Fall 2025 - Student Opportunities in Language/Linguistics (Chinese)

Salary:  $23.27-$37.77

Closing date: 2025-01-22

Reference number: RF-12659

About CSE

The Communications Security Establishment (CSE) is Canada’s agency responsible for foreign signals intelligence, cyber operations and cyber security. Learn more about our mission.

Student positions at CSE are unlike most others. We offer both practical and developmental work experience and allow students to be part of meaningful, exciting, projects, with the hope that they will want to join us full-time following their studies.

CSE is committed to fostering a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion. This isn’t just an ideal, it’s crucial to our mission. Find out about our workplace culture, including our diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Become part of our team and you’ll understand why CSE is the most important organization you’ve never heard of.

Job summary

We are looking for students from all academic backgrounds, who are interested serving Canadian national interests, and who possess Chinese languages skills from a diverse range of cultural backgrounds, to work in a dynamic and innovative operational environment.

 

As a student positioned alongside Foreign Language Intelligence Analysts, you will play an essential role in assisting in the drafting of SIGINT reporting by reading material in Simplified or Traditional Chinese, listening to material in Mandarin or Cantonese, analyzing its relevance and importance, and producing translations or transcriptions to be used in the production of reports for clients within the Government of Canada. These reports help inform federal decision-making to safeguard Canadian interests and protect Canadians’ lives.

 

With your strong analytical skills, you will piece together information collected from a variety of communication sources. You will conduct research, synthesize the material, add value, and provide context by drawing on your linguistic and cultural expertise. You will also work closely with technical experts in other parts of CSE and will have an opportunity to learn more about telecommunications technology and different analytical tools.

Salary

To find out more about our student salary scale visit the Compensation page on our website.

Area of selection

Open to Canadian citizens.

Location

Ottawa, Ontario.  All jobs require full-time onsite presence in one of our two accessible facilities.

Learn more about where we work.

Conditions of employment

A valid Enhanced Reliability Status (ERS) or an Enhanced Top Secret (ETS) security clearance is a condition of employment that must be met before an offer can be made.

For more information about our hiring process, visit our hiring process and security page on our website.

Essential qualifications

In order to be considered, your cover letter must clearly explain how you meet the following education and experience requirements.

Education

You must be registered as a 3rd or 4th year full-time student in a recognized post-secondary program in Canada. Your academic specialization does not need to be directly related with the specifics of this opportunity. Academic diversity is important for analysts; you are asked to show strong analytical skills alongside a strong willingness to learn.

 

Note: The educational program must be recognized in Canada, and you must be able to provide a transcript from your most recent term. Students graduating prior to, or during, the work term are not eligible to apply.

Competencies

The following technical, behavioural and leadership competencies will be assessed at a later date. You do not need to include information about them in your application. 

Technical competencies

·        Analytical Thinking

·        Familiarity with various computing systems

Behavioural competencies

·        Cognitive thinking skills

·        Interactive communication

·        Working in a team

Leadership competencies

·        Achieving results

·        Collaboration

·        Integrity, respect & awareness

Assets

Assets are “nice-to-have” expertise and skills we’re interested in. You will not be eliminated if you do not meet or possess these qualifications. However, if you do have them, they may be used to identify which team you could best complement.

Please demonstrate on your application if you meet or possess the asset education or asset experience listed below.

Asset experience

·        Experience with the following would be an asset but not necessary :

o   Ability to code in Python, R, C, or other programming languages

o   Knowledge of telecommunications technology

o   Knowledge of geospatial analysis tools and techniques

o   Knowledge on performing open-source research

How to apply

You may submit your candidacy online by selecting “Apply” at the top or bottom of this page.

If you cannot apply online or have a disability preventing you from applying online, please inform us by email at students-etudiants@cse-cst.gc.ca prior to the closing date of this selection process.

Important information

The process will be conducted in the official language of your choice.

To address CSE’s current representation gaps, priority may be given to persons who self-declare as belonging to the following designated employment equity groups: women; Indigenous peoples, including First Nations who are status, or registered and non-status, or non-registered, Inuit and Métis; persons with disabilities, including people with a mental health condition and neurodivergent people; and persons from racial or ethnic groups. 

Please note the Employment Equity Act, which is under review, uses the terminology Aboriginal peoples and visible minorities.

CSE offers an assessment process that will accommodate any reasonable measures you require to be assessed in a fair and equitable manner. Those measures are available to all candidates during our processes. Information you provide will be addressed confidentially.

All communications with CSE relating to this process, including email messages and telephone conversations, may be used in the assessment of qualifications.

We thank you for your interest in CSE. However, only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.