Systems Administration Intern

Location: Arlington, VA; Washington, DC; Camp Springs, MD

Are you looking to bridge your classroom coursework in computer science, systems administration, or cybersecurity with real-world national defense technology? At Leidos, we don’t just offer internships - we offer career acceleration.

Join Leidos’ mission-focused Air Force National Capital Region (AFNCR) IT Services team supporting senior defense leaders and national-level command functions. It's a fast-paced, high-stakes environment where the work directly supports national defense operations where uptime is mission-essential. As a Systems Administration Intern you will work side-by-side with experienced enterprise technicians and system administrators. You will gain direct, hands-on experience troubleshooting computer systems, setting up hardware, configuring mobile devices, and delivering first-class customer support to personnel in a professional government environment.

As an intern, you will work alongside seasoned systems administrators and defense engineers. This internship is designed to bridge the gap between classroom theory and enterprise IT operations, giving you real-world technical skills in enterprise networking, system administration, and Defense IT practices.

Primary Responsibilities

Systems & Hardware Operations (Hands-On Learning)

Shadow senior systems administrators during the setup, testing, and deployment of enterprise servers, workstations, and peripheral equipment.

Assist in physical hardware relocations, cable management, hardware diagnostics, and component upgrades.

Software Installation & System Maintenance

Learn and assist with the deployment and configuration of GCCS client and server software operating on Windows platforms within Active Directory and DNS environments.

Observe and assist in executing routine system audits, pre-deployment checklists, and daily health-monitoring scripts.

Automation & Administration Fundamentals

Gain practical exposure to PowerShell scripting and automation tools used to configure workstations and pull system reports.

Observe Group Policy Objects (GPOs), DHCP configuration, and identity management within an enterprise Active Directory domain.

Cybersecurity & Vulnerability Management

Learn how DoD patch management and vulnerability remediation processes work in a secured environment.

Shadow the application of software patches and security updates to maintain system readiness.

Data Protection & Disaster Recovery Support

Assist in running routine system backup procedures and learn how contingency and disaster recovery (COOP) plans are structured for high-availability military command systems.

Required Qualifications

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 considered).

U.S. Citizenship is required.

Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a Department of Defense (DoD) Secret security clearance (or possess an active clearance). Leidos will guide you through this process.

Foundational understanding of Windows operating systems and fundamental PC hardware architecture.

Basic understanding of networking fundamentals (IP addresses, subnets, DNS, default gateways).

Classroom familiarity or personal interest in scripting (PowerShell, Bash, or Python).

Strong intellectual curiosity, problem-solving mindset, and eagerness to learn specialized defense software.

Solid written and verbal communication skills with a professional demeanor.

Preferred Qualifications

Current CompTIA Security+ certification (or actively preparing to take the exam for DoD 8140/8570 compliance).

Experience with virtual machines (VirtualBox, VMware, Hyper-V) or home-lab system 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.

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You’ll thrive in this role if you are

Curious and adaptive—comfortable learning new domains and asking good questions

Organized and self-directed, while still highly collaborative

Confident communicating your needs and working as an active team member

Work location and schedule

National Capital Region (Pentagon / Joint Base Andrews / Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling area)

FT or PT, core business hours 8am-4pm, 10-12 week internship, target start early June 2027

Limited public transportation options

Why Leidos? What This Internship Offers You

Real-World Impact: Hands-on exposure to mission-critical systems that support top senior leaders and joint military defense operations.

Direct Mentorship: Daily guidance from senior systems engineers who are invested in your technical growth and professional development.

Defense Tech Foundation: Clear pathways toward post-graduation full-time employment, government security clearance attainment, and DoD 8140 compliance.

Skill Advancement: Transform academic theory into tangible experience spanning Windows Server environments, PowerShell automation, enterprise cybersecurity, and disaster recovery.

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:October 28, 2026

For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

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