About the role
IMPORTANT ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- This internship supports U.S. Department of Defense-funded programs. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and eligible to obtain a security clearance. Applicants who do not meet this requirement cannot be considered for this position.
- Applicants must remain actively enrolled in an undergraduate degree program for the duration of the internship. Individuals who have already graduated prior to the internship start date are not eligible for this position.
Please Note: Authorization to work in the United States (including F-1 OPT/CPT, H-1B, or other employment authorization) does not satisfy this requirement. Applicants must be U.S. citizens to be eligible for this internship. Applicants who do not meet these eligibility requirements cannot be considered for this internship.
Organization Summary
The University of South Florida (USF) Institute of Applied Engineering (IAE) provides agile, best-value engineering solutions to enhance the performance and effectiveness of its sponsors, including the Department of Defense; other federal, state, and local agencies; and industry. These engineering solutions include hardware- and softwarebased research, advanced technology development, prototypes, and technical services. This internship program is administered by the USF Institute of Applied Engineering through the NEXUS Partnership Program in collaboration with Booz Allen Hamilton. The internship is designed to cultivate a mission-ready workforce by integrating highperforming STEM students into operational and technical project teams supporting Department of Defense mission requirements. Interns will work alongside Booz Allen Hamilton professionals to develop technical solutions, conduct analyses, and contribute to mission-focused initiatives supporting Special Operations customers.
The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg and USF Health. In 2025, U.S. News & World Report recognized USF with its highest overall ranking in university history, as a top 50 public university for the seventh consecutive year and as one of the top 15 best values among all public universities in the nation. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine in the highest tier, placing it as one of the top 16 medical schools in the nation and inside the top 10 among public universities. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $750 million in research funding in 2025 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of nearly $10 billion for the state of Florida. USF’s Division I athletics teams compete in the American Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu.
Time Commitment
Hours of operation are generally 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Spring/Fall semester: Max of 20 hours per week.
Summer semester: Max of 29 hours per week.
Spring 2027 internship period anticipated to align with the academic semester.
Primarily in-person internship located in the Tampa, Florida area with limited remote-work opportunities based on project requirements.
Possible Work Locations
Booz Allen Hamilton Tampa Office (3600 Midtown Dr, Suite 1150, Tampa, FL 33607)
U.S. Special Operations Command (MacDill AFB)
U.S. Special Operations Command Central (MacDill AFB)
SOFWERX (1925 E 2nd Ave, Suite 102, Tampa, FL 33605)
USF Secure Facilities
USF Institute of Applied Engineering Facilities
Remote (project dependent)
Opportunities
Apply classroom knowledge to real-world Department of Defense mission challenges.
Gain experience working alongside Booz Allen Hamilton technical and operational professionals.
Build technical, analytical, and professional communication skills.
Expand professional networks within government, industry, and academia.
Receive mentorship from experienced engineering and program professionals.
Potential opportunity for extended internship participation based on program needs and performance.
Potential transition to future full-time employment opportunities.
Internship credit may be available through the student's academic program.
Letter of recommendation available upon request following successful completion of the internship.
Pay Rate
$25.00hr
- Develop and integrate IT solutions.
- Facilitate collaboration, development, integration, and testing support.
- Design and build product deliverables according to specifications, escalate technical design issues to task managers, and work within a given time frame to complete coding.
- Design and develop software systems and applications. Responsible for delivery of software that meets all requirements of quality, security, modifiability, and extensibility.
- Communicate and document all concepts and guidelines to development teams.
- Research, design, develop, or modify enterprise-wide systems or applications software.
- Participate in planning system and development deployment and maintain responsibility for meeting software compliance standards.
- Evaluate the interface between hardware and software, operational requirements, and characteristics of the overall system.
- Document testing and maintenance of system corrections.
- Develop solutions to routine technical problems of limited scope.
- Contribute to the completion of routine technical tasks.
Security Requirements
- U.S. Citizenship and eligible for a Secret Security Clearance.
General Qualifications
- Must be a U.S. Citizen.
- Pursuing a bachelor's degree at an accredited university.
- Junior or Senior standing preferred.
- Current GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- Eligibility for a Secret Security Clearance preferred.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to learn new technologies and tools quickly.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work effectively both independently and within a team environment.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Self-motivated and eager to learn in a dynamic environment.
Preferred Academic Majors
- Information Science
- Information Technology
- Computer Science
- Software Engineering
- Data Science
- Computer Engineering
- Cybersecurity
- Systems Engineering
- Mathematics
- Statistics
- Related STEM disciplines
Technical Skills
Experience or coursework in one or more of the following is preferred:
- Python
- SQL
- React
- Java Script/TypeScript
- Modern front-end tooling (Webpack, Vite, etc.)
- GitLab
- CI/CD Pipelines
- Automated Testing
- Agile development processes and tools (e.g., Jira)
- Backend development experience (e.g., Python, Node.js)
- Containerization (e.g., Docker)
- Data analytics and visualization tools
- Software application development
- Cloud technologies
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning concepts
- Automation and scripting
- Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Power Platform solutions
- Software design and testing methodologies