About this role
Leidos is seeking a graduate intern to work on quantum mechanics-based sensing and communications projects for a military customer starting as soon as possible. This intern will work alongside highly trained scientists to develop prototype systems for customer demonstrations.
Primary Responsibilities
Responsibilities will include building and testing optical systems, along with the creation of any code needed to operate these systems and the processing of data generated. The position may require short periods of travel within the US.
Basic Qualifications
Must be enrolled in a Masters, JD or PhD degree program in physics, optics, or related engineering.
Must be located in Huntsville, AL to regularly work in an optics lab.
Must be able to work 20 hours per week.
Candidate should be familiar with basic optics.
Potential employee should be comfortable communicating technical work, both orally and written, to subject matter experts and non-technical audiences.
Holding a security clearance is not required, but ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret/SCI clearance is a must.
Must be a US Citizen.
Preferred Qualifications
Familiarity with Python, Matlab, Mathematica, LabVIEW, C#, or any optical modeling program.
Experience in setting up lab equipment for optical and quantum experiments.
Experience in laser safety.
Expertise in optical systems is not required but basic familiarity with optics is preferred.
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:
January 8, 2026For 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.
Pay Range:
Pay Range $57,850.00 - $104,575.00The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.
Other facts
About Leidos
Leidos is a Fortune 500® innovation company rapidly addressing the world’s most vexing challenges in national security and health. The company's global workforce of 48,000 collaborates to create smarter technology solutions for customers in heavily regulated industries. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $15.4 billion for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2023.
Leidos was cited for the meaningful work employees perform that is challenging, impactful, and aligned with our customers’ missions as reasons professionals want to work and stay at our company. Leidos has also been named to lists including Forbes’ Best Employers for Diversity, Forbes’ America’s Best Employers for Women, Military Times Best for Vets Employers, and Ethisphere Institute’s World's Most Ethical Companies®.
Employees enjoy career enrichment opportunities available through mobility and development and experience rewarding relationships with supportive supervisors and talented colleagues and customers. Employees appreciate our flexible work environment, allowing for and encouraging a true work-life balance. Our professionals are also excited about our Employee Resource Groups, like the Collaborative Outreach with Remote and Embedded Employees (CORE), which strives to create an environment where every employee, regardless of location, feels fully engaged as a valued employee of Leidos.
Your most important work is ahead, visit careers.leidos.com for our latest opportunities.
What you'll do
- The intern will build and test optical systems and create code to operate these systems. They will also process data generated from these systems.
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