About the role#
This internship offers the chance to work alongside staff on research and development projects for mission-critical systems. You will join a small team and work with a technical mentor to explore cybersecurity challenges that affect national security. Our work ranges from space and autonomous platforms to tactical communications and secure computing. You will contribute to projects involving secure software, threat modeling, applied cryptography, and the intersection of AI and cybersecurity.
What you'll do#
- Research, develop, analyze, and evaluate new cybersecurity technologies.
- Design and prototype security tools and methods.
- Analyze systems to identify vulnerabilities and understand threats.
- Apply software analysis, formal methods, and security testing to solve technical problems.
- Design and conduct experiments to test new approaches.
- Present your findings and contribute software or experimental data to ongoing research.
What you'll need#
- Current enrollment in a BS, MS, or PhD program in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Cybersecurity, Software Engineering, or a related field.
- BS candidates must have completed at least their sophomore year.
- Hands-on technical experience outside of coursework, such as research, personal projects, or competitions.
- Strong problem-solving skills.
- Proficiency in software design and development using Rust, C/C++, or Python.
- Experience in areas such as secure software, embedded systems, network protocols, or applied cryptography.
- Familiarity with security testing, formal methods, or AI-enabled tools for vulnerability discovery and threat analysis.
Location & details#
- Location: Lexington, Massachusetts.
- Term: Summer 2027.
- Modality: On-site.
- Employment type: Full-time, paid internship.
- Note: U.S. citizenship is required.
About MIT Lincoln Laboratory
MIT Lincoln Laboratory is a federally funded research and development center. Founded in 1951, it focuses on technology development and system prototyping for national security. The organization is based in Lexington, Massachusetts. It employs over 4,000 people and works with industry partners to transition new concepts into deployed systems.
How to get in at MIT Lincoln Laboratory
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