Engineer Intern - Researcher

Description

Do you want to apply your technical skills to real-world problems and gain hands-on experience with cyber operations?

Are you intellectually curious, always seeking to understand how systems work, where they break, and what you can make them do?

Do you enjoy creating, experimenting, and building something new?

Are you passionate about cybersecurity, national security, and public service?

If these questions resonate with you, you may be a great fit for an internship with the Cyber Warfare Systems Group (QCR)!QCR team members apply their skills to offensive security operations and non-kinetic mission defeat. We develop innovative cyber capabilities that support the U.S. military's efforts to execute cyber missions at scale in support of joint operations. We are a team built around trust, clarity, growth, and mission impact. Our research areas include analysis and targeting, cyber layer modeling, cybersecurity, and human systems modeling.

As a member of our team...

You will gain a hands-on engineering internship experience. Interns work alongside and learn from experienced engineers, computer scientists, researchers, analysts and cyber practitioners while contributing to real problems supporting cyber operations. Depending on your interests, background, and experience, you may:

• Explore new technical approaches and rapidly turn promising ideas into prototypes.
• Experiment with emerging technologies, including AI-enabled approaches, and critically evaluate what they can and cannot do.
• Develop models, software, scripts, automation, data-analysis methods, or other technical solutions to challenging cyber mission problems.
• Investigate systems, networks, and technologies to understand how they work, where they may be vulnerable, and how they can support mission needs.
• Contribute to the design, development, testing, and fielding of capabilities supporting cyber operations missions.
• Work with government, contractor, and APL teammates as technical ideas move toward operational use.
• Have opportunities to contribute your own ideas and perspective. Our interns are active members of the team, eager to learn quickly, and make a meaningful team impact

Qualifications

You meet our minimum qualifications for consideration if you:

• Are pursuing a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mathematics, Electrical Engineering, Cybersecurity, or another engineering or technical field. Students in other disciplines who have demonstrated strong technical skills applicable to QCR's work are also encouraged to apply.
• Have a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
• Have explored technical problems through coursework, research, clubs, competitions, personal projects, internships, open-source contributions, or other hands-on experiences. Relevant areas may include vulnerability research, information theory, information security, cybersecurity, cryptography, networking, penetration testing, systems engineering, modeling and simulation, software development, or related technical areas.
• Enjoy creating, experimenting, building, and seeing ideas through to working solutions.
• Can critically evaluate technical approaches, including AI-enabled technologies, and are curious about both their capabilities and limitations.
• Can effectively communicate technical information, concepts, and ideas to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Are able to acquire an Interim Secret level security clearance by your start date and can ultimately acquire a Top Secret with SCI level clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

You'll go above and beyond our minimum requirements if you...

• Build things outside the classroom, for example software, hardware, homelabs, Capture The Flag (CTF) solutions, automation, data projects, AI experiments, or anything else that shows technical curiosity and follow-through.
• Have experience with open-source intelligence (OSINT), publicly available information (PAI), commercially available information (CAI), intelligence analysis, targeting, geopolitical analysis, or other mission-focused analytical methods.
• Have proficiency in a defense-critical foreign language.
• Have experimented with AI/ML, large language models, or AI agents and understand the opportunities, limitations, and risks of using AI in mission-critical applications.
• Have demonstrated initiative, leadership, teamwork, or ownership through technical projects, research, student organizations, competitions, employment, military/ROTC experience, or other activities.

About Us

Why Work at APL?

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world-class expertise to our nation’s most critical defense, security, space and science challenges. While we are dedicated to solving complex challenges and pioneering new technologies, what makes us truly outstanding is our culture. We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates.

At APL, we celebrate our differences of perspectives and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas. Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance. APL’s campus is located in the Baltimore-Washington metro area. Learn more about our career opportunities at https://www.jhuapl.edu/careers.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, occupation, marital or familial status, political opinion, personal appearance, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. APL is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals of all abilities, including those with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact [email protected].

The referenced pay range is based on JHU APL’s good faith belief at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as geographic location, work experience, market conditions, education/training and skill level with consideration for internal parity. For salaried employees scheduled to work less than 40 hours per week, annual salary will be prorated based on the number of hours worked. APL may offer bonuses or other forms of compensation per internal policy and/or contractual designation. Additional compensation may be provided in the form of a sign-on bonus, relocation benefits, locality allowance or discretionary payments for exceptional performance. APL provides eligible staff with a comprehensive benefits package including retirement plans, paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, education assistance, and training and development. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Minimum Rate

$22.60 Hourly

Maximum Rate

$47.95 Hourly