Systems Administration Intern
About The Position
Leidos is hiring a Systems Administration Intern to support its Air Force National Capital Region (AFNCR) IT Services team, which supports senior defense leaders and national-level command functions. The internship provides hands-on experience in enterprise IT operations and defense technology, working alongside experienced systems administrators, technicians, and defense engineers in a professional government environment where system availability is mission-essential. The intern will learn about enterprise networking, systems administration, and Defense IT practices. Activities include assisting with hardware setup and troubleshooting, Windows and GCCS software deployment, routine system maintenance, PowerShell and automation, enterprise Active Directory administration, cybersecurity patching and vulnerability remediation, and backup and disaster recovery procedures. The position is based in the National Capital Region, in the Pentagon / Joint Base Andrews / Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling area. The schedule is during core business hours, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., for a 10–12 week internship, with a target start in early June 2027. The posting describes the opportunity as FT or PT. Limited public transportation options are noted.
Requirements
- Currently enrolled in an accredited undergraduate program pursuing a degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Technology, Cybersecurity, Systems Administration, or a closely related field.
- Must be in good academic standing; rising sophomores, juniors, or seniors are considered.
- U.S. citizenship is required.
- Must be able to obtain and maintain a Department of Defense (DoD) Secret security clearance, or already possess an active clearance.
- Foundational understanding of Windows operating systems and fundamental PC hardware architecture.
- Basic understanding of networking fundamentals, including IP addresses, subnets, DNS, and default gateways.
- Classroom familiarity with or personal interest in scripting, such as PowerShell, Bash, or Python.
- Strong intellectual curiosity, a problem-solving mindset, and eagerness to learn specialized defense software.
- Solid written and verbal communication skills and a professional demeanor.
Nice To Haves
- Current CompTIA Security+ certification or actively preparing to take the exam for DoD 8140/8570 compliance.
- Experience with virtual machines such as VirtualBox, VMware, or Hyper-V, or home-lab systems administration.
- Familiarity with PowerShell commands or basic administrative scripts.
- Prior experience in IT support, help desk, campus technology labs, or student computing centers.
- Exposure to basic command-line utilities, Active Directory concepts, or relational databases.
Responsibilities
- Shadow senior systems administrators during setup, testing, and deployment of enterprise servers, workstations, and peripheral equipment.
- Assist with physical hardware relocations, cable management, hardware diagnostics, and component upgrades.
- Learn and assist with deployment and configuration of GCCS client and server software on Windows platforms within Active Directory and DNS environments.
- Observe and assist with routine system audits, pre-deployment checklists, and daily health-monitoring scripts.
- Gain practical exposure to PowerShell scripting and automation tools used to configure workstations and generate system reports.
- Observe Group Policy Objects (GPOs), DHCP configuration, and identity management within an enterprise Active Directory domain.
- Learn DoD patch management and vulnerability remediation processes in a secured environment.
- Shadow the application of software patches and security updates to maintain system readiness.
- Assist with routine system backup procedures and learn how contingency and disaster recovery (COOP) plans are structured for high-availability military command systems.
Benefits
- Hands-on exposure to mission-critical systems supporting senior leaders and joint military defense operations.
- Daily guidance from senior systems engineers invested in technical growth and professional development.
- Potential pathways toward post-graduation full-time employment, government security clearance attainment, and DoD 8140 compliance.
- Skill development in Windows Server environments, PowerShell automation, enterprise cybersecurity, and disaster recovery.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Intern
