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.

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 than anyone else dares.

• 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, Power Shell, Java, or C++).
• Soft Skills:
  
  Strong attention to detail, a proactive attitude, and the ability to work well within a collaborative team environment.

• Active DoD Secret or Top Secret clearance.
• Classroom experience or personal projects involving virtual machines…