1

Network Engineer Intern Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

As a Platform Engineer Intern , you will be part of our advanced technology team focused on ... Have exposure to any of the following: networking, Linux/Unix administration, systems performance ...

New

Gain visibility: with SAP Internship Experience Program in your title, you'll have a global network ... SAP iXp Intern - AI Engineer Intern (Customer Success) Location: Naperville, IL Internship Duration ...

SAP iXp Intern - AI Engineer

Naperville, IL · On-site

$16.75 - $21.75/hr

Gain visibility: with SAP Internship Experience Program in your title, you'll have a global network ... SAP iXp Intern - AI Engineer Intern (Customer Success) Location: Naperville, IL Internship Duration ...

Gain visibility: with SAP Internship Experience Program in your title, you'll have a global network ... SAP iXp Intern - AI Engineer Intern (Customer Success) Location: Naperville, IL Internship Duration ...

SAP iXp Intern - AI Engineer

Naperville, IL

$16.75 - $21.75/hr

Gain visibility: with SAP Internship Experience Program in your title, you'll have a global network ... SAP iXp Intern - AI Engineer Intern (Customer Success) Location: Naperville, IL Internship Duration ...

Campus Systems Engineer (Intern)

Chicago, IL · On-site

$200K - $250K/yr

You will be working directly with our experienced systems and network engineers, gaining broad technical and operational knowledge across all aspects of the trading platform and technology stack. Our ...

You will be working directly with our experienced systems and network engineers, gaining broad technical and operational knowledge across all aspects of the trading platform and technology stack. Our ...

Campus Systems Engineer (Intern)

Chicago, IL · On-site

$200K - $250K/yr

You will be working directly with our experienced systems and network engineers, gaining broad technical and operational knowledge across all aspects of the trading platform and technology stack. Our ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Network Engineer Intern information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$13

$26

$39

How much do network engineer intern jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 2, 2026, the average hourly pay for network engineer intern in Chicago, IL is $26.20, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $21.30 and $29.76 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What types of projects or tasks can a Network Engineer Intern expect to work on during their internship?

As a Network Engineer Intern, you can expect to assist with configuring network devices, monitoring network performance, and troubleshooting connectivity issues under the guidance of senior engineers. You may also be involved in documenting network layouts, supporting network upgrades, and participating in team meetings to discuss ongoing projects. This hands-on experience helps you understand real-world network operations and exposes you to industry-standard tools and protocols. Collaborating with IT staff and learning from experienced professionals is a key part of the internship, helping you build both technical and communication skills.

What does a network engineer intern do?

A network engineer intern assists with designing, implementing, and maintaining computer networks, including configuring routers, switches, and firewalls. They often support network troubleshooting, monitor network performance, and gain hands-on experience with networking tools and protocols under supervision.

Is 20 an hour good for an internship?

For a Network Engineer Intern, $20 an hour is generally considered competitive for entry-level internships, especially if it includes opportunities to gain skills in networking, troubleshooting, and using tools like Cisco or Juniper. Intern wages vary by location and company, but this rate often reflects a standard or above-average pay for technical internships. Factors such as workload, learning opportunities, and industry standards should also be considered when evaluating compensation.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Network Engineer Intern, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Network Engineer Intern, you need a foundational understanding of networking concepts, protocols, and IP addressing, usually supported by coursework in computer science or information technology. Familiarity with network simulation tools (like Cisco Packet Tracer), basic command-line interfaces, and certifications such as CompTIA Network+ or Cisco CCNA are advantageous. Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail, and effective communication skills help interns work efficiently on technical tasks and collaborate with teams. These competencies are essential for supporting network reliability, learning from real-world issues, and contributing meaningfully to IT operations.

Will AI replace network engineer?

AI is unlikely to fully replace network engineers, as their role involves complex problem-solving, system design, and troubleshooting that require human judgment. Instead, AI tools can assist network engineers by automating routine tasks and analyzing large data sets, allowing them to focus on more strategic and technical aspects of network management. Continuous learning and certification in networking and automation tools remain important for staying relevant in the evolving field.

What does L1, L2, L3 network engineer mean?

In the context of a Network Engineer Intern role, L1, L2, and L3 refer to different levels of technical support and expertise. L1 is entry-level support handling basic troubleshooting, L2 involves more advanced problem resolution, and L3 includes senior engineers responsible for complex network issues and design. These levels often correspond to increasing skill requirements, certifications, and responsibilities within network support teams.

What is the difference between Network Engineer Intern vs Network Administrator?

AspectNetwork Engineer InternNetwork Administrator
CredentialsBasic networking certifications, student statusCompTIA Network+, Cisco CCNA, relevant experience
Work EnvironmentInternship, entry-level tasks, supervisedFull-time, ongoing network management
Industry UsageInternship programs in tech and networking companiesCorporate, enterprise, or service provider networks
Search IntentEntry-level networking roles, internshipsNetwork management, troubleshooting, maintenance

The main difference is that a Network Engineer Intern is a temporary, entry-level position focused on learning and supporting network projects, often requiring basic certifications. In contrast, a Network Administrator is a full-time role responsible for ongoing network operations, requiring more experience and certifications. Interns typically work under supervision, while administrators independently manage network systems.

What are the most commonly searched types of Network Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL? The most popular types of Network Engineer jobs in Chicago, IL are:
What cities near Chicago, IL are hiring for Network Engineer Intern jobs? Cities near Chicago, IL with the most Network Engineer Intern job openings:
Infographic showing various Network Engineer Intern job openings in Chicago, IL as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 23% Internship, 54% Full Time, and 23% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $54,503 per year, or $26.2 per hour.

Platform Engineer Intern

DRW

Chicago, IL • On-site

$175K/yr

Full-time, Internship

Posted 3 days ago

New


Job description

Our formula for success is to hire exceptional people, encourage their ideas and reward their results.
As a Platform Engineer Intern, you will be part of our advanced technology team focused on maintaining and improving the reliability and efficiency of our platform, including underlying systems at DRW. The platform engineer intern will work under the guidance of senior technologists to ensure our systems are highly reliable and scalable during your ten weeks. While your days will have you immersed in complex projects directly driving DRW's progress, your evenings will be spent exploring the city with organized social events to truly discover what it is like to live and work in Chicago.
How you will make an impact...
  • Engage in and improve the lifecycle of services-from inception and design, through deployment, operation, and refinement.
  • Design, write, and deliver software to improve the availability, scalability, latency, and efficiency of DRW's services.
  • Manage service capacity, performance, and disaster recovery.
  • Identify innovative solutions to complex problems and advocate for their implementation to your team by communicating your ideas in a clear and concise manner.
  • Solve problems related to mission critical services and build automation to prevent problem recurrence.
  • Collaborate with other systems and infrastructure engineers, software developers, quantitative traders, and researchers as well as business analysts in cross-functional team environments.

What you bring to the team...
  • Are pursuing a bachelor's, master's, or PhD in computer science, electrical engineering, computer engineering, physics, mathematics or any related science discipline and have an expected graduation date between December 2027 and June 2028.
  • Have exposure to any of the following: networking, Linux/Unix administration, systems performance, capacity planning, Kubernetes, Docker, CI/CD tools.
  • Understand the fundamentals of large-scale distributed systems.
  • Exhibit excellent scripting skills in languages like Python and Bash.

What to expect during the internship...
  • Meaningful projects: You'll receive a challenging project to complete during your time here. Each project, advised by a senior engineer, promotes a comprehensive learning experience and provides you with meaningful work experience.
  • Community: Throughout the summer, we host a variety of educational, social and team-building activities to foster friendship and camaraderie.
  • Housing: DRW provides fully furnished apartments located close to the office - making your morning commute as easy as possible.
  • Mentorship: You'll build a professional relationship with an experienced mentor in your field. Mentors and mentees meet to discuss goals, challenges and professional development and explore the city together at our mentor outings.
  • Education: We believe in constant learning. To prepare you for the evolving landscape of technology in trading, you will complete courses that help you understand how your technology solutions will be used in real time. As the trading industry continually evolves, both in terms of new products and transaction methods, the future will present us with unique opportunities and challenges.

DRW is a diversified trading firm with over 3 decades of experience bringing sophisticated technology and exceptional people together to operate in markets around the world. We value autonomy and the ability to quickly pivot to capture opportunities, so we operate using our own capital and trading at our own risk.
Headquartered in Chicago with offices throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Asia, we trade a variety of asset classes including Fixed Income, ETFs, Equities, FX, Commodities and Energy across all major global markets. We have also leveraged our expertise and technology to expand into three non-traditional strategies: real estate, venture capital and cryptoassets.
We operate with respect, curiosity and open minds. The people who thrive here share our belief that it's not just what we do that matters-it's how we do it. DRW is a place of high expectations, integrity, innovation and a willingness to challenge consensus.
The annual base salary for this position is $175,000.
For more information about DRW's processing activities and our use of job applicants' data, please view our Privacy Notice at https://drw.com/privacy-notice.
California residents, please review the California Privacy Notice for information about certain legal rights at https://drw.com/california-privacy-notice.
#LI-DNI