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Defense Contractor Intern Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

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Defense Contractor Intern information

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$10

$19

$27

How much do defense contractor intern jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average hourly pay for defense contractor intern in Washington is $19.30, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.35 and $21.78 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a defense contractor intern?

A Defense Contractor Intern assists with projects supporting military and defense operations, often working for private companies that contract with government agencies. Interns may help with research, data analysis, engineering, logistics, or cybersecurity, depending on the organization. They gain hands-on experience while learning about government regulations, security clearances, and the defense industry's role in national security. This position provides valuable exposure to working with classified or sensitive information in a highly regulated environment.

What types of projects or assignments might a defense contractor intern work on during their internship?

As a Defense Contractor Intern, you may assist with a variety of projects such as supporting engineering design, conducting research and analysis, helping with testing and evaluation of defense systems, or preparing reports and documentation. Interns often work alongside experienced engineers, analysts, or project managers, gaining exposure to classified or cutting-edge technology in a structured environment. You might also participate in team meetings, collaborate with cross-functional departments, and contribute to the continuous improvement of products or processes. These experiences offer valuable insight into the defense industry and can be instrumental in launching a full-time career in this field.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the defense contractor intern position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Defense Contractor Intern, you need a solid background in engineering, computer science, or a related STEM field, along with analytical and problem-solving abilities. Familiarity with industry-standard software such as AutoCAD, MATLAB, or project management tools, and sometimes security clearance or eligibility, is often required. Standout interns demonstrate strong teamwork, attention to detail, effective communication, and adaptability in fast-paced environments. These skills are essential to ensure technical accuracy, security compliance, and productive collaboration on high-stakes defense projects.

What are the most commonly searched types of Defense Contractor jobs in Washington?

The most popular types of Defense Contractor jobs in Washington are:

What are popular job titles related to Defense Contractor Intern jobs in Washington?

For Defense Contractor Intern jobs in Washington, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Defense Contractor Intern jobs in Washington look for?

The top searched job categories for Defense Contractor Intern jobs in Washington are:

What cities in Washington are hiring for Defense Contractor Intern jobs?

Cities in Washington with the most Defense Contractor Intern job openings:

Infographic showing various Defense Contractor Intern job openings in Washington as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 13% Internship, 71% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 3% Temporary. Highlights an 77% In-person, and 23% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $40,134 per year, or $19.3 per hour.

$143K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 14 days ago


U.S. Department Of Defense rating

7.9

Company rating: 7.9 out of 10

Based on 540 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

27th of 49 rated military and defense


Job description

See below for important information regarding this job.Qualifications:To qualify for a Mechanical Engineer, your resume and supporting documentation must support:
A. Basic Requirement: A bachelor's degree or higher in professional engineering. To be acceptable, the program must: (1) be in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) as a professional engineering curriculum; or (2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g)
any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.
OR
A combination of education and experience -- college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying professional engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following:
1. Professional Registration or Licensure -- Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT), or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who
achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions.
2. Written Test -- Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico.
3. Specified academic courses -- Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and in engineering that included the courses specified in the Basic Requirements above. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of a professional engineering curriculum as described in the Basic Requirements above.
4. Related curriculum -- Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field (e.g., engineering technology physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology) may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience (e.g., in interdisciplinary positions).
AND
B. Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience that equipped you with the particular competencies to successfully perform the duties of the position and is directly in or related to this position. In addition to meeting the Basic Requirement above, to qualify for the GS-14 grade level, specialized experience must be at the GS-13 grade level or equivalent under other pay systems in the Federal service, military, or private sector. Applicants must meet eligibility requirements including time-in-grade (General Schedule (GS) positions only), time-after-competitive appointment, minimum qualifications, and any other regulatory requirements by the cut-off/closing date of the announcement. Creditable specialized experience includes:
  • Experience planning, managing, and delivering multi-million-dollar engineering and architectural projects involving state-of-the-art systems, specialized facilities, and both new construction and renovation programs.
  • Experience serving as a senior technical authority in mechanical, structural, composite materials, shock/FEA analysis, and building systems engineering, including quality control/assurance, O&M, and integration of advanced CBR protection technologies.
  • Experience overseeing project finances, developing SOWs, evaluating contractor proposals, negotiating terms, serving as COR/COTR, and collaborating with diverse government, DoD, contractor, and engineering organizations to ensure full compliance and successful program execution.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
The incumbent will be designated as Emergency Essential (EE). In the event of a crisis situation, the incumbent may be required to deploy via temporary reassignment or be required to stay in place to support contingency operations. This position may require deployment in support of a contingency operation where such deployment may subject the incumbent to Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) jurisdiction. The incumbent may be required to take part in readiness exercises. This position cannot be vacated during a national emergency or mobilization without seriously impairing the capability of the organization to function effectively; therefore, the position requires the incumbent to be screened from military recall. Positions identified as EE are subject to deployment to combat support situations. Deployment will be via Temporary Duty (TDY) orders. Deployment may entitle the employee to additional monetary compensation dependent upon the deployment location. Additional allocations are based on the Department of State's determination of a combat zone.Education:

Substitution of education may not be used in lieu of specialized experience for this grade level.

Employment Type: OTHER

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