Transport Network Engineer Intern

Leidos, a leading defense, intelligence, and technology company, is seeking motivated and aspiring engineering students for our Summer 2027 Internship Program (Starts May 2027). As a Transport Network Engineer Intern, you will join our Digital Sector on the Global Solutions Management – Operations II (GSM-O II) contract at Scott AFB, IL. This is a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience supporting the core transport layer of the Defense Information System Network (DISN) in direct support of the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA).

Your Opportunity:

Are you interested in the hardware and optical systems that form the backbone of a global network? As a member of our Operational Engineering team, you will be embedded directly with the engineers responsible for the health and performance of the DISN's transport infrastructure. You will learn how to troubleshoot complex optical platforms, support network upgrades, and analyze traffic to ensure the reliability of critical military communications.

What You’ll Do (Potential Projects & Learning Opportunities):

• Assist senior engineers in the design, development, and modification of network management systems.
• Gain hands-on experience by supporting the deployment of new network hardware (shelves, cards) on operational nodes.
• Learn to monitor network changes, analyze traffic behavior, and identify potential impacts to network stability.
• Assist in performing fault isolation and troubleshooting across various transport platforms (e.g., SONET, DWDM, TDM).
• Develop skills in maintaining accurate and detailed documentation in ServiceNow ITSM.
• Support Authorized Service Interruption (ASI) activities by helping to collect site and device data to schedule maintenance.

What You’ll Bring (Required):

• Citizenship & Clearance: Must be a U.S. citizen and eligible to obtain a DoD Secret security clearance. 
• Education: Currently pursuing a degree in a relevant field such as Network Engineering, Computer Engineering, Information Technology, or a related discipline.
• Technical Foundation: A foundational understanding of basic networking concepts (e.g., TCP/IP, OSI model) and a strong desire to learn about optical transport systems.
• Analytical Mindset: A proactive approach to problem-solving, a keen attention to detail, and strong analytical skills.
• Teamwork: A collaborative attitude with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Location: This internship is based on-site at Scott AFB, Illinois. All work must be performed on site – no teleworking opportunities. Candidates must be in the St. Louis Metro area and have their own transportation.

What We Want (Desired):

• Certifications: Obtaining a CompTIA Security+ certification (or any certification that aligns with DoD 8570 IAT Level II) before the start date is strongly encouraged.
• Hands-On Experience: Experience from home labs, class projects, or prior internships involving network hardware or troubleshooting.
• Familiarity with:
  • Optical networking concepts (e.g., SONET, DWDM).
  • Using ITSM or ticketing systems like ServiceNow.
  • Working in a team-based, operational environment.

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting:

Pay Range:

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.