Job Summary
Work Term: Winter 2028 (January – April 2028)
The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) is seeking to hire students who are looking for a Co-op or internship placement opportunity from January 2028 to April 2028.
Eligibility: We will only be considering applicants enrolled in an accredited Co-op or Internship program in line with their program requirements from their post-secondary academic institution.
CSIS is committed to building a workforce that is truly representative of the Canadians it serves by cultivating a diverse and inclusive workplace environment. This will be achieved by increasing employment equity group representation (including persons with disabilities, visible minorities, Indigenous peoples and women) at all levels within the organization through hiring and talent management practices. Should you require accommodation in relation to a disability, please notify us during the recruitment process, as we will ensure that appropriate accommodations are made (eg. specialized equipment, changes to the physical workspace) to provide employment opportunities for all qualified candidates. In support of achieving a greater, diverse and skilled workforce, we strongly encourage those individuals who belong to one or more of the employment equity groups to self-identify when applying.
CSIS Offices in Canada are located on various ancestral and traditional lands. In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge all Indigenous People across Canada and their connection to these lands.
CSIS is looking for students who thrive on tackling diverse challenges in a unique environment. If you are up for the challenge and want to join one of our highest performing teams, there is no doubt that your contributions to CSIS will provide a meaningful impact to our mission of helping keep Canadians safe against national security threats.
CSIS offers opportunities for students to gain valuable experience in science and technology, with the possibility to return for multiple placements within the directorate.
Students will be given the opportunity to cultivate their skills and knowledge by being paired with experienced employees who will provide feedback during the work term. They will have the opportunity to broaden their knowledge and experience before choosing a career specialization.
The system will allow you to select only one location of work. If you are interested to be considered for various locations of work as mentioned above, please highlight, in your cover letter, the additional locations you would like to apply to.
Our program is designed to identify and develop potential full-time employees.
Special consideration may be given to those with a proficiency in both official languages of Canada.
Science and Technologies offers a wide variety of specializations; you can apply to one or multiple areas of interest within the branch for student job opportunities.
Placement Will Provide Opportunities In The Following Areas
- Hands on work experience with projects;
- Teamwork and individual contributions;
- Exposure to knowledgeable and passionate subject matter experts;
- Collaborative work environments;
- Improve time and project management skills;
- Diverse work force.
Summary of functions
Students can cultivate their skills and gain valuable experience in the following fields:
Stream 1 - Database Administration
- Install, configure, monitor and support databases, performing database backups, restores/refreshes;
- Advise/assist developers in database design and queries best practices.
Stream 2 - Embedded Systems Programming/Hardware
- Work with analog and digital electronic circuits and troubleshooting hardware/software/firmware within embedded systems;
- Assist with testing and evaluation of systems to ensure they meet their functional and operational requirements;
- Analyze test results and track issues resolution to ensure that systems can be successfully deployed operationally with high confidence;
- Gain experience with microcontroller architecture (Raspberry Pi, Arduino), embedded PC hardware or VME based single board computers, and ARM architectures.
Stream 3 - IT Infrastructure Support
- Provide operational infrastructure services that enable the collection of intelligence in order to advance CSIS’ investigations;
- Create and sustain a centralized operational environment that offers high performance and high-speed networks through the development of a core set of services of cost-effective, scalable and adaptive infrastructure;
- Maintain, support and administer elements in an Enterprise environment such as: Linux/Windows servers, virtualization technologies (VMware, OpenStack); storage technologies (Storage Area Network, Network Attached Storage, backups/restores); identity and access management (LDAP, Active Directory); web infrastructure.
- Desktop software and hardware (Operating system (OS), firmware, group policies and SSCM).
Stream 4 - IT/Network Security
- Research latest security practices. Validate operational tools and make recommendations for improvements to standard practices;
- Apply network security best practices involving commercial hardware and software;
- Develop and maintain SOC, software tools and scripts for system security audits;
- Assess/provide/use/validate secure network infrastructure for technical solutions;
- Test vulnerability of products or software, proof of concepts, refine requirements and conduct research;
- Perform vulnerability assessments, provide reports and recommendations;
- Install, configure and support security related products;
- Conduct in depth security assessments including but not limited to: Statements of Sensitivity (SOS), Security Reviews, Threat and Risk Assessments (TRA) and Certification & Accreditations (C&A), Security Assessment and Authorization (SA&A);
- Obtain solid foundation of Government of Canada IT Security standards;
- Learn how to work in a Security Operations Center environment;
- Familiarize oneself with Wireless Intruder Detection Systems (WIDS) and their role in IT Security;
- Participate in the forensic acquisition and analysis of various equipment using modern tools and techniques.
Stream 5 - Networking/Network Engineering/Telecommunications
- Develop tools for the delivery and processing of telecommunications data;
- Test and maintain mobile devices using networking protocols and software development tools;
- Analyze and configure LAN/WAN communications networks and appliances;
- Maintain, support and administer of LAN/WAN including switches, firewalls, routers etc.;
- Installation and cabling of IT hardware and desktop PCs.
Stream 6 - Software Development
- Use programming language such as, but not limited to: Java, C#, Javascript, Python, C/C++ and Go;
- Perform development and integration of software systems using Pega Business Process Management (BPM) rules engine;
- Build tools, APIs, native or web-based frontends;
- Interact with end users and provide recommendations;
- Participate in designing, programming, testing, documenting and optimizing solutions;
- Learn best practices through mentorship and code review;
- Support or modernize legacy applications.
Stream 7 - Specialized Intelligence Collection Systems
- Validate the functionality of technical solutions to ensure the capabilities will be effective in an operational environment;
- Provide/use/validate secure network infrastructure for technical solutions;
- Investigate, troubleshoot and determine remedial action to issues reported by clients;
- Configure and deploy various solutions involving networking equipment, computers, software applications and tools.
Stream 8 - Support Technicians
- Hardware repairs / setup (computer, printer, mouse, keyboard, etc.);
- Application Support (Troubleshoot / Resolve software issues, Assist with software installations and updates);
- Passwords Resets;
- Samsung Cell Phone Troubleshooting / Install;
- Network/ Connectivity Issues;
- Video Conference Support;
- File Transfers or Restoration (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.);
- Telephone and Fax Support;
- General IT Questions / Support.
Stream 9 - Quality Assurance and Testing
- Ensure data quality and data assurance in a processing system for collection, organization, filtering, triaging, and reporting of data types, collected using various techniques on a big data system in a complexly distributed mission critical system;
- Assist with testing and evaluation of systems to ensure they meet user requirements;
- Coordinate with development and operational teams to identify valuable tests and writing/developing new test cases and participate in continuous improvement testing;
- Analyze test results and track issues until resolution;
- Use tools and systems that directly support the collection, processing, storage, handling and safeguarding.
Stream 10 – Strategic Planning and Reporting
- Support in developing and implementing strategic plans to achieve organizational goals and objectives;
- Contribute to establish and track key measures to track progress towards strategic objectives;
- Participate in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data to inform strategic decisions;
- Support in developing reports and communicating progress and results to stakeholders, including senior management, executives, and external partners;
- Develop and maintain relationships with stakeholders, including team members, program managers, and partners;
- Contribute to the identification and mitigation of risks that could impact strategic outcomes;
- Participate in regular evaluations and reviews to assess progress and identify areas for improvement;
- Support the team in achieving its goals and objectives, and contribute to the overall success of the organization.
Stream 11 - Cloud Platform Development and Security
- Design, develop, and deploy scalable, secure, and efficient cloud-based platforms using leading cloud providers (e.g. AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) and containerization technologies (e.g. Docker, Kubernetes);
- Integrate cloud-based services with on-premises infrastructure, ensuring seamless and secure data exchange and communication;
- Apply DevSecOps principles to ensure security is integrated into every stage of the cloud platform development lifecycle;
- Develop and implement cloud-based security controls, such as Identity and Access Management (IAM), encryption, and network security groups, to protect cloud-based assets and data;
- Design and implement cloud-based networking architectures, including virtual networks, subnets, and network security groups, to ensure secure and efficient communication between cloud-based resources;
- Develop and implement cloud-based monitoring and logging solutions to detect and respond to security threats in real-time;
- Develop and implement cloud-native applications with a focus on security, high availability, and performance,
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure cloud-based platforms meet organizational security and compliance requirements
- Stay up-to-date with emerging cloud-based technologies, such as serverless computing, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, and evaluate their potential applications and security implications;
- Develop and maintain expertise in cloud-based security tools and technologies, such as Cloud Security Gateways, Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASBs), and Cloud Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems;
- Participate in the development of cloud-based incident response plans and procedures to ensure effective response to security incidents in cloud-based environments.
Stream 12 - Collaboration Support
- System infrastructure and end user support;
- Deployment for collaboration and communication platforms, such as Exchange, Skype and Teams;
- Knowledge of Windows Server and Active Directory;
- Familiar with maintaining and using Microsoft Windows Servers, basic network troubleshooting and system patching processes;
- Deployment for collaboration and communication platforms, such as Microsoft SharePoint, Jira and Confluence;
- Experience with scripting languages and tools such as PowerShell.
Stream 13 – Technology Project Management
- Work under the guidance of a Senior Project Manager from the Portfolio Management Office, who will mentor and support in learning the fundamentals of project coordination and technology solution delivery, providing hands-on experience and exposure to the project management lifecycle
- Assist in basic project administration tasks, such as updating project schedules, tracking progress, and maintaining project documentation;
- Learn the fundamentals of project risk management and assist in identifying potential issues;
- Help maintain project records, including project plans, status reports, and meeting minutes.
Stream 14 - IT Security/IT Risk Management
- Plan, research, and conduct comprehensive security assessments, including security categorizations, threat and risk assessments, and certification and accreditation activities to ensure the security of systems and services;
- Evaluate and assess security requirements for systems and services, and develop expertise in security risk assessment methodologies and best practices to inform security decision-making;
- Develop a deep understanding of the cyber security threat landscape, including government standards and requirements, and gain hands-on experience working in a Security Operations Center environment, utilizing tools such as Wireless Intruder Detection Systems (WIDS) to support IT security operations;
- Participate in security operations, risk management, and compliance activities, including forensic analysis and stakeholder collaboration;
- Assist in developing and maintaining security-related documentation, ensuring compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements, and communicating security updates and standards to stakeholders in order to improve the organization’s security posture.
Stream 15 - Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning Development
- Design, develop, and deploy machine learning models using frameworks such as TensorFlow, PyTorch, and MLflow;
- Apply data science techniques such as data ingestion, data quality checking, data preprocessing, feature engineering, data transformation, data splitting, and model evaluation;
- Perform file format analysis, metadata and content extraction using tools, such as Apache Tika;
- Use IDEs and Notebooks such as VS Code and Jupyter for the development of data science and machine learning applications;
- Work with NVIDIA hardware and technologies such as Triton and AI Enterprise to configure and deploy training and inferencing infrastructure;
- Participate in designing, testing, and optimizing AI/ML models and systems;
- Explore and apply AI/ML technologies and techniques such as natural language processing, Computer Vision, Large Language Models, Facial Recognition, and Neural Optical Character Recognition;
- Fine-tune pre-trained models.
Education
Registered full-time in one of the following academic paths
at the time of placement:
- College Diploma student in their 3 rd year;
- Undergraduate degree student in their 3rd year or higher;
- Graduate-level student (Master’s or Ph.D.)
Must Be In a Field Of Study Relevant To The Functions Of The Position For Which The Candidates Apply To; Such As, But Not Limited To
- Computer Science
- Computer and Electrical Engineering
- Engineering in technical areas
- Mechanical Engineering
- Network Security
- Information Technology
- Telecommunications
- Software Engineering
- Informatics
Applicants must be registered as a full-time, post-secondary student in an accredited academic institution recognized in Canada during their work term.
Experience
Experience may have been acquired through formal and informal settings (e.g. school, volunteer work experience or projects).
Assets
Stream 6 - Software Development
- Develop on mobile platforms (iOS / Android) with one or more mobile applications focused programming languages (e.g., Java, Kotlin, Objective C, Swift);
- Develop Web application components such as frontend or backend
- Desktop application development;
- Linux environments and Bash scripting (Ubuntu, Mint, Debian, Fedora, etc.)
- Encryption technologies (SSL, RSA, AES, etc.);
- Use programming language such as, but not limited to: Java/Kotlin, C#, Javascript/Typescript, Python, C/C++ and Go;
- Continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) process, container and orchestration technologies (Kubernetes, Docker).
Stream 10 - Strategic Planning and Reporting
- Data collection, data analytics and dashboard reporting;
- Leadership and stakeholder management skills;
- Experience in reporting tools like PowerBI, Tableau;
- Familiarity or experience in ServiceNow platform, including, but not limited to, Strategic Planning workspace.
Competencies
- Problem Solving
- Analytical Skills
- Teamwork
- Client Service
- Initiative
Notes
How To Submit Application
Applicants must include the following information in their cover letter in order to be given further consideration:
Name Of Student
Graduation date: Please specify month & year
Program Of Study
Post Secondary School:
- Location of interest:
- Indicate your desired location of work if applicable.
- Travel costs benefits may apply. Further information will be disclosed during the interview process.
- Specify if you are enrolled in a co-op placement or internship.
- Indicate your desired stream(s) in order of preference.
- Availability of your work term (4, 8, 12 or 16 months)?
- Your current year of study and expected graduation date (month/year).
Tips For Your Cover Letter And Resume
- Tell us your story: why do you want to work for CSIS?
- Work objectives.
- Technical abilities (where applicable).
- Volunteer or work Experience (where applicable).
- Projects (where applicable).
Salary Range
College or undergraduate
Annual Rate: $46,548-$66,035
Hourly Rate: $23.79-$33.75
Graduate
Annual Rate: $53,220-$67,151
Hourly Rate: $27.20-$34.32
Reference Links
- Hourly salary
- Public Service Commission Approved CO-OP (Co-operative Education)/Internship Programs
- Self-assessment language tests
Security Requirements
Candidates must be eligible to receive an Enhanced Top Secret security clearance. The process involves a security interview, a polygraph, and a background investigation that includes credit and financial verifications. The use of illegal drugs is a criminal offense. Drug use is an important factor considered in your reliability and suitability assessment during the selection process. Therefore it is important not to use any illegal drugs from the time you submit your application.
Others
Important
We encourage interested candidates to apply promptly, as we will be reviewing and screening applications on a rolling basis until all available positions are filled. Federal Workforce Adjusted (WFA) employees are encouraged to apply for available positions and clearly indicate in their WFA status on their cover letter.
Applicants must clearly demonstrate in their application how they meet each Education and Experience criteria. Failure to do so will result in the applicant being screened out of the career opportunity.
CSIS is a separate employer and is not subject to the Public Service Employment Act (PSEA) . CSIS has its own classification, compensation system, and a different staffing regime. As such, we use a different staffing process and terminology.
CSIS is committed to building a workforce that is truly representative of the Canadians it serves by cultivating a diverse and inclusive workplace environment. This will be achieved by increasing employment equity group representation (including persons with disabilities, visible minorities, Indigenous peoples, and women) at all levels within the organization through hiring and talent management practices. Gaps have been identified among Indigenous peoples and visible minorities for this position. We will also ensure that appropriate accommodations are made (e.g., specialized equipment, changes to physical workspace) to provide employment opportunities for all qualified candidates. In support of achieving a greater, diverse and skilled workforce, we strongly encourage those individuals who belong to one or more of the employment equity groups to self-identify when applying.
Should you require accommodation in relation to a disability, please tell us at the beginning of the selection process. This information will be kept confidential.
CSIS Offices in Canada are located on various ancestral and traditional lands. In the spirit of reconciliation, we acknowledge all Indigenous People across Canada and their connection to these lands.
The personal information provided in your application is protected under the Privacy Act and will be held in Personal Information Bank SIS/P-PU-025.
We thank all applicants for their interest in CSIS. However, only those who are selected for further consideration will be contacted.
Apply Now
Page details 2026-10-07
