Group 04-47 | SRP Intern - Electric Grid Communications Security | Energy Systems | Summer 2026 (Lexington, MA, US)

MIT Lincoln Laboratory • Lexington, MA

67d • Onsite

About The Position

The Energy Systems Group at MIT Lincoln Laboratory develops technology solutions that enhance the resilience and efficiency of both civilian and defense energy systems. This includes developing advanced architectures and system designs to improve the resilience of power grids, developing new control techniques for microgrids and distributed energy resources, and developing hardware and real-time simulation testbeds. The Energy Systems Group seeks a summer intern to join a multidisciplinary team focused on strengthening the cybersecurity of the electric grid. The selected candidate will help characterize technology solutions that enable electric utilities to secure Operational Technology (OT) networks and components - the foundational elements of the grid that, when protected, can prevent network intrusions from escalating into impactful cyberattacks.

Requirements

• Candidates currently pursuing a B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. in computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, physics, mathematics, or another engineering discipline will be considered.
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Ability to work well both independently and in teams
• Effective written and oral communication skills
• Selected candidate will be subject to a pre-employment background investigation and must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret level DoD security clearance.
• U.S. citizenship is required.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in a subset of the following areas is preferred:
• Programming: Python; C, C++, Rust, or IEC61131 Structured Text
• Industrial control system protocols: Modbus, IEC 61850, DNP3
• Network protocol analysis: Tcpdump, Wireshark, or Zeek
• Simulation tools: Typhoon HIL, Opal-RT, RTDS
• Operating systems: POSIX (BSD) sockets, Linux kernel modules, and/or kernel network I/O controls (ioctls)
• Cybersecurity: Concepts and methods for securing OT and networked systems
• Experimental design and instrumentation

Responsibilities

• The intern will help design, implement, and conduct tests within MIT Lincoln Laboratory's Hardware-In-the-Loop (HIL) test facility.
• Potential tasks may include assessing: Vendor solutions that implement Zero Trust (ZT) principles
• Communication protocols implemented with and without security features
• The candidate will analyze whether the products or protocols provide the expected security and evaluate how those security features affect overall system performance.
• The resulting data and analysis will contribute to guidelines and recommendations developed by MIT Lincoln Laboratory for its government sponsors.

Benefits

• Housing support is available for eligible non-local interns, including access to discounted university housing in Boston and a one-time taxable relocation payment.
• Complimentary daily shuttle transportation is provided from Boston-based housing to and from the Lab.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern
• Industry: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees