Security Engineer Internships
Security engineer internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience, mentorship from working engineers, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Roles across Technology & Software and Healthcare & Medical Services are actively posted, with Tesla, ByteDance, and TikTok among the employers posting roles now.
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L3Harris is dedicated to recruiting and developing high-performing talent who are passionate about what they do. Our employees are unified in a shared dedication to our customers’ mission and quest for professional growth. L3Harris provides an inclusive, engaging environment designed to empower employees and promote work-life success. Fundamental to our culture is an unwavering focus on values, dedication to our communities, and commitment to excellence in everything we do.
L3Harris is the Trusted Disruptor in defense tech. With customers’ mission-critical needs always in mind, our employees deliver end-to-end technology solutions connecting the space, air, land, sea and cyber domains in the interest of national security.
Job Title: Intern, Information Security Systems Engineer
Job Code: 42984
Job Location: Greenville, TX
Job Schedule: 9/80: Employees work 9 out of every 14 days – totaling 80 hours worked, and have every other Friday off
Job Description:
The Information Security Systems Engineer Intern will support the evaluation, design, and protection of enterprise systems, networks, and security infrastructure. This internship provides hands-on exposure to cybersecurity engineering practices, including risk identification, security technology assessment, policy development, and support for secure systems integration. The intern will work with experienced engineers and cybersecurity professionals to help ensure systems and networks are designed and operated in alignment with security standards and best practices.
Essential Functions:
- Provide guidance and oversight in assessing security infrastructure and network and systems design to ensure system/network security
- Identify security risks, threats and vulnerabilities of networks, systems, applications and new technology initiatives
- Provide oversight in the development, testing and operation of firewalls, intrusion detection systems, enterprise anti-virus systems and software deployment tools
- Develop policies and procedures for securing the system infrastructure and applications
- Develop complex technical and programmatic assessments, evaluate engineering and integration initiatives and provide technical support to assess security policies, standards and guidelines
- Perform product evaluations, recommend and implement products/services for network security
- Interact with clients and provide recommendations on information assurance engineering standards, implementation dependencies and changing information assurance related technologies
Qualifications:
- To be eligible, applicants must be pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Technology/Computer Information Systems with Network Focus or Communications Focus, Electrical Engineering or related field.
Preferred Skills:
- Solid understanding of TCP/IP and routing protocols
- Knowledge of LAN/WAN networking and security infrastructure (Firewalls, IDS/IPS, IPSec, VPNs)
- Knowledge of Computer/System Security topics such as Antivirus, Authentication, Authorization, Access Control, Cryptography, SSO, Business Continuity Planning and Application Security
L3Harris Technologies is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. L3Harris is committed to treating all employees and applicants for employment with respect and dignity and maintaining a workplace that is free from unlawful discrimination. All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or other related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, characteristic or membership in any other group protected by federal, state or local laws. L3Harris maintains a drug-free workplace and performs pre-employment substance abuse testing and background checks, where permitted by law.
Please be aware many of our positions require the ability to obtain a security clearance. Security clearances may only be granted to U.S. citizens. In addition, applicants who accept a conditional offer of employment may be subject to government security investigation(s) and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.
By submitting your resume for this position, you understand and agree that L3Harris Technologies may share your resume, as well as any other related personal information or documentation you provide, with its subsidiaries and affiliated companies for the purpose of considering you for other available positions.
L3Harris Technologies is an E-Verify Employer. Please click here for the E-Verify Poster in English or Spanish. For information regarding your Right To Work, please click here for English or Spanish.
L3Harris is dedicated to recruiting and developing high-performing talent who are passionate about what they do. Our employees are unified in a shared dedication to our customers’ mission and quest for professional growth. L3Harris provides an inclusive, engaging environment designed to empower employees and promote work-life success. Fundamental to our culture is an unwavering focus on values, dedication to our communities, and commitment to excellence in everything we do.
L3Harris is the Trusted Disruptor in defense tech. With customers’ mission-critical needs always in mind, our employees deliver end-to-end technology solutions connecting the space, air, land, sea and cyber domains in the interest of national security.
Job Title: Intern, Information Security Systems Engineer
Job Code: 42984
Job Location: Greenville, TX
Job Schedule: 9/80: Employees work 9 out of every 14 days – totaling 80 hours worked, and have every other Friday off
Job Description:
The Information Security Systems Engineer Intern will support the evaluation, design, and protection of enterprise systems, networks, and security infrastructure. This internship provides hands-on exposure to cybersecurity engineering practices, including risk identification, security technology assessment, policy development, and support for secure systems integration. The intern will work with experienced engineers and cybersecurity professionals to help ensure systems and networks are designed and operated in alignment with security standards and best practices.
Essential Functions:
- Provide guidance and oversight in assessing security infrastructure and network and systems design to ensure system/network security
- Identify security risks, threats and vulnerabilities of networks, systems, applications and new technology initiatives
- Provide oversight in the development, testing and operation of firewalls, intrusion detection systems, enterprise anti-virus systems and software deployment tools
- Develop policies and procedures for securing the system infrastructure and applications
- Develop complex technical and programmatic assessments, evaluate engineering and integration initiatives and provide technical support to assess security policies, standards and guidelines
- Perform product evaluations, recommend and implement products/services for network security
- Interact with clients and provide recommendations on information assurance engineering standards, implementation dependencies and changing information assurance related technologies
Qualifications:
- To be eligible, applicants must be pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Technology/Computer Information Systems with Network Focus or Communications Focus, Electrical Engineering or related field.
Preferred Skills:
- Solid understanding of TCP/IP and routing protocols
- Knowledge of LAN/WAN networking and security infrastructure (Firewalls, IDS/IPS, IPSec, VPNs)
- Knowledge of Computer/System Security topics such as Antivirus, Authentication, Authorization, Access Control, Cryptography, SSO, Business Continuity Planning and Application Security
L3Harris Technologies is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. L3Harris is committed to treating all employees and applicants for employment with respect and dignity and maintaining a workplace that is free from unlawful discrimination. All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or other related medical conditions), gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, characteristic or membership in any other group protected by federal, state or local laws. L3Harris maintains a drug-free workplace and performs pre-employment substance abuse testing and background checks, where permitted by law.
Please be aware many of our positions require the ability to obtain a security clearance. Security clearances may only be granted to U.S. citizens. In addition, applicants who accept a conditional offer of employment may be subject to government security investigation(s) and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.
By submitting your resume for this position, you understand and agree that L3Harris Technologies may share your resume, as well as any other related personal information or documentation you provide, with its subsidiaries and affiliated companies for the purpose of considering you for other available positions.
L3Harris Technologies is an E-Verify Employer. Please click here for the E-Verify Poster in English or Spanish. For information regarding your Right To Work, please click here for English or Spanish.
Security Engineer Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Healthcare & Medical Services
Tips for Your Security Engineer Internship Search
Apply earlier than the academic calendar suggests
Large employers, defense contractors, major tech companies, and financial institutions, open summer internship applications the preceding fall, sometimes as early as August or September. If you wait until spring to start searching, the most structured programs are already closed. Set calendar reminders to check listings at the start of each semester.
Build a portfolio that gives recruiters something concrete to assess
Security engineer intern candidates who stand out have documented proof of technical work: a GitHub repository with security scripts or tooling, write-ups from Capture the Flag competitions, or a home lab walkthrough showing how you analyzed a threat or hardened a system. Two or three well-documented projects outperform a resume full of coursework listings.
Work your campus network alongside direct applications
Campus career fairs surface structured programs tied directly to your university, and professors or career center staff often know which employers recruit from your school before roles appear publicly. Apply directly to companies running smaller cohorts at the same time, many security teams hire one or two interns outside any formal university partnership, and those roles rarely reach campus boards.
Practice the security engineer technical screen before you apply
Security engineer intern screens typically combine a coding or scripting component with scenario-based questions: how you would respond to an alert, investigate a log, or design a basic control. Practice out loud, walking through your reasoning step by step, because interviewers weigh how you approach a problem as much as whether you reach the right answer.
Target structured security internship programs at larger employers
Many large tech companies, defense contractors, and financial institutions run cohort-based security internship programs designed to train people entering the field. These programs offer structured mentorship and defined project tracks, but they recruit early and fill fast. Identify the ones that match your background and apply in the first wave of each cycle.
Set your work-type filter before you start searching
On-site roles are 80% of the security engineer internships listed here. Decide what you can actually commit to, relocation, commute, or fully remote, before you start applying. Filter by location and work type from the start so you are not spending time on roles you cannot take.
Security Engineer Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a security engineer internship?
Lead with coursework, personal projects, and a portfolio rather than work history, hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. For security engineer candidates, the concrete artifact is a GitHub repository or documented lab writeup showing hands-on work with security tools and techniques. Combine direct applications with campus career fairs, where recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can a security engineer internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. What drives it for security engineer interns is performance on real work, completing assigned projects, contributing to the team's actual caseload, and fitting the team culture, alongside available headcount at the time offers go out. Position for a return offer by treating the internship like a long audition, without counting on the outcome.
When should I apply for security engineer internships?
Earlier than most candidates expect. Large employers, defense contractors, major tech firms, and financial institutions, recruit summer interns the preceding fall, often closing applications before the calendar year ends. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to their actual start dates, so openings appear year-round. Check listings regularly and set alerts so you catch roles as they open.
Are security engineer internships paid?
Most professional security engineer internships in the U.S. are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry, and location, and listings show it where the employer discloses it. Structured programs at larger employers and government contractors tend to offer competitive compensation, while smaller companies and nonprofit organizations may offer stipends or academic credit in some cases.
What should a security engineer internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. Include two or three complete, documented projects that name the tools used, firewalls, SIEM platforms, penetration testing frameworks, scripting languages, and link to where the work lives, such as a GitHub repository or a write-up on a CTF (Capture the Flag) challenge. Add relevant coursework, certifications like CompTIA Security+, and keep the resume to one page.
Are there remote security engineer internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 20% of the security engineer internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts fill fast because they attract applicants nationally, so apply early and filter by work type to see them before they close.
What is a DOD SkillBridge or cleared internship for security engineers?
Several defense contractors and federal agencies run cleared or clearance-track internship programs specifically for security engineer candidates, recruiting students with the academic background to eventually obtain a security clearance. These programs recruit early, are competitive, and often lead to full-time cleared roles. If you are pursuing a career in defense or government cybersecurity, identify these programs and apply in the first recruitment wave.
Can international students get security engineer internships?
Yes. F-1 students can intern through CPT while enrolled or through OPT work authorization after finishing a degree, and the employer does not have to file anything for either, so many companies are open to international interns. Confirm your eligibility and timing with your university's international student office before accepting an offer.
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