Transportation Engineering Lab Intern

Job Description

Transportation Engineering Lab Intern – McLean, VA

Leidos is seeking a Transportation Engineering Lab Intern in McLean, VA for April through August 2026. This role is crucial to supporting lab operations and ongoing research efforts at the FHWA Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center.

This internship offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience within a real-world research environment. Here, connected and automated vehicle technologies are not just theoretical; they are designed, tested, and demonstrated. The intern will receive practical exposure to operations, engineering, and research workflows, while contributing meaningfully to ongoing research projects.

Working alongside engineers, software developers, and project managers, the intern will support research that advances intelligent transportation systems and next-generation mobility technologies. Throughout the internship, the student will develop experience in:

• Laboratory operations and testing environments
• Data collection and analysis
• Technical documentation
• Collaborative engineering processes

This role is strictly in-person at the research facility in McLean, VA. The intern is expected to work 20–40 hours per week on site. Reasonable flexibility will be provided to accommodate academic schedules if needed, with work hours coordinated in advance.

Primary Responsibilities

The intern will support the team with technical and operational tasks vital to ongoing laboratory and project activities. Responsibilities may include:

• Supporting research and development teams in identifying, understanding, and helping resolve technical issues.
• Assisting with procurement and coordination of development hardware and testing equipment.
• Installing, configuring, and testing hardware and software under direct supervision.
• Supporting system setup, troubleshooting, and configuration of laboratory computing and testing environments.
• Collecting and analyzing data from laboratory testing activities.
• Tracking and documenting the performance of hardware and software under evaluation.
• Preparing clear and organized technical documentation, progress reports, and presentation materials.
• Assisting with scheduling and coordination of testing activities and lab logistics.
• Participating in team meetings to review progress, share results, and discuss technical challenges and solutions.

Required Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in, or accepted to, an undergraduate degree program in a STEM discipline, such as computer science, computer/electrical/systems/transportation engineering, or a related field.
• Completed coursework in STEM disciplines and demonstrated interest in pursuing a career in engineering, computer science, transportation technology, or related fields.
• Familiarity with basic engineering or software development practices.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, PowerPoint, Excel).
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust clearance, requiring three years of continuous residency in the United States.

Preferred Qualifications

• Coursework or internship experience in intelligent transportation systems (ITS), data analytics, or connected vehicle technologies.
• Experience working with Java, Python, SQL, C++, C#, C.
• Experience with graphical user interface (GUI) development or interactive data visualization.
• Familiarity with software testing, validation, and documentation best practices.

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.