DevOps Engineering Intern - Summer 2027

Raft; McLean (VA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 33,000; Part time

Job summary

Raft, a U.S.-based defense tech company, seeks a DevOps and IT Engineering Intern to contribute to RaftLabs infrastructure. You will gain hands-on experience with Linux server administration, virtualization, and automation, collaborating with senior engineers to enhance scalable systems.

This onsite internship at Raft HQ in McLean, VA runs June–August 2027, offers part-time hours up to 40 per week, and pays $20–$24 per hour based on experience. Applicants must be U.S.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in an IT, Computer Science, Engineering, or related degree program.
• U.S. citizenship is required due to potential exposure to sensitive government-related work.

Responsibilities

• Assist in configuring Linux environments and virtualization.
• Help automate deployment and operational tasks.
• Collaborate with engineers to improve RaftLabs infrastructure.
• Support Proxmox-based infrastructure enhancements.

Skills

DevOps

Linux

Scripting Bash

Python

Git

Proxmox

Automation

Agile

Communication

Education

IT / CS / Engineering degree program

Tools

Proxmox

Git

Bash

Python

Job description

This is a U.S. based position. All of the programs we support require U.S. citizenship to be eligible for employment. All work must be conducted within the continental U.S.

Who We Are:

Raft (https://TeamRaft.com) is a customer-obsessed non-traditional defense tech company dedicated to empowering U.S. military and government agencies with cutting-edge AI/ML and data solutions. We are a leader in autonomous data fusion and Agentic AI, with a purposeful focus on Distributed Data Systems, Platforms at Scale, and Complex Application Development. With headquarters in McLean, VA, our range of clients includes innovative federal and public agencies leveraging design thinking, cutting-edge tech stack, and cloud-native ecosystem. We build digital solutions that impact the lives of millions of Americans.

About the Role:

As a DevOps and IT Engineering Intern at Raft, you’ll be part of a team enhancing infrastructure capabilities within RaftLabs. This role is ideal for someone passionate about DevOps and eager to build hands-on skills in Linux server administration, IT systems, and virtualization. You’ll gain valuable experience working with tools like Proxmox to support, optimize, and expand our infrastructure. Working alongside experienced engineers, you’ll contribute to configuring Linux environments, automating processes, and building secure, scalable systems.

What we are looking for:

• Passion for DevOps, IT infrastructure, and system optimization.
• Basic knowledge of Linux operating systems and a willingness to learn server administration.
• Interest in virtualization tools, like Proxmox, for managing and optimizing server environments.
• Understanding of version control tools, such as Git, for collaborative development.
• Ability to work with team members to enhance feature capabilities and infrastructure in RaftLabs.
• Analytical mindset and eagerness to solve problems and improve system performance.
• Currently enrolled in an IT, Computer Science, Engineering, or related degree program.
• U.S. citizenship is required due to potential exposure to sensitive government-related work.

Highly Preferred:

• Exposure to scripting languages (e.g., Bash, Python) and an interest in learning automation techniques.
• Familiarity with Agile project methodologies or a desire to work in a fast-paced, collaborative setting.
• Strong communication skills to effectively share technical insights within the team.
• Curiosity and drive to stay updated on DevOps tools, trends, and best practices.

Work Type:

• Location: Onsite at Raft HQ in McLean, VA
• Duration: June to August 2027
• Hours: Part-time, up to 40 hours per week
• Compensation: $20 - $24 per hour, based on experience and qualifications.

Our Vision Statement:

We bridge the gap between humans and data through radical transparency and our obsession with the mission.

Our Customer Obsession:

We will approach every deliverable like it's a product. We will adopt a customer-obsessed mentality. As we grow, and our footprint becomes larger, teams and employees will treat each other not only as teammates but customers. We must live the customer-obsessed mindset, always. This will help us scale and it will translate to the interactions that our Rafters have with their clients and other product teams that they integrate with. Our culture will enable our success and set us apart from other companies.

How do we get there?

Public-sector modernization is critical for us to live in a better world. We, at Raft, want to innovate and solve complex problems. And, if we are successful, our generation and the ones that follow us will live in a delightful, efficient, and accessible world where out-of-box thinking, and collaboration is a norm.

Raft’s core philosophy isUbuntu: IAm, BecauseWe are. We support our“nadi”by elevating the other Rafters. We work as a hyper collaborative team where each team member brings a unique perspective, adding value that did not exist before. People make Raft special. We celebrate each other and our cognitive and cultural diversity. We are devoted to our practice of innovation and collaboration.

We’re an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.