Systems Administration Intern

Leidos; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 48,000 - 87,000; Part time

Job summary

Leidos in the National Capital Region is offering a Systems Administration Intern role that bridges classroom IT with enterprise defense operations. You will shadow seasoned administrators to deploy and secure servers, configure AD/DNS, and support DoD patching in a government environment.

The internship targets undergraduates in CS/CE/IT/Cybersecurity/Systems Administration, with opportunities to learn PowerShell, scripting, and defense IT practices in a fast-paced setting.

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in an accredited undergraduate program in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Technology, Cybersecurity, Systems Administration, or related field.
• Rising Sophomores, Juniors, or Seniors in good academic standing.
• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Must be able to obtain DoD Secret clearance (or have active clearance).
• Foundational understanding of Windows operating systems and hardware.
• Basic networking knowledge (IP, DNS, subnets).
• Interest in scripting (PowerShell, Bash, or Python).
• Strong communication and eagerness to learn defense software.

Responsibilities

• Shadow senior systems administrators during setup, testing, and deployment of enterprise servers and devices.
• Assist in hardware relocations, cable management, diagnostics, and upgrades.
• Learn deployment and configuration of GCCS client/server software on Windows within AD and DNS environments.
• Observe routine system audits, pre-deployment checklists, and daily health-monitoring scripts.
• Gain exposure to PowerShell scripting and automation for workstations and reporting.
• Observe GPOs, DHCP, and identity management in an enterprise AD domain.
• Learn DoD patch management and vulnerability remediation processes in secured environments.
• Shadow application of software patches and disaster recovery planning for high-availability military systems.

Skills

Windows OS

Networking basics

PowerShell

Bash

Python

Active Directory

Security clearance

Education

Undergraduate in CS/CE/IT/Cybersecurity/Systems Administration

Tools

VirtualBox

VMware

Hyper‑V

Job description

Description

Are you looking to bridge your classroom coursework in computer science, systems administration, or cybersecurity with real-world national defense technology? At Leidos, we don't just offer internships - we offercareer acceleration.

Join Leidos' mission-focused Air Force National Capital Region (AFNCR) IT Services team supporting senior defense leaders and national-level command functions. It's a fast-paced, high-stakes environment where the work directly supports national defense operations where uptime is mission-essential. As a Systems Administration Intern you will work side-by-side with experienced enterprise technicians and system administrators. You will gain direct, hands-on experience troubleshooting computer systems, setting up hardware, configuring mobile devices, and delivering first-class customer support to personnel in a professional government environment.

As an intern, you will work alongside seasoned systems administrators and defense engineers. This internship is designed to bridge the gap between classroom theory and enterprise IT operations, giving you real-world technical skills in enterprise networking, system administration, and Defense IT practices.

Primary Responsibilities

• Shadow senior systems administrators during the setup, testing, and deployment of enterprise servers, workstations, and peripheral equipment.


• Assist in physical hardware relocations, cable management, hardware diagnostics, and component upgrades.


• Learn and assist with the deployment and configuration of GCCS client and server software operating on Windows platforms within Active Directory and DNS environments.


• Observe and assist in executing routine system audits, pre-deployment checklists, and daily health-monitoring scripts.


• Gain practical exposure to PowerShell scripting and automation tools used to configure workstations and pull system reports.


• Observe Group Policy Objects (GPOs), DHCP configuration, and identity management within an enterprise Active Directory domain.


• Learn how DoD patch management and vulnerability remediation processes work in a secured environment.


• Shadow the application of software patches and security updates to maintain system readiness.


• Assist in running routine system backup procedures and learn how contingency and disaster recovery (COOP) plans are structured for high-availability military command systems.

Required Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in an accredited undergraduate program pursuing a degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Technology, Cybersecurity, Systems Administration, or a closely related field.


• Must be in good academic standing (Rising Sophomores, Juniors, or Seniors considered).


• U.S. Citizenship is required.


• Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a Department of Defense (DoD) Secret security clearance (or possess an active clearance). Leidos will guide you through this process.


• Foundational understanding of Windows operating systems and fundamental PC hardware architecture.


• Basic understanding of networking fundamentals (IP addresses, subnets, DNS, default gateways).


• Classroom familiarity or personal interest in scripting (PowerShell, Bash, or Python).


• Strong intellectual curiosity, problem-solving mindset, and eagerness to learn specialized defense software.


• Solid written and verbal communication skills with a professional demeanor.

Preferred Qualifications

• Current CompTIA Security+ certification (or actively preparing to take the exam for DoD 8140/8570 compliance).


• Experience with virtual machines (VirtualBox, VMware, Hyper‑V) or home-lab system administration.


• Familiarity with PowerShell commands or basic administrative scripts.


• Prior experience in IT support, help desk, campus technology labs, or student computing centers.


• Exposure to basic command-line utilities, Active Directory concepts, or relational databases.

You'll thrive in this role if you are

• Curious and adaptive‑comfortable learning new domains and asking good questions


• Organized and self‑directed, while still highly collaborative


• Confident communicating your needs and working as an active team member

Work location and schedule

• National Capital Region (Pentagon / Joint Base Andrews / Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling area)


• FT or PT, core business hours 8am-4pm, 10-12 week internship, target start early June 2027


• Limited public transportation options

Why Leidos? What This Internship Offers You

• Real-World Impact: Hands‑on exposure to mission‑critical systems that support top senior leaders and joint military defense operations.


• Direct Mentorship: Daily guidance from senior systems engineers who are invested in your technical growth and professional development.


• Defense Tech Foundation: Clear pathways toward post‑graduation full‑time employment, government security clearance attainment, and DoD 8140 compliance.


• Skill Advancement: Transform academic theory into tangible experience spanning Windows Server environments, PowerShell automation, enterprise cybersecurity, and disaster recovery.

Pay Range $48,100.00 - $86,950.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline onlyand 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.

About 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 $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. 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 at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

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.