employment offers made to current or former political appointees. If you are currently, or have been within the last 5 years, a political Schedule A, Schedule C, Non-career SES, or Presidential Appointee employee in the Executive Branch, you must disclose this information to the Human Resources Office.
Additional Information Specific to This Posting
Please indicate on your resume which location (Washington, DC or Boulder, CO) and if you are applying for a Summer 2026 or Fall 2026 internship opportunity.
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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.
Benefits
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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.
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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.