Intern, IT Security Engineering

Current HHMI Employees, click here to apply via your Workday account.

HHMI is focused on supporting and moving science forward in a variety of different ways ranging from conducting basic biomedical research, empowering educators, inspiring students, developing the next generation of scientists – even stretching into film and media production.  Our Headquarters is in the greater Washington, DC metro area and is home to over 300 employees with expertise in investments, communications, digital production, biomedical sciences, and everything in between.  The work housed here supports and augments the groundbreaking research conducted in HHMI labs across the nation.  As HHMI scientists continue to push boundaries in laboratories and classrooms, you can be sure that your contributions while working here are making a difference.

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Janelia Research Campus is a pioneering research center in Ashburn, Virginia, where scientists pursue fundamental questions in the life sciences. Our integrated teams of biologists, computational scientists, and tool-builders innovate research practices and technologies to solve biology’s deepest mysteries. HHMI launched Janelia in 2006, establishing an intellectually enriching environment for scientists to do creative, collaborative, hands-on work. We share our methods, results, and tools with the scientific community.

About the Role:

The IT Security Engineer Summer Intern is a highly motivated member of a small high-performance team responsible for designing, implementing, and providing operational support of an advanced pioneering research network in one of the world’s premier Life Sciences Research Institutes. As an intern, you will have the opportunity to shadow our Junior Security Engineer, gaining valuable hands-on experience in the field of cybersecurity.

You will be responsible for responding to and triaging alerts from ExtraHop Reveal 360 and our Security Operations Center (SOC) alerts, as well as responding to and triaging new tickets. In addition, you will investigate systems for vulnerabilities, helping to identify and mitigate potential security risks. You will also be responsible for scanning for self-signed SSL certificates on admin devices, ensuring that all certificates are valid and current.

Throughout the internship, you will have the opportunity to learn how to generate Certificate Signing Requests (CSRs) and issue SSL certificates for admin interfaces for various servers and devices. This is a great opportunity for anyone interested in pursuing a career in cybersecurity to gain valuable hands-on experience and develop key skills in the field.

What we provide:

• A beautiful and modern campus with on-site gym and dining facilities

• Work with a pioneering network with innovative technologies and monitoring tools, paired with opportunities for mentorship and professional development to continuously improve engineering skills.

• This position will be compensated at a rate of $17.00/hour, assuming a 40-hour work week.

What you’ll do:

• Shadow Junior Security Engineer to gain insights into cybersecurity practices

• Respond to and triage alerts from ExtraHop and SOC

• Respond to and triage new tickets

• Investigate quick opportunities for vulnerability management

• Scan for self-signed SSL certificates on admin devices

• Learn how to generate CSRs and issue SSL certificates for admin interfaces for various servers and devices

What you bring:

• Pursuing a degree in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field

• Basic understanding of cybersecurity principles and practices

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

• Ability to work independently and in a team environment

• Eagerness to learn and develop new skills in cybersecurity

Compensation and Benefits

Our employees are compensated from a total rewards perspective in many ways for their contributions to our mission, including competitive pay, exceptional health benefits, retirement plans, time off, and a range of recognition and wellness programs. Visit our Benefits at HHMI site to learn more. 

HHMI is an Equal Opportunity Employer