Technical intern

Leidos is seeking a summer intern with a Computer Science, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, or similar technical background to join our team in support of the SMIT contract, the largest IT services program for the U.S. Navy.

Under the Service Management, Integration, and Transport (SMIT) program, the Leidos team delivers the core backbone of the Navy–Marine Corps Intranet (NMCI), including cybersecurity services, network operations, service desk, and data transport. The team supports the Navy in unifying enterprise services while meeting rigorous cybersecurity and compliance requirements.

The successful candidate will support the development of AI-enabled solutions and automation. This role will work closely with multi-disciplinary scrum teams which include systems engineers, cybersecurity engineers, and Information System Security Engineers (ISSEs) to help design, document, and mature solutions that meet technical, security, and compliance standards. The internship offers hands-on exposure to AI agents, automation, system design, and cybersecurity accreditation in a mission-critical environment.

Primary Responsibilities

• Support development and prototyping of AI agents and AI-enabled automation solutions
• Assist with documenting system architecture, data flows, and security considerations to support the ATO process
• Work with systems engineers and ISSEs to support risk assessments, control implementation, and compliance artifacts
• Help translate technical solution designs into documentation aligned with RMF / ATO requirements
• Support development of Python-based automation or scripts used by AI agents or operational workflows
• Assist with testing, validation, and refinement of AI or automation solutions prior to production use
• Contribute to Robotic Process Automation (RPA) initiatives to reduce manual effort and improve efficiency (as needed)
• Participate in Agile ceremonies including daily scrums, sprint planning, and retrospectives
• Contribute to backlog items, technical documentation, and process improvements
• Collaborate with a geographically distributed (remote) team

Basic Qualifications

• Enrolled in a Master’s degree program in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, Cybersecurity, Data Science, or related field
• Experience with programming or scripting, preferably Python
• Understanding of system architecture concepts, data flows, or software design fundamentals
• Strong analytical, documentation, and problem-solving skills
• Ability to collaborate with technical and cybersecurity stakeholders
• Interest in AI, automation, and secure system delivery
• Ability to obtain a Secret level security clearance
• US citizenship required
• GPA of 3.0 or higher

Preferred Qualifications

• Exposure to AI agents, machine learning, or generative AI frameworks
• Familiarity with ATO / RMF concepts or cybersecurity compliance processes
• Experience supporting or developing automation or RPA solutions (UiPath or similar tools)
• Experience with system diagrams, architecture documentation, or technical writing
• Familiarity with REST APIs, microservices, or cloud-based architectures
• Exposure to Agile development and tools such as Jira or Azure DevOps
• Security+ certification or interest in pursuing DoD-aligned cybersecurity certifications

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.