User Research Intern Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Leidos is seeking a Transportation Engineering Lab Intern in McLean, VA to support lab operations and ongoing research efforts at the FHWA Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center.

This internship will provide hands-on experience in a real-world research environment where connected and automated vehicle technologies are designed, tested, and demonstrated. It will provide practical exposure to operations, engineering and research workflows while allowing the intern to contribute meaningfully to ongoing research projects. The intern will work alongside engineers, software developers, and project managers supporting research that advances intelligent transportation systems and next-generation mobility technologies. Throughout the internship, the student will gain experience with laboratory operations and testing environments, data collection and analysis, technical documentation, and collaborative engineering processes.

This role is 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 that enable 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 high school 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.

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline onlyand not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.