Summary This internship is part of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Gateways Internship Program, expected to begin May 30, 2027. This is a temporary internship with a possibility of extension throughout the academic year provided the employee remains eligible for employment in the Gateways Intern Program. To qualify, applicants must be enrolled (or accepted for enrollment) on at least a half-time basis in a qualifying educational institution. Duties The FAA Internship Program provides aspiring public servants with opportunities to contribute to the mission of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and gain firsthand experience addressing the operational, technical, and policy challenges of the nation's aviation system. Interns work alongside experienced FAA professionals across a variety of disciplines, including aviation safety, engineering, information technology (IT), mathematics, business, finance, economics, human resources, and policy. Through meaningful, hands-on assignments and collaboration with professionals, interns gain insight into how these disciplines work together to ensure the safety and efficiency of the National Airspace System (NAS), support the aviation industry, and advance the FAA's mission to provide the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world. The FAA Student Trainee supports the mission and operations of the assigned office by performing developmental assignments designed to provide practical experience, build professional skills, and prepare the student for progressively more complex responsibilities. Duties may include:
- Assisting FAA professionals with administrative, analytical, research, and program support activities related to the office's mission and responsibilities.
- Gathering, reviewing, organizing, and analyzing information to support projects, program activities, and operational needs.
- Assisting in the preparation of reports, briefings, presentations, correspondence, meeting materials, and other documents for staff and leadership.
- Supporting the coordination, tracking, and monitoring of projects, assignments, and program activities.
- Participating in team meetings, special projects, and other developmental activities to gain an understanding of FAA operations and the National Airspace System.
- Performing other related trainee assignments that provide opportunities to apply academic knowledge, develop professional competencies, and contribute to the FAA's mission.
The FAA seeks motivated, adaptable, and enthusiastic students who are interested in public service and contributing to the safety, efficiency, and advancement of the nation's aviation system. Ideal candidates demonstrate a willingness to learn, take initiative, collaborate with others, and apply their academic knowledge to support organizational goals and improve government operations. Academic Background: Students pursuing a degree or other qualifying educational credential in a field relevant to the assigned office's work. Core Competencies: Strong communication, organization, attention to detail, problem-solving, time management, and the ability to work collaboratively and manage multiple priorities. Mission Alignment: An interest in learning about FAA programs and operations, supporting the agency's mission, and contributing to the continued safety and efficiency of the National Airspace System.
Qualifications
To qualify for the FV-C (FG/GS - 3/4) level, you must be currently enrolled full time or at least half time in an accredited educational institution (college, university, vocational school, trade school, etc.) and show completion of 1 full academic year of post-high school study. Full or half time enrollment is defined by your educational institution. To qualify for the FV-D (FG/GS - 5/9) level, you must be currently enrolled full time or at least half time in an accredited educational institution (college, university, vocational school, trade school, etc.) and show completion of 4 academic years of post-high school study leading to a bachelor's degree or equivalent degree. Full or half time enrollment is defined by your educational institution. Due to the education requirement of this position, an official or unofficial transcript must be submitted at the time of application. If transcripts are not received, you will be rated as ineligible. Unofficial transcripts will be accepted in the application package. Official transcripts will be required prior to a final offer of employment. You may use 2026 in-progress semester/quarter hours to qualify for a higher grade level. Qualifications will be determined based on completed and in-progress hours stated on your unofficial transcript submitted at the time of application. You must provide updated transcripts that show any/all degrees conferred, current grades and registration with cumulative GPA to support your educational claims (acceptance letter is also required if applicable to current academic status). Degree Requirement: course of study leading to a degree or equivalent. AND Interns must meet the following requirements at time of appointment and throughout the duration of the appointment: (1) Must meet the definition of student. An intern who is graduating from a degree-seeking program and has been accepted into another degree-seeking program (e.g., graduating with a bachelor's degree and immediately enrolling into a master's degree program) may be eligible to remain in the Internship Program if the student continues to meet program eligibility requirements. (2) Must provide proof of enrollment (e.g., official/unofficial transcript, letter from registrar's office, or tuition bill) to the Gateways Program Coordinator prior to appointment and following each quarter or semester, as appropriate, to confirm that they continue to meet eligibility requirements. Interns in a certificate program, not on a quarter hour or semester hour system, must submit a bi-annual statement from the registrar or instructor showing that the student is progressing in the program on at least a half-time basis and that their performance/progress is acceptable. (3) Must be a United States citizen. (4) Must meet qualification requirements, security, and/or medical requirements (if applicable), and any other requirements specific to the position for which appointed/converted. (5) Must have registered with the Selective Service System or have an approved exemption (only applies to males born after December 31, 1959). See EMP-1.38, Selective Service Registration Requirements. (6) Meet specific requirements as specified in the Participant Agreement. Features of the Gateways Internship Program Appointment:Â This is an Excepted Service appointment on a temporary basis. This temporary internship is not-to-exceed August 7, 2027. The temporary appointment can be extended and/or converted to a new temporary appointment at management's discretion based on the needs of the organization for the work to continue and provided the employee remains eligible for employment in the Gateways Intern Program. Promotion is not permitted during this temporary appointment. Agreement:Â All participants must sign a written Gateways Internship Agreement with the FAA that clearly identifies expectations of the appointment such as duties, length of appointment, work schedule, training, mentorship etc.
Conversion:Â Although it is not guaranteed, an intern may be converted from the Internship program to a permanent excepted service position without further competition after successful completion of the educational program (awarding of degree), completion of a minimum of 480 hours of career-related work, required training, mentorship, and other requirements in accordance with the intern's participant agreement. Termination:Â Participation in this program may be terminated at any time. Transcripts:Â Must be submitted. If you do not submit your transcripts, your application will be considered incomplete and will not be given further consideration. Housing:Â Housing is the responsibility of the applicant.
Education This position has a positive education requirement: Applicants must submit a copy of their college or university transcripts(s) and certificates by the closing date of announcement to verify qualifications. If selected, an official transcript will be required prior to appointment. You may upload these documents with your application in USAJOBS or fax it to fax number provided in the announcement (please include announcement number on each page).
Failure to do so will result in loss of consideration.
Schools must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation may be verified at the following website: www.ed.gov/accreditation.
Foreign education must be evaluated by a private professional organization specializing in interpretation of foreign education credentials or an accredited U.S. educational institution in terms of equivalence to a degree acquired at an American college or university. A copy of the evaluation results must be included, otherwise your foreign education will not be considered. As a part of the Federal-Wide Hiring Reform Initiative (streamlining the hiring process), the FAA is committed to eliminating the use of the Knowledge, Skills and Ability (KSA) narratives from the initial application in the hiring process for all announcements. Therefore, as an applicant for this announcement, you are NOT required to provide a narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA. In lieu of providing a KSA narrative response in the text box listed below each KSA, in your work history, please include information that provides specific examples of how you meet the response level or answer you chose for each KSA. Your work history examples should be specific and clearly reflect the highest level of ability. Your KSA answers will be evaluated further to validate whether the level that you selected is appropriate based on the work history and experience you provided. Your answers may be adjusted by a Human Resource Specialist as appropriate. Eligible applicants meeting the minimum qualification requirements may be further evaluated on the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSA) listed in the announcement. Based on this evaluation, applicants will be placed in one of the following categories: score order, category grouping, or priority grouping and referred to the selecting official for consideration.
Requirements
We are not accepting applications from noncitizens. How you will be evaluated
IMPORTANT: Applicants may be rated on the extent and quality of experience, education, and training relevant to the duties of the position(s). All answers provided in the on-line process must be substantiated. Ensure that your application package/resume supports your responses.How to apply Applicants may be required to complete one or multiple assessments as part of the evaluation process. This assessment aims to evaluate the competencies and qualifications essential for the position.
You must apply online to receive consideration. Your application must be submitted by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the Close Date for it to be accepted. If you are applying for positions associated with FAA registers, your application must be submitted at the time a referral list is created in order to receive consideration for positions associated with a register.
RESUMES ARE LIMITED TO TWO PAGES. IN DESCRIBING YOUR WORK EXPERIENCE AND/OR EDUCATION, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC AND INCLUDE INFORMATION AS IT RELATES TO THE QUALIFICATIONS AND SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS POSITION.
Please ensure EACH work history includes ALL of the following information:
Job Title (include series and grade if Federal Job)
- Relevant work experience: should align to the Job Announcement and address all required qualifications and include job title, employer name, start/end dates, number of hours worked per week.
- Education, certification or licensure: If required, education should include school/institution name, completion date, degree type and GPA.
Determining length of General or Specialized Experience is dependent on the above information and failure to provide ALL of this information may result in a finding of ineligible.
You may upload completed documents to your USAJOBS Account. This will provide you the opportunity to utilize the uploaded information again when applying for future vacancies. Other information We may use this vacancy to fill other similar vacant positions. Position may be subject to a background investigation. A one-year probationary period may be required.
The person selected for this position may be required to file a financial disclosure statement within 30 days of entry on duty. FAA policy limits certain outside employment and financial investments in aviation-related companies. www.faa.gov/jobs/workinghere/financial-disclosure-requirements
Notes:Â
- Applicants must apply on-line to receive consideration for this vacancy announcement. Faxed, mailed or emailed applications cannot be accepted. Please ensure you answer all questions and follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may impact your rating or may result in you not being considered for the job.
- Some, none, or all candidates may be interviewed.
- Positions to be filled anywhere within FAA Regional Offices, Centers and/or Headquarters.
- Work Schedules will be determined at the discretion of management and will not be available until after appointment and onboarding.
- This position is covered by the FAA Core Compensation plan. Additional information about core compensation is available on the following website: https://www.faa.gov/jobs/working_here/benefits. This is not a bargaining unit position.
Links to Important Information: Locality Pay, COLA