Network Engineering Intern (Student Wage)

University of Virginia • Charlottesville, VA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

Information Technology Services (ITS) is seeking a motivated Network Engineering Intern to join our team and gain hands-on, real-world experience supporting the university's enterprise network infrastructure. This internship is designed to give students broad exposure to the network engineering discipline through three core focus areas: Wireless Network Deployment, Network Management Systems & DevOps, and Network Infrastructure Engineering. Interns will be engaged in each of these areas over the course of the internship, and have exposure to the full lifecycle of enterprise network engineering — from physical deployment to systems automation to core infrastructure design. This position is open to students currently enrolled in the University of Virginia (undergraduate or graduate) and pursuing a degree in a related field, such as Computer Science / Information Technology / Information Systems, Data Science, Computer/Electrical Engineering, or Network Engineering or a closely related discipline.

Requirements

• Currently enrolled in a degree-seeking program
• Basic understanding of networking fundamentals (TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VLANs, OSI model)
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail
• Willingness to learn and work across multiple technical disciplines
• Good communication skills and ability to work collaboratively in a team environment
• Ability to manage time effectively across numerous assignments and academic responsibilities

Nice To Haves

• Coursework or hands-on experience with networking (e.g., Cisco, Aruba, or similar platforms)
• Exposure to scripting or automation (Python, Bash, Ansible, etc.)
• Familiarity with network monitoring tools
• Interest in pursuing industry certifications (e.g., Cisco CCNA)
• Prior IT helpdesk, lab, or hands-on technical experience

Responsibilities

• Assist in the physical installation and configuration of wireless access points across campus buildings
• Support site surveys to determine optimal AP placement for coverage and capacity
• Help troubleshoot wireless connectivity issues reported by end users
• Document AP inventory, placement, and configuration changes
• Assist with testing and validation of new AP deployments prior to production rollout
• Support the use and configuration of network monitoring and management platforms
• Assist with developing or maintaining automation scripts/tools to streamline network operations tasks
• Help build dashboards and alerts to improve network visibility and incident response
• Participate in troubleshooting using network management tools to identify performance issues or outages
• Contribute to documentation of operational runbooks and standard procedures
• Assist with configuration and maintenance of switches, routers, and other core infrastructure devices
• Support network design and capacity planning activities for campus infrastructure projects
• Help maintain accurate network diagrams and infrastructure documentation
• Participate in infrastructure upgrade, maintenance, and change management activities
• Learn and apply network engineering best practices under the guidance of senior engineers

Benefits

• Hands-on experience across three distinct network engineering disciplines
• Mentorship from experienced network engineers and IT professionals
• Exposure to enterprise-scale network infrastructure and operations
• Practical skills that translate directly to careers in network engineering, systems administration, or IT operations
• Potential pathway to future employment opportunities within ITS

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed