Installation & Logistics (I&L)/Data Center Management (DCM) Intern Program
The Installation & Logistics (I&L) Intern Program is a 12-week program consisting of direct involvement with NSA facilities and renovation projects from planning nd design through construction, commissioning, activation and occupancy. Interns are involved in ensuring that projects run according to schedule, are cost effective, and meet customer objectives.
The Installation & Logistics (I&L) Intern Program is intended for individuals interested in project management; electrical, power, mechanical, or civil engineering fields; architecture and interior design; and supply chain and business management operations. In addition to gaining valuable work experience, interns will gain substantial exposure to NSA's mission operations through I&L's supporting functions. Interns will have the opportunity to interact with leaders on a daily basis and receive unparalleled mentorship and professional development, as well as gain a deeper understanding of NSA's mission through tours of various sites and missions. The internship will culminate in a final presentation to Senior Leadership, describing their projects and summer experience at NSA. By the end of the program, students will be skillful in their understanding of the infrastructure backbone of an intelligence agency. Interns interested in the following sets of disciplines should apply:
Applicable areas of study include, but are not limited to:
- Design/Planning Architecture
- Interior Design
- Urban Development/City Planning
- Engineering: Civil, Structural, Electrical, Power, Structural, Chemical, Fire Protection, Mechanical, Industrial, Control Systems, Environmental, Environmental Science
- Business, Management, Economics, Project Management, Construction Management, Information Systems Management, Data Analytics, Statistics, Operations, Supply Chain Management
Previous intern projects have included:
- Directly contributing to NSA construction and renovation projects that will support facility operations and maintenance through infrastructure planning, design development, standards application, project management services and design drawing assistance.
- Monitoring NSA's 24/7 operations at the Facilities Control Center (FCC) with a team of control systems specialists, including experts on fire alarms, SCADA and electrical systems.
- Troubleshooting mechanical and electrical system deficiencies through control management systems with a team of senior engineers and optimizing functionality for successful future operations
- Implementing processes for lean manufacturing, process improvement, engineering analysis and design of process controls, with respect to facilities within the Intelligence Community.
- Developing metrics and estimating models based on data output from control systems to help outline to the facility condition and needed investment for leadership decision-making.
- Coordinating Master Plans for the new campus under construction, backed by quantifiable cost-benefit analyses.
- Improving operations processes through streamlining and data automation and standardization.
- Conducting extensive business cases evaluating the cost, benefit and risk of potential facilities and space solutions for the NSA workforce through a comparative analysis of alternatives.
- Providing material management services through acquisition, logistics, storage, distribution and cargo services support to the entire Agency.
- Providing a wide range of Automation Management activities that extend to an entire organization or major components within. Map I&L business processes, strategic and operational objectives to automation requirements ensuring compliancy with plans, policies and standards.
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The Data Center Management (DCM) Intern Program is a 12 week program that provides students with real world exposure to Data Center Management and Technology. Participants will gain experience through a hands-on approach to what it takes to manage a data center. Positions in this program will be available in NSA Washington-Ft. Meade, NSA Texas - San Antonio, and the NSA Utah - outside of Salt Lake City.
DCM is a dynamic field created to govern the facilities an complex engineering framework that support massive parallel computing systems. DCM involves an unprecedented integrated approach that combines power and HVAC engineering disciplines with information technology. All of these branches of knowledge join together to help create a safe and secure environment where parallel computing systems and their infrastructure can operate at peak efficiency with optimal potential for future expansion. DCM also involves ensuring that efficient and forward-thinking practices are implemented during the design, construction, installation, and maintenance projects that occur regularly within the walls of an operating data center.
Applicable areas of study include, but are not limited to:
- Mechanical Engineering
- Electrical/Power Engineering
- Industrial Control Systems
- Information Technology/Networking
Previous intern projects have included:
- Research of Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) tools, which are software based programs to better manage most aspects of a data center
- Creation of server room layouts to optimize efficiency of a data center
- Use of 6 Sigma Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tool to better understand how certain factors affect the IT environment.
- Research of ideas to prevent overheating of data centers
- Physical, hands-on moving of IT equipment and infrastructure to improve data center efficiency
Pay & Benefits
- Students are paid a competitive salary commensurate with their education level
- Receive annual leave, sick lave and paid federal holidays
- Participation in agency-wide extracurricular programs
- Daily transportation to and from work is not provided. Students participating in the program are highly encouraged to bring a vehicle. Carpooling with other students MAY be available but NOT guaranteed.
- Subsidized housing accommodations are available upon request if school is located in excess of 75 miles from NSA main HQs campus.
Qualifications
- Must be a U.S. citizen.
- Must be eligible to be granted a security clearance.
- Must be majoring in Construction Management, Supply Line Management, or a related Facilities/Logistics field for the I&L program.
- Must be majoring in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Information Systems Management for the DCM Program.
- A cumulative GPA point average of 3.0 is preferred.
- Must be available for an operational interview and other applicable processing between the months of December 2019 and March 2020.
- Must possess strong written and oral communication skills.
- Must have attained a minimum of sophomore status and must have at least one semester remaining following the internship.
- Must provide transcripts covering academic qualifications described.