Systems Security Engineer Internships
Systems security engineer internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on project experience protecting real infrastructure, mentorship from working engineers, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Roles are concentrated across Technology & Software, with Siemens, V2X, and TikTok among the employers posting roles now.
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Responsibilities
Physical Security Systems & Technology (PSST) Americas Region is responsible for the operation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of physical security systems across TikTok's regional sites in the Americas. The team ensures the safety and security of employees, visitors, and company assets through integrated security solutions, vendor management, and project delivery. As a Project Intern, you will contribute to impactful short-term projects and gain hands-on experience in a fast-paced, professional environment. This internship offers the opportunity to develop practical skills, apply your knowledge to real-world challenges, and explore your career interests. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so we encourage you to apply early.
Responsibilities:
- Vendor scheduling and coordination: Schedule vendor service visits and project dispatches across regional sites; confirm technician arrival times, parts availability, site access, and badging in advance; track schedule changes and follow up to ensure visits are completed as planned.
- Project documentation and turnover support: Organize and maintain project documentation and turnover packages (drawings, warranties, design packages, commissioning records, lessons learned); track decisions and action items from project meetings and keep project trackers current.
- Service program data tracking: Monitor device operating data and break-fix ticket queues across regional sites; track the door-issues backlog and repair progress to closure; verify vendor visit outcomes, parts used, and ticket closure quality; flag aging tickets and SLA risks.
- Vendor performance and reporting support: Compile weekly service metrics, monthly SLA achievement data, and maintenance evaluation scorecards by vendor; prepare data packets and charts for QBRs and leadership weekly reports.
- Procurement and invoice reconciliation support: Track PR/PO status and long-pending procurement items; reconcile vendor invoices against POs, framework rates, and completed scope; flag billing discrepancies for follow-up.
- Meeting coordination and research: Coordinate internal and external meetings, take meeting notes, and drive action items to closure; support market research on security devices and vendors; help organize tender/RFP documents.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualification(s)
- Currently pursuing an Undergraduate degree in Security Management, Business Administration, Operations, or a related discipline.
- Able to commit to working at least 3 days per week for a minimum of 3 months.
- Strong organizational skills and high attention to detail.
- Proficiency with spreadsheets and data organization tools.
- Clear written and verbal communication skills, and comfort coordinating with internal partner teams and external vendors.
- Able to work onsite in line with the team in-office policy.
Preferred Qualification(s)
- Interest in physical security technology, systems operations, or project management.
- Basic familiarity with networking, low-voltage systems, or data visualization.
- Experience using AI tools to support documentation and data analysis.
Job Information
【For Pay Transparency】Compensation Description (Hourly) - Campus Intern
The hourly rate range for this position in the selected city is $25 - $25. Benefits may vary depending on the nature of employment and the country work location. Interns have day one access to health insurance, life insurance, wellbeing benefits and more. Interns also receive 10 paid holidays per year and paid sick time (56 hours if hired in first half of year, 40 if hired in second half of year). Interns who are not working 100% remote may also be eligible for housing allowance. The Company reserves the right to modify or change these benefits programs at any time, with or without notice.
For Los Angeles County (unincorporated) Candidates:
Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all federal, state, and local laws including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act. Our company believes that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship on the following job duties, potentially resulting in the withdrawal of the conditional offer of employment:
- Interacting and occasionally having unsupervised contact with internal/external clients and/or colleagues;
- Appropriately handling and managing confidential information including proprietary and trade secret information and access to information technology systems; and
- Exercising sound judgment.
About TikTok
TikTok is the leading destination for short-form mobile video. At TikTok, our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. TikTok's global headquarters are in Los Angeles and Singapore, and we also have offices in New York City, London, Dublin, Paris, Berlin, Dubai, Jakarta, Seoul, and Tokyo.
Why Join Us
Inspiring creativity is at the core of TikTok's mission. Our innovative product is built to help people authentically express themselves, discover and connect – and our global, diverse teams make that possible. Together, we create value for our communities, inspire creativity and bring joy - a mission we work towards every day. We strive to do great things with great people. We lead with curiosity, humility, and a desire to make impact in a rapidly growing tech company. Every challenge is an opportunity to learn and innovate as one team. We're resilient and embrace challenges as they come. By constantly iterating and fostering an "Always Day 1" mindset, we achieve meaningful breakthroughs for ourselves, our company, and our users. When we create and grow together, the possibilities are limitless. Join us.
Diversity & Inclusion
TikTok is committed to creating an inclusive space where employees are valued for their skills, experiences, and unique perspectives. Our platform connects people from across the globe and so does our workplace. At TikTok, our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy. To achieve that goal, we are committed to celebrating our diverse voices and to creating an environment that reflects the many communities we reach. We are passionate about this and hope you are too.
TikTok Accommodation
TikTok is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in our recruitment processes for candidates with disabilities, pregnancy, sincerely held religious beliefs or other reasons protected by applicable laws. If you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation, please reach out to us at https://tinyurl.com/RA-request
Systems Security Engineer Internship Market
Who's Hiring



Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
Tips for Your Systems Security Engineer Internship Search
Apply in the fall for summer roles
Large employers, including defense contractors and enterprise tech companies, open summer systems security engineer internship applications as early as August. Smaller companies and co-ops post closer to start dates, so check listings throughout the year. Waiting until spring to start means the most competitive programs are already closed.
Build a portfolio before you apply
Systems security engineer recruiters at the intern level want proof of hands-on work, not a long job history. Document two or three projects with the tools used and make them accessible, whether that means a GitHub repository, CTF write-ups, or a home-lab walkthrough. A linked, reviewable portfolio gives screeners something concrete to assess.
Work campus connections and direct applications together
Campus career fairs surface structured internship programs tied to your university, and professors and career-center staff often know which employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. Applying directly to companies running smaller cohorts alongside campus activity widens the pool you reach and catches openings that never appear at fairs.
Practice your technical screen out loud
Systems security engineer intern interviews typically include a technical screen covering networking concepts, operating system fundamentals, and scenario-based security questions. Practice answering out loud and explaining your reasoning step by step, since interviewers weigh how you think through a threat scenario as much as whether you arrive at the right answer.
Target structured security internship pipelines early
Many larger employers run formal security internship cohorts, including SOC analyst programs and rotational cybersecurity tracks, built specifically to train candidates new to professional security work. These programs recruit early and fill fast, so identify the ones aligned with your interests and apply in the first wave rather than waiting for openings to circulate widely.
Set your work-type filter before you start
On-site roles are 100% of the systems security engineer internships listed here. Decide what you can commit to before you start applying, then filter by location and work type on Migrate Mate so you're only reviewing roles you can actually take.
Systems Security Engineer Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a systems security engineer internship?
Lead with coursework and personal projects rather than work history, since hiring teams expect limited experience at the intern level. For systems security engineer candidates, the concrete artifact recruiters want to assess is a documented portfolio of security tools, scripts, or CTF write-ups they can actually review. Pair direct applications with campus career fairs, where recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can a systems 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 systems security engineer interns is consistent performance on real security work, available headcount on the team at offer time, and understanding when the return-offer decision is made so you can position early. Treat the internship as an extended audition without counting on an offer.
When should I apply for systems security engineer internships?
Earlier than most candidates expect. Large employers, including defense contractors and major tech firms, recruit summer cohorts the preceding fall, sometimes as early as August or September. Smaller companies and co-op programs post closer to start dates, so openings appear year-round. Checking listings regularly and applying as soon as a role appears gives you the best shot at competitive programs.
Are systems security engineer internships paid?
Most professional systems 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. Government and nonprofit roles occasionally offer stipends rather than standard hourly wages, so read each listing carefully before applying.
What should a systems security engineer internship resume include?
Lead with projects, not work history. Include two or three complete, documented projects that show the tools you used and link to the work directly, whether that means a GitHub repository, a write-up of a CTF challenge, or a documented penetration testing lab. Add relevant coursework in networking, cryptography, or operating systems, and keep the whole document to one page.
Are there remote systems security engineer internships?
Yes. Remote and hybrid roles make up 0% of the systems security engineer internship listings here, with the rest on-site. Remote cohorts fill fast, so apply early and filter by work type to see them before they close.
What is a security operations center (SOC) analyst internship in systems security?
SOC analyst internship programs are a well-known entry point in systems security engineering, placing interns inside active security operations teams to monitor alerts, triage incidents, and support threat analysis under direct supervision. They target candidates new to professional security work, recruit early in the fall for summer starts, and are competitive, so apply in the first wave of postings.
Can international students get systems 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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