Embedded Cybersecurity Engineering Intern in Tampa, Florida at Trak Tecom Corporation

Description:

We are seeking a highly motivated Embedded Cybersecurity Engineering Intern to support development of secure embedded architectures for high-performance electronic modules and subsystems within a DoD-cleared environment. Our engineering teams develop high-performance RF, analog, digital, and firmware-controlled modules and subsystems used as building blocks within larger systems. This position is ideal for an upper-level undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity who is interested in gaining hands-on experience in a professional engineering setting.

The intern will work alongside experienced engineers on real-world projects involving circuit design, analysis, testing, and system integration. This is a product engineering role, not an enterprise IT, help desk, or corporate security operations role.

Prior embedded systems experience is not required, but candidates should demonstrate curiosity about how hardware, firmware, and communications interfaces interact in connected devices. Must be local to the Tampa, FL area and available to work on-site for Summer 2026.

Requirements:

Responsibilities:

• Evaluate embedded product attack surfaces, including:
  • Firmware update paths
  • Calibration / configuration storage in flash or EEPROM
  • Debug and factory access interfaces
  • Ethernet-based management or telemetry interfaces
  • Serial interfaces such as SPI, I2C, and UART
  • Device boot and initialization processes
• Support development of:
  • Secure boot / authenticated firmware concepts
  • Signed calibration and configuration package concepts
  • Secure command and telemetry architectures
  • Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) concepts for embedded products
  • Firmware integrity verification concepts
  • Secure provisioning and update workflows
• Assist with:
  • Threat modeling
  • Vulnerability assessment
  • Attack surface mapping
  • Documentation of engineering recommendations for secure product design
• Prototype simple security concepts in firmware, scripting, or hardware test environments
• Prepare concise technical briefs, architecture diagrams, and engineering recommendations suitable for future IRAD and product development planning

Example Internship Projects

Projects may include:

• Evaluating UART / SPI / I2C interface exposure and access control concepts
• Mapping firmware update trust chains and identifying security gaps
• Developing concepts for secure storage and authentication of calibration/configuration data
• Generating embedded SBOMs for representative firmware/software stacks
• Prototyping firmware integrity verification scripts or authenticated update concepts
• Assessing telemetry or control interface hardening approaches for connected modules

What Success Looks Like

Successful interns will typically produce:

• A threat model and attack surface map for a representative embedded product
• A proof-of-concept script, prototype, or security concept demonstration
• A concise engineering briefing with practical recommendations for secure product design
• Reusable technical material that can inform future IRAD and product capability development

Technical Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: (preferred)

• Linux command-line familiarity
• Hands-on labs, Capture-the-Flag (CTF), or home lab experimentation
• Raspberry Pi, Arduino, microcontroller, FPGA, or device tinkering experience
• Basic networking tools such as Wireshark, Nmap, tcpdump, or similar
• Familiarity with secure coding concepts
• Technical writing / documentation skills

Education:

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Degree in Cybersecurity, Computer Engineering, or Computer Science from an ABET-accredited university
• Upper-division undergraduate (junior or senior) and formally admitted into the college or department for your declared major
• Completed or currently enrolled in coursework covering several of the following:

*Computer Networks *Operating Systems / Linux Fundamentals *Programming (Python and C or C++) *Introductory Cybersecurity / Network Security *Software Development or Databases *Digital Logic / Computer Architecture (preferred) *Applied Cryptography (preferred) *Embedded Systems / Microcontrollers (preferred)

· GPA = 3.0 in declared major coursework