Critical Infrastructure Protection Intern

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Department Summary:

Are you ready to defend national critical infrastructure from evolving non-kinetic threats? The Critical Infrastructure Protection Department (L561), sitting within MITRE's Cyber-Physical Systems Division, delivers innovative solutions to sponsor challenges critical to national security and public sector missions. Our multidisciplinary team researches, develops, and applies advanced technologies to ensure the operational resilience of vital national assets.

Our core focus areas include:

• Infrastructure Susceptibility Analysis
• Safety Engineering
• Threat-Informed Recommendations
• Critical Infrastructure (CI) Threat Detection, Analytics, & Adversary Emulation
• Operational Technology (OT) Device Security & Space System OT
• Cross-Sector Interdependency Analysis
• Defense Critical Infrastructure Expertise
• Civilian Critical Infrastructure Sector-Specific Expertise

Job Description:

MITRE's Critical Infrastructure Protection Department (L561) is seeking a Critical Infrastructure Protection Intern to support the security and resilience of cyber-physical systems against evolving non-kinetic threats.

In this role, you will work with experienced engineers and analysts to gain hands-on experience with industrial control systems, hardware-in-the-loop ranges, and adversary emulation platforms such as Caldera for OT. You will contribute to projects that help MITRE and its partners better understand how critical infrastructure systems work, what functions they support, how they can fail, and how they can be made more resilient.

Your work may span three focus areas: analyzing critical infrastructure systems, functions, dependencies, and failure modes; exploring OT/ICS technologies, protocols, detection, monitoring, and security controls; and supporting threat-informed analysis of adversary capabilities, operational risk, and policy-informed courses of action. Projects may include research, documentation, technical analysis, experimentation, modeling, and prototype support tied to real-world mission outcomes for federal and industry partners.

This internship offers the opportunity to build practical experience at the intersection of engineering, cybersecurity, intelligence, and resilience. If you want to gain hands-on experience securing cyber-physical systems and contribute to national security alongside federal and industry partners, this internship is for you.

Roles & Responsibilities:

Apply cybersecurity, operational technology, and systems engineering skills in areas such as:

• ICS/SCADA and OT system and device security
• Critical infrastructure resilience, safety, and mission impact analysis
• OT engineering, testing, and incident response support
• OT adversary emulation support, including platforms such as Caldera for OT
• Hardware-in-the-loop (HITL) range support, integration, and hardware/software troubleshooting for OT environments
• Informing government policies related to cybersecurity, incident response, and critical infrastructure protection.

Work may include:

• Development and maturation of novel technical ideas under the guidance of senior staff
• Technical analyses that inform sponsor decisions and operational planning
• Designing, building, and evaluating proof-of-concept capabilities using emerging technologies and OT concepts
• Experimentation, test activities, and documentation related to critical infrastructure and cyber-physical systems
• Collaboration with sponsors and mission partners to strengthen the security and resilience of critical infrastructure

Basic Qualifications:

• Must be a full-time student pursuing an accredited degree program in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Cybersecurity, Information Systems, or a related technical discipline. Must continue to be enrolled the semester following the internship.
• Must have sustained excellence in academic performance.
• Foundational knowledge in cybersecurity and/or operational technology methodologies, frameworks, tools, and/or programming languages.
• This position has an on-site requirement of 5 days a week on-site.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Applied experience in cybersecurity, OT, or systems engineering through internships, research, labs, or technical projects.
• Familiarity with cybersecurity and/or OT tools, frameworks, and languages such as Python, C/C++, Linux/Ubuntu, or Wireshark.
• Exposure to industrial protocols such as Modbus TCP, DNP3, or OPC UA, and/or OT environments involving PLCs, RTUs, or SCADA·
• Experience with modeling and simulation through coursework, labs, or projects.
• Ability to work independently and make progress with guidance from senior staff
• Demonstrated interest in public service through work, academics, volunteering, or related activities

This requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):

None

This requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):

None

Salary compensation range and midpoint:

$46,500 - $58,000 - $69,500 Annual

Work Location Type:

Onsite

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local or international law.

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