Defense Tech Force Opens 1000 Federal Jobs at $200K Salary
Trump Administration Opens 1,000 Defense Tech Jobs at $200K Salary
The Trump administration just launched a groundbreaking federal hiring program to create 1,000 high-paying jobs in defense and technology. The U.S. Tech Force program will offer salaries up to $200,000 per year. This makes these positions some of the best-paid technology jobs ever offered in government.
“If you want to help your country lead in the age of rapid technological advancement, we need you,” said OPM Director Scott Kupor. Software engineers, data scientists, and AI specialists will get a chance to upgrade vital defense systems across federal departments.
New hires will work at several agencies. The Department of Defense will focus on adding cutting-edge AI capabilities to military technologies. The Internal Revenue Service, State Department, and more than twelve other federal agencies will also bring in new talent.
The program has formed partnerships with tech giants like Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, Meta, Nvidia, and Palantir. These companies will support new hires with technical training and mentorship during their two-year commitment.
Recent federal workforce cuts haven’t stopped this targeted recruitment drive. The administration sees it as crucial to fill major gaps in America’s defense technology capabilities. This investment aims to keep America at the forefront of technology in an increasingly competitive global arena.
Defense Tech Force Launches with Unprecedented Hiring Push
The U.S. Tech Force program shows how OPM tackles critical workforce gaps in federal technology roles. Right now, only 7% of federal workers are under 30, while the private sector has 22%. This significant gap has created an urgent demand for specialists in artificial intelligence, software engineering and data science.
OPM aims to bring in its first group of 1,000 Tech Force members by March’s end. These new hires will start at GS-13 or GS-14 levels and earn between $130,000 to $195,000 per year. Members will spend two years working directly with agency leaders to solve mission-critical challenges.
“This is a clarion call,” noted OPM Director Scott Kupor. “Tech Force is a chance to build and lead projects of national importance, while creating powerful career opportunities in both public service and the private sector”.
The program goes beyond regular hiring through collaborations with over 20 private-sector tech companies. These partnerships provide technical training, mentorship, and potential job paths after completion. Mid-career private sector executives can temporarily join government service, which lets them bring their management expertise while keeping their corporate connections.
Candidates can apply anytime since positions are open in many agencies, giving tech professionals a great chance to serve in government roles.
Tech Force Aims to Modernize Federal Systems Through AI
Tech Force recruits have started a mission to modernize federal technology infrastructure. The program will integrate artificial intelligence across government systems and tackle the most complex technological challenges federal agencies face.
Their main goal focuses on updating legacy systems that prevent the government from using advanced technologies. The federal government has invested heavily in AI research but struggles to implement these breakthroughs.
Tech Force teams will work on mission-critical projects across agencies. These projects include integrating advanced AI into drones and weapons systems at the Department of Defense. The teams will also build the Trump Accounts platform at the Internal Revenue Service and use AI to enhance intelligence capabilities at the State Department.
The FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act strengthens these initiatives through provisions that expand commercial technology’s role. Departments must identify technical debt in legacy systems. The legislation also creates a detailed AI/ML security framework to ensure safeguards match evolving capabilities.
Tech Force’s initiative will revolutionize federal agencies’ operations. This change enables secure, budget-friendly technologies while exposing outdated systems hidden in the budget process. The U.S. government can now leverage AI opportunities to maintain its competitive edge in the digital world.
Private Sector and Government Join Forces to Train Recruits
A powerful coalition of industry leaders has teamed up with federal agencies to create complete training programs for Tech Force recruits, strengthening America’s technology edge. The initiative brings together nearly 30 leading technology companies—including Apple, Microsoft, Google, and Nvidia—that now work directly with the Office of Personnel Management to develop this specialized workforce.
The program enables engineering managers from these companies to temporarily work as government employees while they mentor and lead Tech Force teams. OPM Director Scott Kupor explains that this setup helps the government to “get people who are very skilled in the private sector at managing engineering teams” without requiring permanent career transitions.
Participants receive world-class technical training, attend speaker series with technology executives, and gain exclusive recruiting opportunities after completing their two-year government service. The Department of Defense Manufacturing Innovation Institutes (DoD MIIs) success shows in numbers – they have trained over 500,000 students and workforce members through more than 700 education and workforce development projects.
The initiative features specialized programs like the “Semester of Service” student volunteer program and cross-sector fellowships that connect academic settings to defense careers. This combination of government resources and private sector expertise creates what Kupor calls “a flywheel” to grow “a definitive, world changing pipeline of early-career talent into the federal government”.
Conclusion
The U.S. Tech Force initiative marks a turning point in federal technology recruitment. The Trump administration created 1,000 high-paying positions with salaries up to $200,000, making technological advancement central to national security. The program tackles a crucial age gap in government employment – only 7% of federal workers are under 30, compared to 22% in the private sector.
Tech Force members work across multiple agencies, showing how technology needs now pervade every aspect of government operations. This distributed approach lets members tackle challenges in a variety of areas and encourages state-of-the-art solutions throughout the federal system. The Department of Defense, Internal Revenue Service, and State Department will benefit from fresh views and specialized expertise in artificial intelligence, data science, and software engineering.
The initiative’s public-private partnerships create a powerful talent pipeline. Nearly 30 major technology companies have arranged their goals with government objectives. These companies provide mentorship, training, and career paths that were never available before in federal service. This cooperative effort has altered the map of government technical talent recruitment and retention.
The two-year program structure works well for both the government and participants. Tech experts can make meaningful contributions to national priorities while getting valuable public service experience. Agencies get immediate access to state-of-the-art skills without traditional hiring restrictions.
The Tech Force shows America’s dedication to staying ahead in technology in an increasingly competitive global environment. The program creates a lasting model for federal technology advancement by investing in specialized talent and building mutually beneficial alliances between government and industry. As artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies change national security, this initiative keeps the United States at the vanguard of defense innovation.