Data Engineer Intern

00100 LEIDOS, INC.; Virginia; On-site; USD 42,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos in Virginia is offering an internship in a cleared DoD environment designed to rotate through the DEL operations. You will support R&D initiatives by building automation tools, refining LLMs, and developing secure IT solutions for evolving defense missions.

The role emphasizes data lake guidance, scripting, and IaC while maintaining strict security standards and clearances. Ideal candidates are enrolled juniors/seniors with strong communication skills and organizational discipline.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in a degree program (Junior/Senior level preferred).
• US Citizenship required; Interim or active Secret clearance (or ability to obtain and maintain required security clearance).
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Assist the DEL team with development of automation tools, data delivery and workflows utilizing AI.
• Assist team with data lake direction and fine‑tuning and customizing LLMs for specific tasks and domains.
• Support team with automating infrastructure and supporting platform creation through Infrastructure as Code (IaC).
• Assist with automating tasks for the DEL environments to improve efficiency.
• Adhere to all physical security, information security, and property accountability requirements within a cleared environment.
• Adhere to all physical security, information security, and property accountability requirements within a cleared environment.

Skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Attention to detail

US Citizenship

Security clearance eligibility

Education

Pursuing degree in IT/related field

Tools

Scripting languages

LLMs & prompt engineering

Infrastructure as Code (IaC)

Job description

This internship will provide rotational exposure to the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) Experimentation Lab (DEL) operations within a cleared DoW environment. The intern will gain hands‑on experience supporting advanced Research & Development (R&D) initiatives assisting the team to identify, recommend, develop, and integrate reliable and secure IT solutions to challenges associated with current and evolving DTRA RD’s mission into the DEL enterprise.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Assist the DEL team with development of automation tools, data delivery and workflows utilizing AI.
• Assist team with data lake direction and fine‑tuning and customizing LLMs for specific tasks and domains.
• Support team with automating infrastructure and supporting platform creation through Infrastructure as Code (IaC).
• Assist with automating tasks for the DEL environments to improve efficiency.
• Adhere to all physical security, information security, and property accountability requirements within a cleared environment.
• Adhere to all physical security, information security, and property accountability requirements within a cleared environment.

Basic Qualifications:

• Currently enrolled in a degree program (Junior/Senior level preferred).
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• US Citizenship required Interim or active Secret clearance (or ability to obtain and maintain required security clearance).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Coursework in Information Technology, Cybersecurity, Business Administration, or related field.
• Familiarity with scripting and programming language.
• Familiarity with LLMs and prompt engineering.

Original Posting: October 28, 2026 For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Pay Range: Pay Range $41,600.00 - $75,200.00 The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

Leidos Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $17.2 billion for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2026. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Pay and Benefits Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available here.

Commitment and Diversity All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.