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Language Analyst

When it comes to foreign languages, every little word can have global ramifications. That's why National Security Agency Language Analysts need to be able to listen, write, translate, transcribe, research, and report - but most importantly - to understand meaning and intent.

A passion for foreign languages is a must for this profession. Language proficiency and understanding of nuance, context, cultural overtones, and dialect enables NSA Language Analysts to provide a more complete and accurate Signals Intelligence picture to U.S. policy makers, military commanders, and Intelligence Community members. As a Language Analyst, you will be part of a team working directly with the original written or spoken language in a dynamic environment. You will determine the relevance of the intelligence collected, research it, analyze it and put it into context. Language Analysts can spend many hours per day translating or transcribing the foreign language into English as part of their analysis. It's a tremendous responsibility, but one which is extremely satisfying.

We are always looking for well-qualified applicants with exceptional language skills. We are currently looking for applicants with proficiency in the languages listed below. However, if you don't see your language in the list, you should still apply because our language requirements can change at any time.

Career Paths in Foreign Language as a Language Analyst

Arabic
Chinese (Mandarin)
Pashto
Persian-Dari
Persian-Farsi
Russian

Let's talk about your advancement potential! As a Language Analyst at NSA, you will continue to develop your language abilities and you will learn new skills, thus providing you with more opportunities to expand your horizons than a comparable career in business, commerce, or academia. You may take on additional research and reporting responsibilities, apply for field assignments abroad, or teach at our National Cryptologic School.

Language Instructor

Understanding written and spoken language is a core skill of the National Security Agency mission. NSA language specialists are known as Language Analysts because they must apply their language skills to a variety of analytical tasks, which demand deep and accurate assessment of meaning and intent. To ensure that the Language Analyst workforce attains the skills required, NSA is seeking highly-qualified Language Instructors for full-time employment. Preferred candidates will have a deep knowledge of the languages they are teaching, at the level of an educated native speaker. They will have experience teaching adult students and will have knowledge of language teaching methodology. They should be skilled in teaching reading and listening comprehension, translation, and transcription.

Agency Language Instructors work in a fast-paced environment teaching through both platform courses and online instruction, using cutting edge instructional technology. Instructors sometimes work on teams, and sometimes individually. When not directly engaged in teaching, they develop new courses, use student feedback to update existing courses, work directly with Language Analysts on the job, and engage in other training to perfect their skills. For these positions high energy and personal creativity are a must.

As a Language Instructor at NSA, you will continue to develop your teaching abilities and learn new skills. You may take on additional responsibilities mentoring other instructors, managing your curriculum, co-teaching methodology courses to your fellow instructors, or be selected for short-term field assignments at various locations. There are many opportunities to branch out and expand your skill set. With us, in many senses the sky is the limit!

Career Paths in Language as a Language Instructor

We are currently looking for instructors with proficiency in the languages listed below. However, if you don't see your language in the list, you should still apply because our language requirements can change at any time.