Central Intelligence Agency Australia

It only takes one new piece of foreign intelligence - and everything can change in an instant. Get a sneak peek at what it is like to work at the CIA, and discover how you can play a role in protecting our nation.
Learn more about clandestine careers and other career opportunities with the CIA.

The CIA is the nation’s premier agency for providing global intelligence in the ever-changing political, social, economic, technological and military landscapes. Our mission is straightforward but critical: to protect America’s national security.

By collecting valuable foreign intelligence, conducting timely analysis and executing effective covert actions, the CIA preempts threats and protects everything we hold dear. From data analysis to clandestine operations to cyber security, our efforts are innovative, impactful, collaborative and driven by our mission.

When you work at the CIA, you are part of a family of service – a diverse and inclusive group of professionals who are proud to be the nation’s first line of defense. The Agency works hard to create a culture of acceptance where everyone is valued for their unique backgrounds and ideas.

Here, you can use your exceptional talents on work that is at the heart of world-shaping events. This is a place where everything you are – and everything you do – matters. Join us and discover why using your abilities to help keep our nation safe means everything.

We face challenging, complex technical problems, and we need your creativity and talent to solve them. That’s why our science, technology, engineering and math positions are anything but ordinary. As part of the CIA, you’ll use your critical thinking skills and intellectual curiosity to crack some of the toughest challenges imaginable – from developing the world’s most advanced technology to seeing the complex narrative in big data.

If you’re a STEM professional, you can find an interesting career almost anywhere. But at the CIA, you can find even more – the opportunity to have a career that’s both substantial and inspiring.

In our rapidly changing world, intelligence priorities can shift as countries and languages increase in importance. To stay ahead of these critical changes, the CIA needs language professionals to help us effectively gather the intelligence that keeps our nation safe.

Operating in multiple positions throughout the Agency, our language experts use their ability to speak, read and translate foreign languages – as well as their understanding of cultural differences – to handle both current national security requirements and potentially new missions.

The Directorate of Operations (DO) is the CIA’s clandestine arm – collecting, evaluating and disseminating vital information on political, military, economic and scientific developments. The DO serves the United States as the front line, collecting foreign intelligence on current events and critical events abroad. This is more than a job – it’s a way of life for those who demand the highest personal satisfaction from their work.

As part of the DO, you will be executing some of the nation’s most critical clandestine work – helping to coordinate the nation’s human intelligence collection activities to safeguard national security and keep policymakers informed. Working in a fast-paced, varied work environment, you will be challenged to find innovative solutions to complex, high-impact problems.

To say working at the CIA as a student is unique would be an understatement. Whether you’re in an internship, Cooperative Education (Co-op) program or scholarship program, you are tackling some of the most critical work that keeps our nation safe.

Offered throughout the year in the Washington, DC area, our paid student programs span various fields of study. From accounting and finance, to foreign languages, economics, engineering and information technology, we need talented and intelligent people to do the work that protects all Americans. As you work alongside experts in your field, you will obtain real-world insight into the CIA and Intelligence Community – preparing you for a career more impactful than you ever dreamed possible.

The CIA believes that its strength lies within its people. We offer competitive salaries and excellent benefits, including paid time off, federal health and life insurance, retirement investment options, education and training, health services, and work-life programs and resources. Student loan repayment opportunities and foreign language incentives are also available for eligible candidates. Promoting an inclusive work environment, the Agency ensures that each and every employee is valued and encouraged to grow personally and professionally.