Systems Engineering Intern

Leidos is seeking a motivated Systems Engineering Intern based at Ft Meade, Maryland to support a complex, multi-year contract providing mission-critical engineering support to the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA). This is an excellent opportunity for a current student to kickstart their career by gaining hands-on, real-world experience with enterprise IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, and cross-domain technologies.  This internship would start May 2027. As a Systems Engineering Intern, you will work closely with our senior engineers on a high-priority integration effort. You won't be working alone—you will be mentored by a team of experts while contributing to real-world tasks. The ideal candidate is curious, eager to learn, and ready to jump in and help the team solve technical challenges in a fast-paced environment. Primary Responsibilities include: Learn & Support: Assist senior engineers in designing, building, and maintaining IT infrastructure, including servers, networks, and storage systems. Virtualization: Gain hands-on exposure to virtual environments by helping configure and maintain VMware and ESXi systems. Cybersecurity in Action: Learn how to apply Department of War (DoW) security standards (DISA STIGs) to ensure our systems remain secure and compliant. Hands-on IT: Assist with the physical hardware setup in our labs, including racking servers, running network cables, and performing basic hardware configurations. Automation: Use the coding skills you’ve learned in school (Python, Bash, etc.) to help write basic automation scripts that make deploying systems faster and easier. Documentation & Diagramming: Help the team track hardware/software changes, update system baseline inventories, and use tools like MS Visio to create network and system diagrams. Troubleshooting: Participate in system testing and help the engineering team troubleshoot and resolve operational IT issues. Collaboration: Attend meetings with team members and mission partners to learn how engineering requirements are gathered and turned into technical solutions.

Location & Onsite Commitment:  Must be located near the Ft Meade, MD area for the summer and commit to a  100% onsite work schedule  in our facility. Student Status: Must be currently enrolled in an accredited degree program in Computer Science, Information Technology, Systems Engineering, Cybersecurity, or a related technical field. Required Certification: Must possess an active DoD 8140/8570 IAT Level II certification (such as CompTIA Security Plus) prior to the internship start date in May 2027. Clearance: Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD Secret clearance.  (Note: U.S. Citizenship is required for security clearances). IT Fundamentals: Basic understanding of computer hardware, operating systems, and networking concepts (routers, switches, IP addressing) derived from your current coursework. Linux/Command Line: Familiarity with Linux operating systems and basic command-line navigation from labs, coursework, or personal projects. Scripting: Basic programming or scripting knowledge (e.g., Python, Bash, PowerShell, Java, or C++). Soft Skills: Strong attention to detail, a proactive attitude, and the ability to work well within a collaborative team environment.

(Not required, but a plus!): Active DoD Secret or Top Secret clearance. Classroom experience or personal projects involving virtual machines (VMware/VirtualBox) or containers (Docker). Familiarity with basic network diagramming tools (like MS Visio). A strong interest in cybersecurity, network defense, or systems integration. If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster