2026 Internship - Cyber Operations

Do you want to apply your skills to critical challenges and gain experience in cyber operations or information operations?

Have you considered how to improve a system, or how to foil it?

Are you passionate about cybersecurity, national security, and public service?

We are seeking an intern to help us develop and operationalize automated, scalable, and resilient platforms for information warfighting operations. We are passionate about providing impactful solutions for our U.S. government and military sponsors. Our team is committed to continued learning and servant leadership. Our team values trust, clarity, growth, and helping staff achieve their professional goals while making a mission impact. Our summer interns are full members of our team, given the same level of tasking and supervision that full-time new grads receive.

Our primary focus is on developing the platforms that enable the U.S. military to execute cyber missions at scale in support of joint operations. We do this by focusing on four things: research, targeting analysis, engineering development, and non-kinetic campaigns. Our research areas also include offensive platform development, multi-domain targeting, mission and attribution management, and synthetic media.

If you're pursuing a degree in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Mathematics, Data Science, Intelligence Studies, or a related field and want to gain experience in Cyber Operations, we'd love to have you join our team!

As a member of our team...

• Your primary responsibility will be providing technical support to projects related to information warfighting operations.
• Depending on your role and area of interest, this may include:
  - Designing, developing, and fielding capabilities in support of sponsor missions
  - Conducting research and analysis that supports capability development and cyber targeting
  
  

You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you...

• Are pursuing a Bachelor's or Master's degree in: Cybersecurity (with intent to pursue an offensive security focus area - penetration testing, exploit development, etc.), Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Mathematics, Data Science, or a related field. Other degrees, such as Intelligence Studies, International Relations, and foreign languages, may be considered with demonstrated interest, experience, and technical skills applicable to QCR's work.
• Passionate about problem-solving and applying analytical and technical expertise to develop innovative solutions through prototyping or iterative testing and evaluation, and effective at communicating information, concepts, and ideas.
• Have a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.
• Can obtain an Interim Secret-level security clearance by your start date, and can ultimately obtain a Secret-level clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

You'll go above and beyond our minimum requirements if you...

• Have classroom or professional experience working closely in skills including but not limited to: networking, virtualization, penetration testing, artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, modeling and simulation, or similar technical fields.
• Have proficiency in Python, Java, JavaScript, C/C++, Go, or other programming languages & frameworks.
• Have proficiency in defense-critical foreign languages.

Why Work at APL?

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world-class expertise to our nation's most critical defense, security, space and science challenges. While we are dedicated to solving complex challenges and pioneering new technologies, what makes us truly outstanding is our culture. We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates.

At APL, we celebrate our differences of perspectives and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas. Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance. APL's campus is located in the Baltimore-Washington metro area. Learn more about our career opportunities at http://www.jhuapl.edu/careers.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, occupation, marital or familial status, political opinion, personal appearance, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. APL is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals of all abilities, including those with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact Accommodations@jhuapl.edu.

The referenced pay range is based on JHU APL's good faith belief at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as geographic location, work experience, market conditions, education/training and skill level with consideration for internal parity. For salaried employees scheduled to work less than 40 hours per week, annual salary will be prorated based on the number of hours worked. APL may offer bonuses or other forms of compensation per internal policy and/or contractual designation. Additional compensation may be provided in the form of a sign-on bonus, relocation benefits, locality allowance or discretionary payments for exceptional performance. APL provides eligible staff with a comprehensive benefits package including retirement plans, paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, education assistance, and training and development. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.