Student & Entry Level
Start your career with talented colleagues, supportive leadership, dedication to innovation and a clearly defined mission – helping to protect the lives of civilians and U.S. airmen around the world. Internships and entry-level positions are available throughout our organization. Take a look at some of the options you have to begin your career with ESC.
Student Internships
The Student Educational Employment Program is a government-wide program that allows students taking at least a half-time academic, technical, or vocational course load in an accredited high school, technical, vocational, two or four year college or university, graduate or professional school to be part of a cooperative-learning environment. During this paid internship, you'll do work that's directly related to your area of focus as well as broader work to get to know our agency. For more information and to apply, visit OPM and USAJobs.
Student Career Experience Program (SCEP)
With formal periods of work and study while you're attending school, this program offers focused experience related to your field of study. You, your university and ESC will team up to fulfill the goals of this program. Once you've completed SCEP and finished school, you can be eligible for full-time employment with ESC. Learn more about SCEP.
Student Temporary Employment Program (STEP)
From summer jobs to positions that can last the entire time you're a student, this program offers you paid temporary employment with a government agency. Your work doesn't necessarily have to correlate to your field of study. Learn more about STEP.
The Science, Math, and Research for Transformation (SMART)
Scholarship-for-Service program is part of a concentrated effort to improve the flow of new, highly skilled technical labor into DoD facilities and agencies and to enhance the technical skills of the workforce already in place. SMART offers scholarships to undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students who have demonstrated the ability and special aptitude for excelling in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. SMART scholarships include placement in paid summer internships at DoD facilities. Upon graduation, recipients incur a service commitment commensurate with the length of the scholarship award. The program is open only to U.S. citizens. Learn more about SMART.
Civilian Entry Level Programs
Over 150,000 civilians are employed by the United States Air Force. ESC is one of the many arms of our organization supported by talented civilians. As part of the team tasked with leading ESC's high technology research, development and applications, you'll be expected to be geographically mobile, and must be a U.S. citizen. Our two civilian entry level programs, PALACE Acquire and Copper Caps are full-time opportunities with 2-4 years of formal on-the-job training and performance-based annual promotions.
PALACE Acquire (PAQ)
PAQ offers positions in a range of fields – from engineering to personnel, science to security and more. Target positions for interns are established at the GS-9, GS-11, and GS-12 levels. During this two to three year program you'll prepare yourself for a future in management or administration with ESC.
Copper Caps
Similar in structure to the PAQ program, Copper Caps hires exclusively for positions in contract management.
Civilian Intern Benefits
As a civilian intern with ESC, you are a full-time federal government employee. With that comes benefits and entitlements such as paid sick leave, paid vacations, paid federal holidays, health and life insurance, a retirement plan, and a tax deferred investment plan equivalent to a 401(k) - with matching federal contributions. And, due to the uniqueness of working on an active-duty military installation, we are proud to offer you access to a full-range of recreational and support facilities:
- Fitness Centers, Swimming Pools, Jogging Tracks and Bowling Alleys
- Hobby Shops (Arts/Crafts, Woodworking and Automotive)
- On-base Credit Union and Bank
- Family Support Centers, Social Clubs and Libraries
- Opportunities for assignments anywhere in the world
Only the hospital/clinic, Commissary, and Base Exchange are restricted for use by the active-duty military and their dependents.