Network Engineering Intern (Student Wage)

Location: Charlottesville, VA

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 — Deployment and configuration of new wireless access points (APs) across campus facilities.

Network Management Systems & DevOps — Supporting network operations through monitoring tools, automation, and systems that keep the network healthy and observable.

Network Infrastructure Engineering — Working with the core switching, routing, and physical/logical infrastructure that underpins campus connectivity.

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

Network Engineering or a closely related discipline

Key Responsibilities

Focus Area 1: Wireless Network Deployment 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

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Focus Area 2: Network Management Systems & DevOps 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 Focus Area 3: Network Infrastructure Engineering 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

Qualifications

Required

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

Preferred (not required)

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

What You Will Gain

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

Compensation: $19.00 Hourly

Duration: Fall 2026 / Spring 2026 / Summer 2026

Hours: 16-20 hours per week

Position Type: Internship (Part-Time / Semester or Academic Year)

Location: On-Grounds

Reports To: Network Engineering Manager, ITS

Please include a resume and cover letter with your application.

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Learn more about UVA’s commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment.