Summer 2026 Research Intern

Peraton is seeking a Summer 2026 Research Intern in support of our Federal Civilian Sector Chief Technologist Office, based in our Herndon, VA or Reston, VA offices or remote for qualified candidates.

Join our Federal Civilian Sector Chief Technologist Office and support research projects spanning emerging technology areas such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and their applications across customer base. You’ll work alongside our senior technologists in a collaborative, supportive environment, growing your skills and your career while gaining exposure to a variety of projects and problem domains. You’ll research emerging technologies and market trends, synthesize findings from technical literature and industry sources, and contribute to white papers, briefings, and internal research products that inform Peraton’s technology strategy.  You’ll also have opportunities to present your work to technical and non-technical audiences across the organization. 

We ask that each intern commit to working a minimum of 35-40 hours per week. This program is geared toward technical college students, actively enrolled at a four-year university, who will be rising into their junior or senior years. However, strong underclassmen may be considered if they have declared their major and have completed qualified coursework.

Required Qualifications:

• HS Diploma.
• U.S. Citizenship.
• Actively enrolled at a four-year university, with a declared major in a STEM, or related field.
• Strong research skills, including the ability to gather information from credible sources, evaluate it critically, and synthesize findings.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to clearly summarize technical topics in writing.
• Foundational proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Foundational proficiency in the use of AI tools (Claude Code, Codex, Gemini, CoPilot) or locally hosted models.
• Intellectual curiosity and a demonstrated interest in emerging technology trends.
• Ability to quickly learn new concepts and tools.
• Self-motivated, detail-oriented, and a responsible team player.
  

Desired Qualifications:

• 3.0 and above GPA.
• Coursework or personal interest in computer science, data science, engineering, or a related technical field.
• Familiarity with emerging technology areas such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, cloud computing, or cybersecurity.
• Exposure to data analysis using Excel or other tools.
• Experience producing research papers, briefings, white papers, or other long-form written deliverables.
• Comfort presenting findings to a group and translating technical concepts for non-technical audiences.
• Ability to self-manage day-to-day tasks and communicate collaboratively with leadership and teammates.