R&D Engineer Intern

About the role#

The Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Penn State is seeking an undergraduate R&D Engineer Intern to join the Cyberspace Operations Research Department. This role focuses on researching adversarial tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) to perform system vulnerability assessments and support security hardening for government sponsors. This is a paid, full-time internship opportunity.

What you'll do#

• Research state-of-the-art techniques for vulnerability detection, system exploitation, and technical mitigations.
• Develop and optimize scripts, applications, and prototypes to automate processes and address critical needs.
• Design experiments, set up test environments, and conduct testing of systems under simulated real-world conditions.
• Collect, analyze, and report experimental results.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to solve complex engineering challenges.
• Participate in technical presentations and discussions regarding emerging technologies.

What you'll need#

• Current enrollment as an undergraduate student in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Data Science.
• Proficiency in programming and scripting languages, specifically C, Python, bash, and PowerShell.
• Basic proficiency in Linux-based environments.
• Familiarity with system vulnerability and exploitation concepts.
• Understanding of engineering concepts and the scientific method.
• Experience working in team-oriented, multidisciplinary environments.
• Strong communication and organizational skills.
• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Ability to obtain a government security clearance and participate in a drug testing program.

Location & details#

• Location: Reston, Virginia.
• Work Modality: On-site.
• Term: Rolling.
• Schedule: Up to 20 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters, with the opportunity for up to 40 hours per week during the summer.