IT Intern - Summer 2026

Job Description

Position : Infrastructure / DevOps Intern - Summer 2026

Reports To : Director, Development and Enterprise Architect

Location : Chicago, IL

Duration : June 9 - August 12, 2026

Compensation : Paid Internship (Hourly rates will start at $22.00 / hour)

About the Foundation

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is one of the nation's largest independent foundations. The Foundation supports creative people, effective institutions, and influential networks building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. We work on a few big bets that strive toward transformative change in areas of profound concern, including the existential threats of climate change, the challenges of criminal justice reform, revitalizing local news in the U.S., and corruption in Nigeria.

In addition, we maintain enduring commitments in our hometown Chicago, where we invest in people, places, and partnerships to build a more inclusive Chicago and in journalism and media, where we invest in more just and inclusive news and narratives.

We also make awards to extraordinarily creative individuals through the MacArthur Fellows program and for solutions to critical problems of our time through 100&Change. For more information, please visit our website at www.macfound.org.

About Information Technology

The IT team is a strategic, collaborative, and innovative group that not only manages technology but also drives organizational effectiveness, security, and continuous improvement. They are deeply integrated into the foundation's operations and play a key role in enabling staff to achieve the organization's mission.

About the Internship

The internship aims to provide real-world experience in designing, implementing, and maintaining IT infrastructure-including servers, networks, storage systems, and cloud platforms. Interns work under the guidance of our engineers and project managers to learn how infrastructure supports business operations.

Responsibilities may include :

• Security & Compliance : Supporting the implementation of security protocols and participating in vulnerability assessments
• Network Management : Configuring routers, switches, and firewalls; monitoring performance; and review logs.
• Technical Support : Helping users and IT staff resolve infrastructure-related issues
• Documentation : Creating diagrams, updating infrastructure layouts, and maintaining records for future upgrade

Qualifications

This internship is based in Chicago, Illinois. Our work environment is hybrid with designated in-office days and virtual days. Interns will be required to reside in the Chicagoland area for the duration of the program. Housing assistance for non-local students may be available and will be discussed during the interview process.

Application Process

The application deadline is SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2025 AT 11 : 59 PM CST . Applicants should submit a cover letter and resume. As a requirement, students " must be returning back to school " to be eligible. Students meeting the minimum requirements should apply through the MacArthur Foundation website (www.macfound.org / jobs).

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

The work environment is an office setting. Intermittent physical activities will include bending, reaching, sitting, and moving around the office during working hours. Requests for reasonable accommodations will be considered to enable a person with disabilities to perform the job. Reasonable accommodations are also available during the interview process.