About the role
What Your Job Will Be Like
We are seeking a CA Center for Cyber Defenders (CCD) R&D Graduate Summer Intern
CCD's mission is to build the next generation of cyber security experts through the identification and mentoring of highly skilled student researchers in the fields of computer science and cyber security. You will have and use your basic knowledge and understanding of information security and best practices, data structures and algorithms, operating systems, and computer networks to advance cybersecurity research, solve our customer's problems, and contribute to our national security mission.
On any given day, you may be called on to
Leverage your skills across numerous domains, including software/hardware development, data analysis and machine learning, reverse engineering, and machine and network virtualization
Team with Sandia cybersecurity subject matter experts and fellow interns to solve real-world problems with real-world national security impact
Become a Sandia Cyber Defender and take the first step toward an impactful career in cybersecurity research and development addressing our nation's most challenging issues!
Salary Range
At Sandia, we value the important work done by our interns and its contribution to National Security. Because of this, our interns earn competitive pay rates. Our pay structure is based on earned credit hours, classification, and degree level. Your pay rate will be determined during the hire process and included in your offer package. You can view the Intern Pay Rate chart here (https://www.sandia.gov/app/uploads/sites/51/2024/12/Student-Rate-Sheet-2025.docx) .
Qualifications We Require
You bring the confidence and skills to be eligible for the job by meeting these minimum requirements:
Earned bachelor's degree
Currently attending and enrolled full time in the spring term immediately preceding the internship (or scheduled to graduate in the spring) in an accredited science, engineering, or math graduate program
Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0
Ability to work up to 40 hours per week during the summer
Ability to secure and maintain a U.S. security clearance which requires U.S. citizenship
Note: If you have not yet started your graduate program, please apply to an undergraduate intern position.
Qualifications We Desire
Cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher
Experience conducting research in a computer-related field such as Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or Cybersecurity
Demonstrated knowledge in two or more of the following areas:
Binary Analysis / Reverse Engineering (e.g. source code auditing, IDA, Ghidra, YARA, assembly language, obfuscation/anti-debug bypass)
Machine Learning and Large Language Models (e.g. pytorch, scikit-learn, fine-tuning and security of LLMs, hugging face, adversarial machine learning techniques, agentic workflows)
Networking (e.g. network segmentation, network traffic analysis, DNS, routing, network firewalls)
Hardware Security Design and Verification (assembly language, VHDL/Verilog, equivalence checking, hardware emulation)
System Administration and Security (e.g. user/group permissions, host firewalls, services, logging, basic networking)
Virtualization and Cloud Technologies (e.g. minimega, VMware, Virtualbox, qemu/kvm, kvirt, AWS/Azure/GCP/OCI, cloud telemetry and logging, virtual machine introspection)
Digital Forensics and Incident Response (e.g. intrusion detection systems, log management, network traffic capture and analysis, disk and memory forensics, risk management frameworks)
Posting Duration
This posting will be open for application submissions for a minimum of three (3) calendar days, including the 'posting date'. Sandia reserves the right to extend the posting date at any time.
About Our Team
The CCD intern program seeks outstanding undergraduate and graduate students to work on multi-disciplinary, motivated teams performing research that has a real-world impact on critical national security issues.
Interns work closely with Sandia researchers and other interns on R&D assignments that focus on applying computer science, computer engineering, or cybersecurity skills to solve complex challenges.
Based on your skills and experience, your role may include anything from research to software development to malware reverse engineering.
About Sandia
Sandia National Laboratories is the nation's premier science and engineering lab for national security and technology innovation, with teams of specialists focused on cutting-edge work in a broad array of areas. Some of the main reasons we love our jobs:
Challenging work with amazing impact that contributes to security, peace, and freedom worldwide
Extraordinary co-workers
Some of the best tools, equipment, and research facilities in the world
Career advancement and enrichment opportunities
Flexible work arrangements for many positions include 9/80 (work 80 hours every two weeks, with every other Friday off) and 4/10 (work 4 ten-hour days each week) compressed workweeks, part-time work, and telecommuting (a mix of onsite work and working from home)
Generous vacation, strong medical and other benefits, competitive 401k, learning opportunities, relocation assistance and amenities aimed at creating a solid work/life balance
World-changing technologies. Life-changing careers. Learn more about Sandia at: http://www.sandia.gov
These benefits vary by job classification.
Security Clearance
Sandia is required by DOE to conduct a pre-employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Applicants for employment need to be able to obtain and maintain a DOE L-level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship. If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain a security clearance may be impacted.
Applicants offered employment with Sandia are subject to a federal background investigation to meet the requirements for access to classified information or matter if the duties of the position require a DOE security clearance. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause a clearance to be denied or terminated by the DOE, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment.
EEO
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status and any other protected class under state or federal law.
NNSA Requirements for MedPEDs
If you have a Medical Portable Electronic Device (MedPED), such as a pacemaker, defibrillator, drug-releasing pump, hearing aids, or diagnostic equipment and other equipment for measuring, monitoring, and recording body functions such as heartbeat and brain waves, if employed by Sandia National Laboratories you may be required to comply with NNSA security requirements for MedPEDs.
If you have a MedPED and you are selected for an on-site interview at Sandia National Laboratories, there may be additional steps necessary to ensure compliance with NNSA security requirements prior to the interview date.
Job ID: 699053
Job Family: 91
Regular/Temporary Position: T
Full/Part-Time Status: F