Scientific Computing Intern

About the Role

Join a multidisciplinary research and engineering team working on advanced computational technologies for complex national security applications. This opportunity is suited to students who enjoy applying mathematics, physics, and programming to practical scientific challenges. The successful candidate will work alongside researchers and software developers to investigate technical problems, assess computational methods, and contribute to the creation of new analytical tools. The position offers exposure to the full development process, from initial data investigation and algorithm experimentation through to software implementation and performance evaluation. Depending on project requirements and individual expertise, assignments may involve areas such as radar and optical sensing, computer vision, statistical estimation, object detection, tracking systems, machine learning, physical simulation, and sensor performance analysis. We are looking for a motivated individual who enjoys exploring unfamiliar problems, testing ideas, and working collaboratively to develop reliable technical solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Examine scientific and sensor-related datasets to identify patterns, assess data quality, and support technical investigations.
• Test existing computational algorithms and evaluate their accuracy, efficiency, and suitability for specific applications.
• Design, develop, and experiment with new algorithms or modifications to established techniques.
• Create prototype implementations to demonstrate and validate proposed approaches.
• Collaborate with software engineers to translate research concepts into efficient, maintainable software.
• Apply mathematical and physical principles to problems involving signal interpretation, image analysis, and computational modelling.
• Contribute to research and development activities across relevant scientific and engineering disciplines.
• Document technical findings, communicate results, and work with colleagues to refine proposed solutions.

Requirements & Tech Stack

Current enrolment in an undergraduate or postgraduate degree programme in a scientific subject or computer science.

• Academic experience in mathematics, physics, signal analysis, image processing, or a closely related technical discipline.
• Programming knowledge in C or C++.
• Practical experience with Python and scientific computing tools, including libraries such as NumPy, SciPy, and pandas.
• A proactive approach to learning, experimentation, and technical problem-solving.
• Ability to manage assigned work with limited day-to-day direction while contributing effectively to a small project team.
• Strong written and spoken communication skills.
• Eligibility to obtain and retain a Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance and satisfy any additional security checks required by the customer.

Additional Experience That Would Be Beneficial

Candidates may be particularly well suited to the role if they also have experience with one or more of the following:

• Developing or testing software within a Linux operating system.
• Applying signal processing, image analysis, computer vision, or machine learning methods.
• Building physics-based computational models or conducting numerical simulations.
• Working with remote sensing data from electro-optical instruments or synthetic aperture radar (SAR).
• Developing parallel applications using multithreading, Message Passing Interface (MPI), CUDA, or similar technologies.
• Holding an active Top Secret security clearance.

These additional capabilities are advantageous but are not mandatory unless required for a particular assignment.

Compensation and Student Level

Hourly pay is determined by the candidate's current academic standing:

• Science Aide — $30 per hour: Applicants enrolled in a bachelor's degree programme who have completed at least their second year of study.
• Scientist Assistant — $35 per hour: Applicants currently pursuing a master's degree.

The final offer may reflect several considerations, including relevant experience, educational background, technical proficiency, and the responsibilities associated with the assigned position.

Employment Eligibility and Security Requirements

Due to the nature of the work, applicants must be U.S. citizens and successfully complete the required criminal background screening.