Spring 2027 Security Engineer Intern

Location: Washington, D.C.

Department: Security

The Nuclear Company is the fastest growing AI tech-enabled startup in the nuclear and energy space, pioneering a fleet-scale approach to building the next generation of nuclear reactors. Through our design-once, build-many model, we're accelerating the deployment of safe, reliable, and affordable nuclear energy.

We operate with an AI-first mindset. Every employee is expected to leverage AI, technology, and the Nuclear Operating System (NOS) as integral components of their role to improve the quality, speed, and impact of their work. We expect every team member to continuously identify opportunities to automate workflows, enhance decision-making, improve processes, and contribute to the ongoing evolution of NOS as a strategic operating capability that enables The Nuclear Company to scale with excellence.

We hire people who are driven by purpose, thrive in ambiguity, and are energized by building what has never been built before. Our team combines intellectual curiosity with high agency, embraces candid feedback and continuous learning, and holds themselves and others to exceptional standards. Our values—Transparency, Responsibility, Unity, Scrappy, and Tenacity—guide how we hire, collaborate, and make decisions every day. They are not words on a wall; they are the standard by which we operate. TRUST is the foundation of our safety culture, fostering intellectual honesty, accountability, and open communication, while our values challenge every team member to execute with urgency, humility, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to our mission.

About the role

The United States is building nuclear power again, and The Nuclear Company is building the software that helps make it possible. NOS supports the regulatory, supply chain, cost, schedule, and field work behind reactor construction.

As a Security Engineer Intern, you will join the Product Security team to help secure NOS and the cloud systems that support it. You will work with security and software engineers on meaningful projects across application security, cloud security, and governance, risk, and compliance (GRC). You might help assess a new product feature from a security perspective, strengthen a cloud control, improve a detection, or document evidence of compliance with a given cybersecurity framework. You will have a mentor and the opportunity to own a scoped project from design to delivery.

This is a six-month Spring 2027 co-op based in Washington, DC, on-site three days a week.

Responsibilities

Build scripts, tools, and automation that help engineering teams develop secure software.

Help identify and address security risks in applications, APIs, AWS workloads, and development pipelines.

Participate in threat modeling, design and code reviews, and security testing with guidance from the team.

Help improve security visibility and detections for cloud workloads and the software we operate.

Investigate findings from security tools, validate their impact, and work with engineers on practical fixes.

Document your work so the improvements can be used and maintained across teams.

Required Experience

Currently enrolled in a BS in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, Cybersecurity, or a related technical field; available for the full [Flexible] month term and returning to school afterward.

Experience completing a working technical project through coursework, independent work, a student team, or a prior internship.

Ability to explain technical work clearly and learn from engineers in different disciplines.

This position requires access to information and technology subject to U.S. export controls, including DOE and NRC requirements. U.S. Person status (U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident) is required, and the company does not sponsor visas for this role.

Preferred Experience

A project involving application security, cloud security, security automation, detection engineering, or AI-enabled cyber defense.

Interest in AI-enabled software, energy, national security, industrial software, or regulated industries. Nuclear engineering experience is not required.

Programming fundamentals in at least one language such as Python, TypeScript, Java, or Go.

Estimated Starting Salary Range

The estimated starting rate is $25.00 per hour, plus a $2,000 monthly housing stipend, less applicable withholdings and deductions, paid every two weeks. The actual offer may vary at the company’s discretion based on relevant factors such as experience, qualifications, skills, location, and availability of qualified candidates.

EEO Statement

The Nuclear Company is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an environment of inclusion in the workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. We prohibit discrimination in all aspects of employment, including hiring, promotion, demotion, transfer, compensation, and termination.

Export Control

Certain positions at The Nuclear Company may involve access to information and technology subject to export controls under U.S. law. Compliance with these export controls may result in The Nuclear Company limiting its consideration of certain applicants.

Recruiting Fraud Alert

Your safety is our priority. We want to ensure your job search stays secure. Please note that the team at The Nuclear Company only communicates through official @thenuclearcompany.com email addresses. We will never ask for payments or sensitive financial information at any stage of our recruitment process. For your peace of mind, please verify all openings and submit your applications directly through our official careers page.

The Nuclear Company does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or staffing agencies. Please d